Chapter 4: Detention

"Do I even need to emphasize the damage the fight you started had on school property?" Vice Principal Grimes bellowed later that afternoon in the school library.

Shaggy, Fred, Velma and Daphne only sat at the large table as the vice principal continued, "The windshield of my new car, I can most certainly replace. The engine lid, I can certainly have it replaced with the car still under warranty."

Then, the vice principal pulled out a brown object and placed it on the table as he said, "But this, do you even had any idea what it is?"

When the four students stared back at him quizzically, Grimes replied, "This was the platinum eagle that has been part of the school's flagpole. While it is within the school's budget to replace the flagpole, the same thing cannot be said remolding this platinum eagle."

Without missing a beat, Grimes continued, "And this is hardly just any platinum eagle. This eagle has been part of the school's flagpole since it was installed for the occasion of V Day at the end of World War II, and in spite of the elements, never once has it had to be remolded and precisely carved into an eagle. Until today."

"So your solution is to sentence us to six weeks of detention?" Velma asked in disbelief, prompting Daphne to stand up.

"With all due respect, Vice Principal Grimes, it's really unfortunate that the platinum eagle turned out that way." Daphne said. "But I'll be lying if I didn't say that I did not start the fight on the bus and that it was a series of unfortunate circumstances that led to it escalating the way it did."

"Yes, I certainly was left with no choice when the fight damaged the chemistry set I was bringing for the science club." Velma agreed as she stood up.

"And I was only trying to help-" Fred was about to stand up when the vice principal scoffed loudly.

"Oh, save it!" Grimes snapped, prompting the girls to sit back down. "Consider yourselves fortunate that I'm not asking you or your parents to pay for the remolding of the platinum eagle and the replacement of the school flagpole."

Shaggy, who was mostly silent up until this point, silently quipped, "I could certainly use a snack right now."

"There will be no eating in the library." Grimes suddenly snapped towards him, prompting Shaggy to recoil inwardly while the librarian nodded.

Then, the vice principal faced the other three as he continued, "And you will be spending two hours in here everyday starting three o'clock sharp. Get it?"

It was then that Fred raised his hand, prompting Grimes to turn towards him with a questioning look.

"Yes, Mr. Jones?" Grimes asked.

"Vice Principal Grimes, I was just wondering, given that the state championship finals are approaching, perhaps I could get an athletic exception just until the end of the season?" Fred asked as he stood up, which prompted Velma to scoff as she stood up as well.

"Yeah, perhaps while you're at it, might as well consider giving me an exception for the science club, for this morning's fight destroyed my chemistry set, which would no doubt throw a wrench into the schedule for the science fair-" Velma said, which is when Daphne stood up.

"Guys, guys, you've forgotten one thing." Daphne said.

When Fred and Velma looked at her, she continued, "State championship finals? The science fair? Hello, while you were discussing about implications this detention will have on those, perhaps you've forgotten about the school's drama club's upcoming theatre performance in the Metro Myer Theater?"

At Daphne's remark, Fred and Velma both scoffed while Vice Principal Grimes rolled his eyes, clearly having had heard enough.

As Fred and the girls broke into an argument about their respective activities, Grimes reached over and grabbed a thick book.

"Enough!" Grimes exclaimed crossly as he slammed the book onto the table, startling and silencing the bickering trio and prompting them to sit back down.

Pacing by the table, Grimes continued, "Just because one of you has a father sitting on the County Board of Supervisors and another having a father being the owner of the city's largest employer does not give you any exceptions."

Reaching over to pick up the book, he said, "No exceptions. None. And no excuses."

Upon picking up the book, Grimes said, "You four are going to spend a long time together, so better start using that time wisely."

As he walked away from the table, Grimes handed the book back to the librarian.

"Not even for the prep rally this afternoon?" Fred asked, prompting Grimes to turn and glare at him.

While the librarian took the book from Grimes, Fred clicked his tongue and nodded at Grimes. "Got it."

Grimes simply stormed out of the library in response while the librarian approached the four.

"As always, the rules in the library applies when serving detention here." The librarian spoke. "That means no talking, no electronics, and no eating."

Shaggy simply exhaled, and seeing that he was looking bored, the librarian continued, "If you're looking for something to do to pass the time, I'd suggest reading a good book, which this library has a lot to offer."

