A/N I've been really slacking on writing this story because honestly I have no plan in mind for where I'm going with it. I'm one of those people who kind of just go with it as I'm writing and occasionally get ideas at random intervals. I know it seems pretty similar to the original up to now but I do have a couple of ideas to switch it up, mainly in later chapters. Anyway enjoy and don't forget to leave a review- good or bad!
Before Fred had the chance to check the noise out Daphne had already bravely dragged out whatever was rustling in the bushes beside her. "Shaggy? Scooby?" She asked, releasing her grip on the pair, causing them to slump to the ground. "GAHHHH!" Shaggy yelled as he realised what he had landed beside. "Relax! It looks like another cheesy mask like our usual mysteries." Fred responded, folding his arms causing Daphne to roll her eyes for probably the thousandth time since they arrived. "Oh really?" She questioned, going over to the zombie to attempt to remove the 'mask.' She appeared to be having a difficult time. "It feels so real."
"You have to pull harder than that Daph." Fred said cockily from behind the camera.
"Okay Mr Macho, why don't you try it?" Her tone was equally as cocky as Fred. She walked over to where Shaggy and Scooby were now standing beside Fred, about a foot away from the zombie's feet. "Sure, here hold this Shag." Fred said, handing Shaggy the camera before walking over to where Daphne had been previously. Shaggy was having a hard time holding the camera steady due to his trembling with fear of the zombies. Daphne took the camera from him and held it steadily, zooming in slightly for a close up of Fred's hands on the zombie's face.
"It's the gardener!" Fred called, struggling as he yanked on the zombie's head.
"No!" Daphne, Shaggy and Scooby said in unison as nothing happened.
"It's the fisherman!"
"Ro…" Scooby muttered, the three of them still watching Fred struggle, the zombie's features snapping back into position like a rubber band every time.
"It's the ferryman!"
"NO!" Daphne half yelled, getting fed up of his accusations.
"Maybe it's….. real!" Fred shouted, gasping when the zombie's entire head came off in his hands. "GAH!" Shaggy screamed as Fred threw it over to him. Shaggy hurled it towards Daphne who also screamed in fear and volleyed it over to Scooby. "RUH ROH!" He howled, tossing it back over to the now headless zombie on the ground. Suddenly, the zombie began moving again, it's arms reaching beside him to get his own head and fix it back on.
Shaggy and Scooby looked up to the sky, seeing an all too familiar sight. The sky was grey and the green mist had begun circling above the body of water close by. He gulped, "Uh guys… this isn't good." Daphne and Fred watched the scene before them, the green struck the water reminiscent of a lightning strike but a million times more terrifying. Before she knew it, Daphne was pressed up against Fred, her left arm holding onto his chest as she stared on. Zombies began emerging from the water, some pirates, others looking like tourists in ugly Hawaiian shirts. Fred remained still, now holding the camera again and absentmindedly holding it in the direction of the zombies. "They could be… animatronics?" Fred said nervously, much to Daphne's annoyance.
Along with the zombie who's head Fred had pulled off, the zombies from the water began groaning and making their way towards the gang who still stood paralyzed with fear. "Like what are we waiting for? RUN!" Shaggy yelled finally breaking the silence and tugging on Scooby's collar. Fred grabbed Daphne's hand and all four of them ran straight ahead as the zombies were coming from all angles. They had only been running for seconds before Shaggy and Scooby headed one way, Daphne and Fred the other, but both deep into the woods. It felt as though every corner each of them turned more zombies were appearing. Who knew how many there were.
"And I suppose they're all animatronic too?" Daphne half-yelled gesturing to more zombies that appeared behind them from the ground. "It is a possibility Daph!" The pair of them slowed down slightly, trying to figure out where to go next as the sheer number of zombies was insane. "You're not a sceptic Fred. You're in denial." Daphne scolded looking into the camera that was still rolling. Fred ignored her and took her hand yet again, "This way!" he said, taking a sharp turn. Several of the zombies were gaining on them, Fred now held the camera in his hand loosely as he ran, not bothering to film what was behind them. Daphne was now slightly ahead of Fred, still holding his hand whilst leaping over a tree root. Fred was too focused on trying to hatch an escape plan that he didn't notice the root. He accidentally tripped over it with his left foot and stumbled to the ground, the camera with all the footage flying out of his hand. "NO!" Daphne yelled, watching in horror as the camera hit the quicksand and was gone before she could reach for it. Fred turned his head behind him and saw three zombies only a few meters away from him. Daphne quickly helped him to his feet and they ran on again.
