Author´s Note: 26 years here with you! Wow! Now that´s a lot of time, dear ones! And so, we move on with an even wider smile. For all of you with the hurricane "Sandy" (I wonder who gives storm such names), I want you to know that you have my support from here. Poor Scooby, we really hope he makes it! Short chapter but enough breath before the run.

Let´s go!

9. From the Dark

6 Hours before

Scooby sighs and waits as hope goes slipping away little by little, but aside from the strange creature in the cell of the other side, there´s someone else who has listened to his cry for help and he flies looking for any window or thing like that. Stupid humans! Haven´t they heard of the advantages of something called ventilation? Officer Johnson hears the flapping sound and comes.

"What the? Oh, no! Not a bat. I hate these pest!" pest?! Get a grip, man! We bats eat mosquitoes and other annoying insects. We are no pest, we actually help humans and all they do when they see a bat is scream and yell. (Author´s note: Luckily, I DO like bats. My uncle works with them and I have see them closely). "Get out, you flying rat!" open a window, you lemon-brained ape! Officer Johnson finally leads him out and he´s able to fly towards the hospital where Angel and the others are. Vamp, as Monsieur Noir´s agent, has been following Scoob all night with his fellow bats. Since he and his fellow Ludwig are the only ones who can see at night and daylight, they fly ahead and reach E´s window but Lud does not let him knock the glass. There´s an interesting scene going on inside.

SD

Angel has felt asleep with her head on E´s lap when a hand is placed on her shoulder waking her up. She thinks is Ed Machine, perhaps he´s back, or Carusso who said he was on his way there but much to her surprise, is...

"Cassidy!" BRAD AND JUDY?! HERE?!

"Whoa, what?" she blinks. It´s been a long time, since she saw them. Judy´s hair is now shorter and her face is much thinner (Not like in the show, I decided that from the beginning).

"We thought we were never going to see you again!" the woman gives her a hug.

"Judy. Brad" she smiles and sees Carusso at the door who nods.

"You have gotten taller" smiles Chiles who´s blond hair has gotten darker and with several white hairs, he looks pretty much like a super star or something. If he was opposite to Ricky when they were teenagers, now is even more obvious. "How´s Ricky?"

"Still in coma. Doctors say he has improved but..."

"Don´t worry, Cass. I´m sure he´s OK. When were clue hunting and got chased, he always make it in one piece"

"I just hope you´re right" Angel walks towards Carusso. "Thanks for coming"

"I came as fast as I could but is not easy with Bronson messing around. Any news from Scooby?"

"Nothin"

"I´m sure he´s all right" smiles the agent.

"Thanks, Ed"

"Perhaps these two can watch over Rick for a few minutes while we fetch a coffee"

"…"

"Great idea!" smiles Brad and Judy nods.

"OK, then we´ll be right back" they both head for the cafeteria, leaving them alone.

"Told you she was still in love with him" Brad frowns.

"Get over it. Just because you can distinguish between a woman and a trap, that doesn´t make you a man" Judy snaps.

"Jud, we are here because..."

"I know, I know. But I really need to think this through"

"We are here for Fred and..."

"And the treasure, yes. But, you know? I don´t know what´s more important for you"

"Judy, don´t start over again" Brad grumbles as his wife sits near Ricky and touches his hand. Vamp wrinkles his snout while Ludwig rolls his eyes and knocks the glass. He does so a few times until Judy looks at him and the bat does a sneer. The woman jumps back as Vamp joins in and Brad opens the window to scare them away but both bats fly inside and deliberately ignore the man. Judy´s screams finally catch Cassidy´s attention but the dj isn´t scared, she knows both bats. "Those, those..."

"Those, those, those..." Vamp mimics and finally shows his teeth "BATS!" (perfect Grinch quote). "Gee!"

"Vampy! How good of you to come" the dj gives him a hug.

"Oh, dear. Now I feel warm here. Hehehe. How´s that for a flying rodent?"

"Vamp, for Dracula´s sake" mumbles Ludwig.

"Lasstrange" smiles the woman and Carusso relaxes. "I thought you said that you didn´t like it here"

"Yes, I did" the smaller and darker bat has a Czech accent. "For creatures like me, is a place of dishonour. But I can´t just fly away when my good friend Noir says they need me. Co mám dělat?"

"You are really one great vampire"

"Thank you, drahá. I really appreciate that" smiles Ludwig but stays as a bat. "But let´s keep the charade for short"

"Yes, please. Our four-legged sleuth is in big trouble, folks!" says Vamp.

"What do you mean?"

"He´s in the asylum thanks to that knuckle head called Bronson. We must move and fast"

"Wait, who´s in that place?" Brad glances at Cassidy.

" (Frown) Cassidy dear, please leave these two... (Cough) cretins... for later. We must hurry" insists Ludwig.

"But..." the dj does not want to leave Ricky alone.

"Is all right, Cass. We can stay here" Judy smiles.

"Ah, no. No, no, no, no, nein, nein. I stay here and do the watch. You can go and talk your nesmysl with a coffee or whatever" frowns again Lasstrange.

"I agree with Lud in this one. You two should stay alert in case any police officer shows up" says Carusso.

"That we will" they both head for the cafeteria and the entrance.

"Vamp, you fly ahead and watch the mouth of the caverns"

"Aye, captain sir" the bat takes flight while Lud hangs upside down in a corner.

"We leave Ricky to you, pán. We must try to find Langdale and I know where will he be, waiting for us" Ed walks to the exit followed by Cassidy who spares one last glance towards Ricky before leaving.

"Works for me. I need some peace and quiet" he smiles and both humans leave. "You know, I really envy you at this moment, pan Owens"

Ludwig Lasstrange is one of my oldest vampires and Vampy, we met him back in the festival with his friend Ian.

How are they going to save Scooby from jail?

Are Judy and Brad up to something?

Next Clue: Gathering Storms