As Fred and the girls all reached into their backpacks for their books, the librarian walked away as she grumbled. "It's bad enough they've axed the school library's budget, now I have to work overtime and do double duty in looking after illiterates while the overtime pay is frozen by the county."

Shaggy only stared at her as she walked away to tend to other matters, then he sighed. Since the financial crash the previous year, it seems like everyone's budgets have been tightened.

He then turned back towards Fred and the girls. All of them were reading novels, and he took a closer look at their titles and paused his lips.

The Sign of the Four.

And Then There Were None.

La Comtesse de Cagliostro. Or The Countess of Cagliostro.

Like, what do you know, it looks like they're all into mysteries. Shaggy observed. Not that I'm into them myself, with the way all of those twists and turns and never knowing who did it until the end, it sure freaks me out.

Watching the trio being absorbed into their books, Shaggy quipped, "Guess I ought to try out reading mysteries, seeing how much you guys are enjoying yours."

Fred and the girls all looked up from their reading, during which Shaggy turned around and added, "Though it certainly is tough to decide where to start."

It was then that Velma pointed at one particular novel on the shelf, and Shaggy followed her head. A Scandal in Bohemia.

"Like, thanks for the suggestion." Shaggy turned back towards Velma. "Though on second thought, I guess I could use a nap."

Daphne raised an eyebrow as she watched Shaggy spread his arms onto the table and then rested his head on them, her mind still filled with questions about his behaviour when they first interacted the previous Friday.

As the redhead resumed reading And Then There Were None, Fred turned towards her briefly, and then to Velma before he sighed.

"Hey, I apologize for bumping into you like that on the bus." Fred said to Daphne before looking at Velma and added. "And sorry for shoving Darrell towards your way, I don't suppose it'll be easy rebuilding that chemistry set."

"While it wasn't exactly your fault for the destruction of my chemistry set..." Velma responded before nodding at Shaggy as she continued, "...maybe if you've put a stop to Darrell tripping him over everyday, we wouldn't be here."

During Velma's remark, Shaggy sat up as Daphne nodded.

"Maybe, though with Darrell the way he is...it's quite difficult for me to do something about it." Fred said.

"Even though friends are supposed to be there to support each other in doing the right thing?" Shaggy pointed out, prompting Daphne to nod in agreement.

"What do you expect me to do about it, then?" Fred asked. "I can't exactly go to the coach about it, not when he expects us to take care of anything going on between us on the team, and, well, he did play crucial roles in seeing that our team at least scores some touchdowns."

"Some team." Velma remarked. "I think it's safe to say that it's the Coolsville Central Neanderthals."

Velma's remark prompted Shaggy to laugh while Daphne snickered, much to Fred's dismay.


Meanwhile, outside the school, Scooby was on a leash tied to a bike rack, where he is to be picked up by Shaggy once he finishes serving his detention for the day.

"Rat's not fair rat all." Scooby whined to himself as he thought about Shaggy's detention.

Upon spotting Darrell joking with some friends at the front door while a few of them smoked, in spite of the "No Smoking" sign by the entrance, the Great Dane growled angrily at him.

"Retting him getting away with what he had done to Raggy is rust disgraceful." Scooby snorted, though he soon returned back to sighing.

As he sighed, there was thunder rumbling in the distance, in spite of the sunny skies above.

However, that thunder rumbling was accompanied by dark clouds forming in the sky, which he soon noticed when the grass became darker, leading him to look up into the sky.

And to Scooby's horror, the dark clouds were also accompanied by several lightning strikes in the distance.

Remembering the exact circumstances that led to him encountering those two ghosts at the cemetery the previous Friday, Scooby took off screaming in fright.

In his haste to get away from the looming dark clouds, the Great Dane had forgotten that he was still tied to the bike rack, and the rope straightened and pulled him back to the bike rack.


"I don't think it should be a surprise that the team isn't performing well this season with the likes of Darrell on it and those like you who don't do anything with the problems he's been causing." Velma was saying to Fred.

"You know, I am surprised that for someone obsessing with the science club, you'd know about the school team's difficulties." Fred remarked, prompting Velma to scoff.

