Chapter 8: The following morning

October 21, 2009

The following morning, Fred sprinted over to catch up to Daphne and Velma as they walked to the school.

"Hey, wait up." Fred called out. "Wait up."

Upon hearing him, Daphne and Velma stopped and turned towards him before they both leaned forward to embrace him in relief.

"Oh my G*d, you're okay, Fred." Daphne said.

"We were concerned when we didn't see you last night, and Daphne thought of giving you a call." Velma added.

"Except that we never exchanged phone numbers." Daphne said.

"Oh yeah, we didn't." Fred said. "Guess you girls were concerned that if any of us got stuck in the school last night, we'd be in a whole heap of trouble."

"Indeed, or worse." Velma agreed as they broke off the embrace and resumed walking towards the school.

As they continued walking, Fred said, "By the way, I don't think we ever properly introduced ourselves."

When the girls looked at him, he continued, "I mean, we know each other by first name, but I don't think we've shared each others' surnames, besides the fact that mine's Jones and Daphne's Blake."

"And Shaggy's Rogers." Daphne added.

"Oh yes, that." Fred nodded as he and Daphne turned towards Velma, who nodded as well.

"Dinkley." Velma said. "Velma Dinkley's my name."

"Great." Fred smiled before frowning as he continued, "And speaking of Shaggy, did he and Scooby call either of you last night?"

"No, they didn't." Daphne frowned as she and Velma both shook their heads. "I was hoping they got out with you."

When the realization dawned on them, their faces turned white.

Over at the cafeteria's freezer, both Shaggy and Scooby were pounding on the door.

"Help!" Shaggy called out.

"Relp!" Scooby added.

"S-s-someone help!" Shaggy shouted. "Like, h-help!"

It was then that a hand reached over to unlock the lock and remove it before opening the freezer door, revealing Shaggy and Scooby to be frozen.

With the door opened, Shaggy said in relief, "Oh, we're saved, Scoob!"

"Reah, saved!" Scooby agreed as their teeth chattered.

However, both their faces dropped when they saw it was Vice Principal Grimes who had opened the door.

As the vice principal motioned them to step out, Shaggy gulped. "Like, on second thought, we're screwed, Scoob."

"Screwed?" Scooby asked.

Meanwhile, the damage from the previous night's carnage became apparent as Fred and the girls saw black paint sprayed on the front wall and windows.

A massive skull was sprayed on the middle, accompanied by the word "Beware" to its left and the words "Never Return" to its right.

"Holy moly, look at this." Fred whistled.

"Wow. Extreme makeover, ghost edition." Daphne added as they surveyed the damage.

Besides the damaged billboard sign, the spray-painted words on the sign above the main entrance transformed what was "Welcome to Coolsville Central High School" into "H*ll comes to Doomsville Central High School".

"Clearly, these two paranormal poltergeists and the Witch meant serious business." Velma remarked.

"What's next?" Daphne asked.

"Just like the sheriff's and in our mystery books, we're gonna examine the clues we've gathered." Fred declared.

"Way ahead of you, Fred." Velma said as she pulled out her notebook. "That residue we discovered on the stage in the gym? Guess what it is?"

When both Fred and Daphne arched their eyebrows, Velma continued, "Magnesium chlorate. Can you believe it?"

Fred stared at her briefly before Daphne snapped her fingers. "Jeepers, of course!"

When Fred and Velma turned towards her, Daphne continued, "Magnesium chlorate is a highly-combustible substance that can be used to create an explosion, similar to the Witch's smoke screen."

Fred and Velma only stared at her in surprise before the former asked, "How'd you figure-?"

"I can read upside down." Daphne said as she nodded towards Velma's notebook. "Besides, the drama club uses it for smoke effects."

"That's great." Fred nodded. "But any particular reason why would this particular Witch need chemicals to conjure up a smoke screen?"

