Author´s Note: I must say that stories like this need a script work that is absolutely freaking hard! But I´m up to the challenge (much like Stan Lee XD Kidding!). Glad to hear that my WTF first chapter worked. I thought for a long while about it before starting and the rest of the fic is the same process. The idea of using a flashback method came as the last thing but I think is cool, is what keeps you reading.
Anyway, (cough) let´s get started before I ramble on. Let´s go!
2. The Creature in the Glass
24 hours before.
Mayor Jones is alone in his living room. The last mysteries solved by Fred and his brat friends were quite peculiar. Pericles roamed through his house disguised as a ghost and stole his piece when that parrot was suppose to be on his same side (according to him, a necessary sacrifice but coming from that bird, best not to nod too much), then Stone´s loyal Bucky goes rogue and becomes the sheriff Dead Justice and finally, that ghost girl called Oblitawhatever who after chasing down the kids, led them to the old church to find clues about the previous MI. Cassidy´s been most of the time avoiding him and they have no clues about what happened to Ricky. She probably knows it but the dj won´t talk anyway.
Jones has been thinking hard and has come to the conclusion that the only way to get rid of the new MI is using the Freak but, he doesn´t want Fred to get hurt. It´s true that he took it away from Brad and Judy as a ransom token, never wanting to have anything to do with the child but now...
"You weak" sounds the voice of the Freak.
"How did you...? Never mind, I will dismantle that detective bluff and I am NOT weak!"
"Yes, you" the echo lurks through the room.
"Shut up. Why am I even talking to my own monster? Is pointless!"
"You not brave. Not smart. Not like I" it gets behind the man and gets ready to strike while Jones spares one last glance towards the photograph of a blonde woman.
"Get-lost"
"I can not. Ik ben u" what follows is a long scream and the sound of a breaking glass.
SD
Fred is the one who has called the sheriff and the gang. The blond boy´s face is stern and only Daphne gets him out of his mood. Velma glances at the shattered pieces of glass near the fire-place while Shaggy is with Scooby searching for any possible scent but not a clue. Mayor Jones has vanished into the thin air. Sheriff Stone isn´t happy about it and quickly pushes the kids outside.
"This cannot be a coincidence"
"I agree with Fred. The ghost girl shows the place where the old MI disappears and just now, Mayor Jones is gone. This is not just luck" Velma pushes her glasses back.
"So, like, that monster the Freak might be again behind this stuff?"
"Rhe one ron the rhip"
"I´m afraid so" Fred goes thoughtful and both Shaggy and Scooby gulp.
"Freddie, what can we do?" Daphne tries to help.
"There´s only one thing we can do and that is sneak into my father´s office. Perhaps we can find some clues there. I will make sure that we have a way in but you guys must be ready for it. This might be the hardest case we have faced and the longest night of our lives"
"So, like..."
"You guys go home and wait for my signal. When things are calmed down and everything´s ready, I´ll call you"
"Ok" they all nod and get to their homes. Scooby sighs. He should go see how E is doing in the hospital. But he also has to wait for Fred´s signal.
"Quite a predicament you have there, old chap" says a voice with a very peculiar accent that mixes British and Australian. "The Mayor gone and not a single clue" is a kea. A greenish brown parrot common in New Zealand. "But alas, my good fellow, fear nothing of me because I have nothing to do with that heartless Pericles of yours. My name is Langdale Pike and I belong to a journalist, I´m an expert in human nature"
"Ru are?"
"My dear human writes about it in his column in the newspaper, their loves, betrayals, passions and so on. But you, my good fellow, I can tell that you could use some good help because Shogun told me so"
"Rhogun?"
"That´s right, we share acquaintances. And before we move on, what was your plan?"
"Ri have to rait for Red´s signal but I rwant to ree Mr. Re too"
"I see, well. If we move now, perhaps we can do both things. C´mon, old chap" the bird takes flight and Scooby follows while Shaggy gets a talk from his parents about going with the gang. Langdale flies towards the hospital. "TALLY HO!" the dog finally lets the bird ride on his head and they both reach the building in little time. Despite what happened with Alice May and the Obliteratrix in the church (all orchested by Ed Machine), Scooby keeps an eye on Mr. E who is still in deep coma. The man has been losing a lot of weight since the doctors have found it difficult to feed him and Cassidy keeps his beard and hair short. The Dane walks in and the woman smiles.
"Thanks for comin´, Scoob. And I´m glad to see you again, Pike"
"Lovely to see you again too, my dear" the kea flies near the bedside. "No improvements?"
"No. Ricky´s cold as a stone fox and only stirs a little from time to time. What brings u guys here?"
Scooby and Pike exchange glances.
"Mayor Jones has been kidnapped or so it seems"
"No way! Really?"
"Rall left ras a roken glass"
"That´s weird. Well maybe is just a trick but still" Cassidy goes thoughtful.
"Re are going rinto ris office" says the dog.
"To look for clues, I guess. Well, u guys better be careful cuz the sheriff won´t just let u do that"
"Cass has a point, old chap. We best be careful" Pike agrees. The lights then tremble and the parrot flies back to the dog´s head. A hiss startles the three of them and Scooby follows the sound until he´s standing before a black cobra who´s hiding under the bed.
"(Whines)"
"Well, now this is unexpected. Nazo"
"Pike. Evening, my dear Sssscooby Doo"
"Rho are ru?"
"My name´s Nazo. I´m a foreigner, like you" what does he mean by that. "And I´m here for my good friend Ricky"
"Ru re a rnake"
"Indeed, but a good friend to Jormungard who wants very badly to talk to you," wow, really? "and I´m here to protect what´s mine"
"Rours?"
"Yess. I guesss E never told you about what happened after he was forced to leave Crystal Cove. I would told you but right now, I have something to do. So, I must bid you now ciao. Talk soon" he disappears in a puff of smoke. Scooby blinks when suddenly Ricky´s heart monitor goes absolutely mad. Cassidy tries to calm him down but is useless. The nurses are about to come in when Scooby rubs his head against the man´s hand and licks his face. The body activity turns again normal and the man sinks again into his limbo. Cassidy breaths in and the Dane rubs again the hand with a small whine. Not a flicker. As goodbye, he gently touches the man´s face and much to the woman´s surprise, E does move his head like if he was comforted by that gesture. Pike says nothing and they both go back to the Rogers residence to wait for Fred´s signal.
Who has kidnapped Jones Sr?
Is it a trap?
Will our friends be able to sneak into the town hall without getting caught?
What is Pericles up to?
Oh, and if you haven´t noticed, Langdale Pike is the name of a character from Sherlock Holmes (The Adventure of the Three Gables)
Next Clue: Truth or Dare