"Sports may not be my thing, and I may be overly focused on the science club, but that doesn't mean I haven't gathered anything that gets around in school." Velma responded, prompting Shaggy and Daphne to both nod in agreement.

"Right, though to be fair, the team's been in quite the slump since Coach Bender came on after Coach Clay's transfer last year." Fred said.

"Sounds like the coaching staff is the problem then if they can't inspire any leadership out of you guys." Daphne said.

Fred only shrugged, which is when the lights in the library started flicking.

As everyone looked up at the lights, Shaggy frowned and asked, "Oh, what's going on with the lights?"


Back outside, more thunder and lightning crashed as the dark clouds rumbled through the skies.

"Yipe!" Scooby exclaimed as he began digging a hole.


Inside the library, everything began to chill significantly, which prompted Fred to put his jacket on.

While Velma and Daphne shivered, Shaggy looked around. Like, I haven't even had slushy or ice cream, and it feels like my head's freezing.

As Shaggy exhaled, Velma was astonished to see fog coming out from his exhale.

"Unusual climatic anomaly." Velma said as she adjusted her glasses. "Something's going on with the weather system, maybe a low pressure front is passing over us at abnormal speeds."

"Any clue as to why this low pressure system is passing over us at such speed?" Fred asked as he shivered.


Outside, Scooby grunted after digging a deep hole by the bike racks.

He reached out and dragged the pile of dirt right over him, then he reached out from his makeshift "grave" and plugged a nearby flower on it.


Back in the library, the wind began to pick up speed as the bookshelves shook.

Soon, objects began flying around, prompting the four to get up and duck as books and other papers began flying around.

As he ducked under a flying book, Shaggy remarked, "Like, I've heard of books flying off the shelves, but this is ridiculous!"

Just as he finished that remark, a thick book hit him in the back of his head, prompting him to duck down with an "Ow!"

Meanwhile, the girls were screaming at the chaos that was unfolding, all while more books began flying out of shelves, several even hitting the nearby computer screens and damaging them significantly.

And then, everything calmed down, prompting the four to survey their surroundings.

But just as they had a chance to catch their breaths, a large book suddenly fell from the top and slammed onto the table, startling them and prompting Daphne and the boys to leap right onto Velma's arms.

"So much for a low pressure front moving in abnormal speeds." Velma strained.

The pages of the book rippled before two glowing green ghosts emerged from the pages, much to the quartet's horror.

As the quartet stared at the two ghosts in horror, the two ghosts floated forward and growled menacingly, prompting Daphne and Velma to scream in horror as Fred shouted, "Run!"

With the girls taking the lead, the quartet took off running as the two ghosts cackled behind them.


Meanwhile, over at the Coolsville Central High School gym, a prep rally was well underway for the school football team.

The students and faculty in attendance were all hyped up for the Coolsville Central Cougars' upcoming match against the Crystal Cove Fighting Urchins, in spite of the former's slump performance in the season.

As the school band performs the celebration music and the cheerleaders performing their acrobatics with the music, the Cougars' mascot did a flip to conclude the music, to everyone's joy.

While the faculty cheered loudly, Principal Lantsman walked onto the stage.

"And now, it is my great pleasure those crazy cats of Crystal Cove County." The principal announced.

As the principal made the announcement, on the nearby hallway, Shaggy, Fred, Velma and Daphne were running madly with Fred briefly glancing over his shoulder.

Back in the gym, Principal Lantsman gestured towards her left as she declared, "The Coolsville Cougars!"

While the faculty applauded, all attention was drawn to the poster held by two of the cheerleaders, just as Shaggy jumped and burst right through it, much to everyone's confusion.

Suddenly seeing himself in the spotlight, as the applause died down from the crowd, Shaggy hesitated briefly before raising his fist and said, "Uh, go Cougars?"

As he was speaking, Fred and the girls jumped over the poster and the blonde shouted, "Run! Everyone run!"

Just then, the two ghosts hovered right through the poster and the lights began to flicker, prompting everyone to realize what was going on as screams broke out.

With everyone scrambling to get out, the two ghosts cackled as they taunted, "Run, children. Run!"

Shaggy, Fred, Velma and Daphne managed to gather while the doors all slammed shut, trapping everyone inside the gym.