The girls both thought briefly before Daphne snapped her fingers and said, "Because she's not really a witch after all."

Turning towards Velma, the redhead continued, "Remember we thought we saw the Witch in the costume room last night? Turns out it was simply one of the witch costumes for Macbeth."

Velma nodded. "That certainly explains a lot, though there's still the issue with how the Witch could fly."

At Velma's question, Fred realized something. "Hold the phone, the gymnastics safety rigging in the gym."

When the girls turned towards him, the blonde continued, "You know the thing they use for gymnastics?"

After the girls nodded, Fred continued, "When I was facing off against the ghost, I used the gymnastics harness to escape, and it certainly looked like I was flying. Couple that with the smoke screen and the cover of the darkness, that's how the Witch flew at the prep rally."

"Okay, that means there is one mastermind working with those two ghosts behind the scenes." Velma said as she stepped towards the main entrance. "One mastermind who is very much human."

"And given the suspicious nature of the librarian's death, what are the chances that those two ghosts were responsible for slamming a book into her head with such force that it was enough to kill her in a single blow under that mastermind's bidding?" Fred added.

"That should be enough to clear us from any suspicion around her death, not to mention clearing our names in this 'prank'." Daphne added as they quickly headed towards the main entrance.

Principal Lantsman was carrying a ladder when Fred called out, "Principal Lantsman, we have some-"

Before he could finish, the principal turned around with the ladder still on her shoulder, forcing Fred to duck down with a "Woah!"

As he got up, he continued, "-information about those ghosts."

Before Lantsman could respond, Fred and the girls almost took a step back when Sheriff Stone emerged from the main entrance.

"Well, well." Stone remarked with his hands on his hips. "What's this I've heard about information about ghosts?"

"Sheriff Stone, what brings you here?" Velma asked.

Lantsman quickly explained. "I just got off the phone with the superintendent. As of this moment, classes here in Coolsville Central High School have been suspended until further notice for the safety of the students and faculty, and the sheriff is here for coordination on securing the building and further updates on the investigation into the death of Mrs. Gates."

As Lantsman was speaking, Vice Principal Grimes came out from the main entrance with Shaggy and Scooby in tow, the latter two both donning thermal blankets, and he overheard her remarks about the class suspension.

"What's this about suspending classes I've heard about, Mary?" Grimes asked, prompting Lantsman to turn around - and forcing Fred to duck down again, while Stone was also forced to step back to avoid getting hit by the swinging ladder.

"As you could see, something's gone through great lengths to cause widespread damage to school property, Calvin." Lantsman explained. "And for the safety of the students, I just had word with the superintendent. Classes have been suspended until further notice."

"Must be the handiwork of those two 'ghosts' you got there, Vice Principal Grimes." Stone said as he nodded towards Shaggy and Scooby.

Without litting go of his grip of the duo, Grimes growled, "Found these two in the freezer, it was clear they were here all night, which is more than enough time for them to cause significant damage here."

"With all due respect, Calvin, surely only the two of them being capable of causing such damage, not to mention being clumsy enough to get themselves locked in the freezer, is a bit overkill?" Lantsman asked, only to whither when Grimes glared at her.

"Well, we don't know how long they've been in the freezer, not to mention what they've pulled with the prank at the prep rally is more than enough for them to do all of this within the span of a night." Grimes responded before nodding at Fred and the girls as he continued, "And that's without considering that they might have any accomplices."

Seeing the looks on Fred and the girls' faces, Shaggy thought of something swiftly and said, "Like, it was just the two of us that were here last night, Vice Principal Grimes."

Stone immediately turned towards him and raised an eyebrow. "Is that a fact, Mr. Rogers?"

When Shaggy only nodded, Stone exhaled. "In that case, I can't say I admire your loyalty to your friends, because when you also consider the circumstances surrounding Mrs. Gates' untimely demise, I'm afraid your cooperation on the matter won't be enough for you to get out of whatever consequences that are in store for you."