Shaggy and Scooby were having similar problems losing the zombies. They had no idea just how many were on their heels, but they knew it was a lot. They didn't want to turn around. "Like, over here Scoob!" Shaggy called hopping along some rocks in a shallow part of the bayou. Scooby sped over to him, mimicking his moves as they desperately tried to get to the other side onto the safety of the ground. Before they knew it, the 'rocks' began to move vigorously, causing the pair to move faster along so they didn't lose their balance. All of a sudden, it became clear what was happening. The 'rocks' leaped into the air baring their teeth and snapping at Shaggy and Scooby. "Ralligators!" Scooby shrieked, causing Shaggy to panic and turn around to see him. When he looked back, one of the alligators in front of him opened its mouth wide enough to fit him inside. By chance, Shaggy looked up and noticed a vine hanging from an old tree branch. He took a risk and grabbed hold of it, ushering Scooby to hold on too. Like Tarzan, the pair of them swung across the water and landed on the ground, only just avoiding the snapping together of the alligators jaws. "Rets get rout of rhere!" Scooby said, tugging on Shaggy's green shirt.
"Freddie, I have a plan." Daphne said, pulling Fred behind a tree with a large branch sticking out about hip length. About five of the tourist-dressed zombies approached soon after, causing Daphne to nudge Fred. Both of them had pulled the branch towards them as much as they could and following Daphne's cue, they released their grip, the branch snapping back like an elastic band straight into the zombies. "AH!" They both yelled, watching the branch plunge into the zombies but their bottom halves still walking as normal. "Let's get the hell out of here!" Fred yelled, the two of them running off again.
Shaggy and Scooby were running at top speed as they usually did when running from bad guys. Running from a herd of real-life zombies however was completely new to them. "Like I think we lost them buddy." Shaggy whispered after he and Scooby stopped to catch their breath. They both looked around, having a sigh of relief. The two of them were about to start walking again when they heard a scream in the distance. "Rena?" Scooby asked, knowing it wasn't one of the girls in their group. "I think so. Maybe we should try to find the others then head back to the house." Scooby's eyes widened as he was facing Shaggy. "Scoob? I said let's find the others."
"R-R-Raggy…" Scooby pointed behind Shaggy's shoulder still wide-eyed. Shaggy gulped, slowly beginning to turn around to see what Scooby was spooked by, though he was pretty sure he knew. As expected, Shaggy turned to be faced by three zombies, two of which were dressed as pirates and the other as a tourist. Before he had chance to scream, one of the pirate zombies reached his hand out to presumably grab Shaggy, but he ducked out of the way. In the process, he lost his footing and tripped backwards down the short hill that was behind him, taking Scooby with him…
"Stay still we don't know how many of them are out there." Fred warned, as he and Daphne were crouching in a large bush after managing to ditch some of the zombies. When she didn't respond, Fred turned his head to find her looking down, a single tear rolling down her face. "Daph.."
"I'm okay." She whispered; her voice slightly shaky.
"You don't seem okay. I'm sorry- the footage its all my fault." Daphne looked up at him as he spoke. He seemed completely apologetic even though the tripping over wasn't exactly his fault.
"It's not your fault Freddie. We were running from zombies-"
"No it is my fault. We were running from zombies, not guys in masks, not animatronics. Real life zombies and I didn't listen. I'm sorry." Fred and Daphne were staring deeply into each other's eyes. For the first time since they got here they were truly understanding each other. "Hey at least it was just the camera that we lost in the quicksand. It could've been you." Daphne smirked, she was joking but she meant it. As much as she tried to push it aside for the entirety of their time working together, she deeply cared for Fred on a more-than-just-friends level. No one could deny the chemistry between them since they were kids, teenagers, young adults that they were now. Fred lifted his hand and tucked a stray hair behind her ear, letting his hand rest on her cheek. Their faces were close enough to feel their breath on each other. "You can't lose me that easily." Fred smiled. Just as he was getting the courage to close the gap between them, someone pulled at the bush, exposing them. Fred protectively put his arm across Daphne ready to take on whoever it was standing before them.