- 2:00 PM: 6 DAYS EARLIER -
Daphne shifted the Mystery Machine into park, close to where it had landed previously.
They made it back.
She sighed, rubbing her face in an effort to fight off the exhaustion weighing down upon her.
In the backseat, Shaggy slowly sat up and rubbed his eyes. "Are we here?"
"Yeah," Daphne breathed as she turned to face him. "I'm so sorry, Shaggy."
He gave her a confused look. "Like, what for?"
"Scooby," she whispered. "This shouldn't have ever happened."
To her surprise, Shaggy only shrugged. "I mean, he'll be okay . . . at least, I hope so. I just . . ."
"What?" Daphne pressed gently.
"I just hope he goes back to being himself again," Shaggy mumbled. "He wasn't talking, Daph."
Daphne swallowed hard. "I know. But he'll be okay. It'll just take time . . ."
Shaggy slowly moved to exit the van, hesitating at the door. He glanced back at her, his eyes full of exhaustion and fear.
"We don't know that."
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Inside Cabin 13, Fred was pacing about the living room, deep in thought. "Alright. We just need a plan – something simple but effective. A way to get back on the trail."
Velma was on the couch, the iron box clutched tightly in her lap. "I know. But Fred, we've really got to be careful."
"I know, I know," Fred muttered, scratching his chin. "We'll start by bringing some flashlights, and –
"I still don't like that we're going out in that forest without a full plan."
"Well, we checked the library! There's no information at all!"
"Maybe my dad's hiding something –
"Velma –
A soft rapping behind the front door ceased their argument.
Fred opened it – Daphne and Shaggy were standing there, covered in dried blood.
Neither said a word as they stepped inside. A heavy silence weighed down on them.
Finally, Daphne spoke. "If – If you guys don't mind . . . I'm going to shower."
The others gave her a nod and look of sympathy as she disappeared down the hall.
Shaggy slowly made his way over the couch and collapsed onto it. His gaze was fixed forward, as though lost in thought.
Velma exchanged a glance with Fred. They both knew it – Shaggy and Daphne were in no state to join them in the investigation.
It was all up to them.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Once Daphne finished her shower and put on fresh clothes, she felt infinitely better – like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She was ready to face whatever they might find in that forest. They would finally know what had happened to Scooby.
As she entered the dark, hazy living room, she caught a whiff of something that she recognized immediately. And it wasn't good.
The TV was on, flickering slightly as it played one of those old black-and-white Vincent Van Ghoul movies Shaggy and Scooby loved. Shaggy was slumped forward on the couch, a cloud of smoke curling from his mouth. He was still in his bloodied clothes.
"Shaggy?"
He turned sluggishly, realizing Daphne was behind him. "Hey. Like, you feeling any better?"
Daphne folded her arms, trying to ignore the unmistakable smell of weed – he told them months ago that he'd finally quit. "Yeah. You?"
Shaggy exhaled, turning back to the TV. "Well, like, this TV's got the channel with Vincent Van Ghoul, so I can't complain."
Daphne forced a small laugh. "That's nice . . . I guess."
She glanced around the room and frowned. "Where's Fred and Velma?"
"They went out to the forest," Shaggy mumbled. "They decided we were 'too tired' to go with them. Works with me. When we were on our way back, I found some leftovers under the backseat . . . just don't tell Velma. She'll kill me."
Daphne didn't know how to react. Specifically, to the fact that Velma and Fred had left her.
She dashed to the window, hoping to see them through the fogging panes. But it was now dark out. She couldn't see a thing. "Fred told me I could come!"
"Well, you were in the shower for a long time, Daph. They left, like, an hour ago."
"No, I wasn't!" Daphne shot a glance to the wooden clock on the wall. "See, it's only –
But the clock read 5 PM.
"There's no way I was in there for that long –
"We figured you needed time to yourself," Shaggy said as he took another hit. "Didn't want to disturb you."
Daphne was about to open her mouth to protest before she noticed the iron box sitting on the end table. "What –
Shaggy followed her gaze. "Velma didn't want to take it with them. Thought they might lose it or something."
Daphne crouched and flipped open the lid. The pendant was still there, its gold finish catching the dim light from the TV. The folded note was there too – but something was different.
With shaking fingers, she opened it.
Scrawled in dark red letters, the words: I WARNED YOU were scratched into the parchment.
Daphne let out a gasp.
Shaggy was too much in his own world to notice.
"Um . . . Shaggy?"
No response.
"Shaggy? SHAGGY!"
Shaggy broke out of his daze with a start, standing swiftly. "What?"
Daphne held up the note. "This wasn't in here before! Remember? This is a different message!"
"Like, I guess someone wants us gone." He gave a small laugh as he flopped back onto the couch.
"Shaggy, I'd let you sit here and do this any other time, but you really need to focus right now! Someone switched the notes!"
Shaggy shrugged, the smoking blunt still between his fingers. "Daph, there's really no point in us digging any further. What's done is done; Scoob's already hurt."
"I can't believe you right now."
Shaggy didn't respond.
Daphne grumbled in frustration. "Don't you want to find out what happened to Scooby? Fred and Velma are out there trying to find out what happened to your dog while you're just – just sitting here, and –
But Shaggy wasn't paying attention; his eyes were fixed on the TV screen.
Daphne snatched the remote from the end table and was about to press the OFF button, before –
"Like, hey! It was just getting to the good part!"
The screen began to flicker.
Daphne froze. "This – This is what Mr. Dinkley told us about! The flickering! The TV, it's –
And before she could further process what was happening, the lights on the ceiling blazed to life and began strobing in quick, blinding flashes.
Daphne's breath caught in her throat. The room began to spin.
She remembered the night before. The shadow. The hopelessness. The dread.
She looked to the clock on the wall again –
The hands were turning backwards.
Her pulse pounded in her ears.
Shaggy let out a dazed laugh. "Oh, man! I'm used to tripping out, but this is insane!"
And then – just as how it had happened – the flashing of the lights ceased.
They were now in darkness again.
Vincent Van Ghoul returned to the screen.
The clock ticked forward again.
It was as though nothing had happened.