Fred and the girls exchanged glances as the sheriff was speaking, then the blonde stepped forward.

"Actually, Sheriff, they weren't alone last night." Fred said. "I was there."

Daphne quickly followed suit. "So was I."

"Me too." Velma added.

Stone exhaled as he exchanged looks with the principal and vice principal, then he said, "Well, irrespective of whether or not you were responsible for the damage done to school property last night, I was actually hoping to speak with you five on the sleuthing you did at the medical examiner's office yesterday."

Immediately, the gang exchanged looks with each other as Grimes and Lantsman looked at them in surprise, during which Stone explained.

"One of my investigators was at the office for his afternoon appointment with Dr. Wymils, but while having his lunch, he spotted you five leaving the office." Stone said. "Care to explain what you were doing in there?"

"Um, we were just looking to see if there is more on Mrs. Gates' death that Dr. Wymils could tell us, and since Dr. Bell had a favour to return after I helped get his son out of a jam, he was receptive to us meeting with her for the autopsy results." Fred quickly explained. "Also showed us a sample of fibre from the head wound."

"I see." Stone nodded. "In any way, my investigators have also obtained the results from forensics, that fibre is from a sheet of paper."

When the gang exchanged glances as their faces lit up, the sheriff continued, "But there were items in the autopsy report that doesn't add up."

"How so?" Grimes asked.

"For starters, there is no other way fibres of paper could end up in the wound when the victim was killed in a single blow to the head." Stone said. "Forensics are very confident that the object responsible for the death is a book, which doesn't have the density to kill someone instantaneously, no matter how thick it is."

"That is peculiar." Lantsman frowned.

"Exactly. And that's not mentioning that it will take a huge force for a book to kill someone instantaneously." Stone nodded before he turned towards the gang and said, "Perhaps there's something more you kids would like to say on the matter?"

"Did the report detail an exact time of death, Sheriff?" Fred asked after he hesitatingly exchanged glances with the others.

"As a matter a fact, it did." Stone nodded. "Shortly after 3:05."

"Right around the time we were having the prep rally when it got crashed by those two ghosts and then the Witch." Lantsman said.

"And before that, we were running for our lives from those two ghosts." Daphne added.

"Yes, that too." Lantsman nodded.

It was then that something occurred to Shaggy as he looked at his watch, then he quickly asked, "Say guys, did any of your watches stopped at 2:55 on Monday?"

Fred and the girls turned towards him with questioning looks on their faces before they looked at their watches, then Fred frowned.

"Well, I do remember changing the time on my watch on Monday evening after I saw that it had stopped, but beyond that, I don't recall the exact time it stopped." Fred said. "Though now that you mention it, I do remember it was around 3 when my watch stopped."

"I'll say the same thing too, Shag." Daphne added as Velma nodded.

"Oh, please don't tell me this watch stopping has to do with this ghost story of you kids." Grimes said.

"Like, since the prep rally began at 3, and they were just getting started when we crashed it, it stands to me that the massive storm that hit us in the library, as a prelude to those two ghosts showing up, had to do with the watches stopping." Shaggy pointed out.

"And besides, last night, Sarah Ravencroft's ghost, which possessed one of the football mannequins, also used telekinesis to open the supply room door, in spite of it being locked, and dragged the tennis net out." Fred added.

"And when you add that with the contradictions from the autopsy results about her being killed instantaneously in a single blow by a book, what are the chances that those two ghosts are responsible?" Velma added. "Given what we've seen, it stands to me that only those two ghosts have the ability to inflict such damage with their powers, not to mention they disappeared when the Witch showed up in the crashed prep rally."

The adults exchanged looks at Velma's remark, then the sheriff exhaled.

"Fine, let's say that there are indeed ghosts involved in this, including Mrs. Gates' death." Stone said. "The question becomes, why her? I'm certain Mrs. Gates couldn't possibly had crossed paths with those two ghosts in a previous life."