Then, the lights completely shut down, and as everyone stood around, unsure what to do as the two ghosts looked down at them, just then, a light explosion occurred and a glowing green light came on, followed by smoke, capturing everyone's attention.

It was then that a cackling witch emerged from the smoke, much to everyone's horror.

"Students of Coolsville Central and citizens of Crystal Cove!" The witch hollered. "Leave my land while you still can, or pay for all eternity!"

As soon as the witch made that declaration, Shaggy turned to leave, only for Daphne, who was standing right beside him, to grab him by the shoulder and tug him back while continuing to look at the witch.

"Grave consequences await for those who choose to stay!" The witch continued. "You hear? Grave consequences!"

The witch then laughed evilly as another explosion occurred, and then the green glow dissipated.


Soon, there was a stampede of students at the main entrance as everyone hurriedly heed the witch's warning.

"Students, please!" Principal Lantsman exclaimed as she managed to make her way to the main entrance. "I need you to calm down and file out in a single file, just like a fire drill evacuation."

As the students continued to file past her, Lantsman added, "The late buses will be here soon."

Noting how much the students were scared out of their wits, Lantsman sighed as Grimes approached her, during which she said, "And I suppose we're gonna have to cancel classes tomorrow and get to the bottom of this 'witch' business."

Upon hearing Lantsman's remark, Grimes stared at her in disbelief. "Cancel classes? This 'witch' business?"

Lantsman nodded as she said, "I'm afraid so, Calvin. It's for the safety of the students and faculty-"

"Oh, with all due respect, Mary." Grimes cut in. "It's pretty obvious who was behind this 'witch' business."

When Lantsman raised an eyebrow, Grimes continued, "Obviously, this business was set up as a prank by a group of students who had an axe to grind."

It was right at that moment that Shaggy, Fred, Velma and Daphne emerged from the main entrance, in time for Grimes to turn around and point right at them as he said, "Them."

Seeing Grimes pointing at them, the four stopped.

"I'm sorry, what was that, Vice Principal Grimes?" Velma asked.

"Oh, isn't it obvious?" Grimes asked. "This witch business that scared the wits out of everyone at the prep rally."

"Witch business?" Daphne asked. "What about it, we were serving detention when-"

"Exactly." Grimes cut in. "Neither of you were at the prep rally, and given you were serving detention, that gives you plenty of opportunity and motive."

"But that's absurd, sir." Fred said. "Those two ghosts were real enough, they even caused a huge mess in the library, and they also locked everyone in the gym when that witch showed up-"

"First, a witch, and now, two ghosts?" Grimes cut in again before laughing humourlessly and continued, "Oh please, how many times do I have to debunk that there are no such things as ghosts?"

"Vice Principal Grimes, surely there's no way either of us could trash up the library as if a tornado had went through it-?" Shaggy began, only for Grimes to scoff dismissively.

"Alright, I've heard enough." Grimes scoffed. "You better save your stories for when we discuss your suspension."

This prompted the four to exchange bewildered looks with each other as Lantsman was about to say something when suddenly, an ear-piercing scream can be heard through the open door.

"Oh, isn't that wonderful." Grimes said. "Sounds like someone's discovered your witch costume-"

"Honest, Vice Principal Grimes, we didn't do anything-" Fred pleaded, only for Grimes to wave his hand dismissively.

"That's enough out of you." Grimes said dismissively. "Like I said, save your story for when we discuss your suspension-"

Just then, the same voice that screamed earlier exclaimed, "Oh my G*d, Martha!"

At that scream, Grimes and Lantsman exchanged puzzled looks with each other. "Martha?"

The four likewise exchanged puzzled looks, which is when Lantsman lead the way back into the school building with Grimes following her, prompting the four to follow them inside.

Upon arriving at the library entrance, which is where that scream came from, Vice Principal Grimes saw another teacher was standing over something, or rather, someone.

"Laura, what's going on?" Grimes asked as they approached, which is when the teacher turned around, clearly grief-stricken.

And it didn't take much for him, Lantsman and the quartet to soon find out why, for Grimes almost dropped to his knees in disbelief.

"Oh no." Grimes muttered as Lantsman made a sign of the cross, all while Shaggy, Fred, Velma and Daphne all visibly paled.

Right in front of them was the school librarian, who was lying on the floor, lifeless.


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