"Because there is a mastermind behind all of this." Daphne said. "The same mastermind that Mrs. Gates might have crossed and would likely had these two ghosts eliminate her, and the same one who is dressed up as the Witch, given we saw her costume in the costume room last night, which is the same one used for one of the witches in the drama club's production of Macbeth."

"So someone in this school has taken up the disguise as the Witch and have the ghosts eliminate Mrs. Gates and cause all this damage to cover their tracks while leaving you kids to blame for the damage." Lantsman interjected.

"In that case, who?" Grimes asked skeptically. "Who would want Mrs. Gates dead, and more importantly, who stands to benefit the most from classes being suspended here in Central High indefinitely?"

"It's a whole lot of unknowns." Stone said as he folded his arms. "But enough about the death, what the h*ll were you kids doing here last night?"

"Collecting evidence from when the Witch appeared at the prep rally." Velma answered. "There was fresh residue from right under where the Witch was at, and it's magnesium chlorate, capable of creating smokescreens."

"And that's on top of using the gymnastic harness safety to fly." Fred added. "Again, a mastermind who is very much human."

"And you were absolutely sure that you had nothing to do with the damage here." Grimes stated as he gestured towards the graffiti.

"Of course we are, Vice Principal Grimes." Daphne replied. "The only purpose was to collect evidence and find more clues behind the Witch, we certainly didn't expect those two ghosts to show up."

"As impressive as your motivations were, I'm afraid that doesn't excuse the fact that you kids have trespassed on school property outside school hours, and all while suspended, no less." Stone said.

Grimes nodded. "Until this matter is resolved, your suspensions from school remains in effect."

"And if any of you were to be caught stepping foot on school property again in the duration of your suspensions, irrespective of your motivations for doing so, I will have you arrested for trespassing." Stone added sternly. "Consider this as my last warning to you on playing detective."

Without another word, the sheriff proceeded to yank the thermal blanket off Shaggy and Scooby, causing them to spin like tops momentarily.

"Now beat it!" Stone exclaimed, prompting the gang to sigh and take their leaves.

Once the gang were out of the sheriff's earshot, Velma said, "That certainly went well."

Shaggy nodded before he said, "Hey, like, thanks for not letting me and Scoob take the fall for all of this back there. No one's every stood up for me like that before."

While the girls both smiled, Fred placed his hand on Shaggy's right shoulder as he said, "Shag, we're all in this together."

As Shaggy nodded again, Velma added, "Yes, and on that note, it is essential that we find out who would stand to benefit the most from Mrs. Gates' death, not to mention the suspension of classes here."

Just then, the gang turned towards the parking lot when a familiar-voice shouted, "Norville!"

Recognizing the voice, Shaggy tensed up as he saw his sister Maggie approaching them.

"Mags, I-" Shaggy sputtered, only for his sister to quickly give him and Scooby a hug.

While the siblings embraced, Fred and the girls looked on, during which Daphne noticed how tense Shaggy's eyes looked.

"When you didn't return home last night, I was worried." Maggie said after the embrace. "And then...why are you and Scooby wet?"

With a sigh, Shaggy glanced at Fred and the girls before saying, "It's a long story, and don't you have classes right now, Mags? What are you doing here?"

"Checking on you, silly." Maggie responded. "And classes at Daws Butler are suspended, there was major damage to the school building like a hurricane or tornado had torn through the school's inside."

Maggie's remark prompted Fred and the girls to step forward.

"Major damage at Daws Butler, you say?" Velma asked.

Maggie turned towards them and nodded before turning back towards her brother and asked, "Who are those three, Norville? You never told me you've made some new friends here. What were you guys doing last night, and why is your school damaged like that?"

"Like I said, Mags." Shaggy quickly said. "It's a long story."

As Shaggy was speaking, Fred and the girls all nodded, prompting Maggie to turn towards them.


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