- 3:30 AM: 6 DAYS EARLIER -

"So, like, you're going in first, right Fred?"

Shaggy and Fred were on the doorstep of Cabin 9. The front door stood open, its hinges groaning as a cold breeze whipped by.

Fred shot him a look of annoyance. "You know, Shag, you really need to get out of the habit of being scared all the time."

"Well, excuse me for not wanting to die," Shaggy muttered under his breath.

Fred ignored him and stepped inside. The living room was pitch dark, save for the dim glow seeping from the bedroom at the end of the hall.

"They said the shadow was on the ceiling," Fred said, gesturing towards the bedroom. "We'll start there."

Shaggy hesitated. "B-but what if it's still in there?"

"Then we deal with it," Fred said. "But I doubt it's still hanging around."

Fred started towards the bedroom.

Shaggy scrambled after him, not wanting to be left alone in the dark. "Like, what are we even looking for?"

"Anything out of the ordinary."

Fred reached for the light switch. The ceiling bulb flickered slightly before dying.

Darkness swallowed the room. The only light source was the flickering bedside lamp. The beds were a mess, and blankets were strewn across the floor. Velma and Daphne had bolted from there in a hurry. Fred clenched his jaw.

"We'll be quick," Fred said as he patted his jeans pockets. He froze. "Crap."

"What?"

"I forgot the flashlight."

"Well, guess we gotta leave –

"No, Shag. We'll just make do." Fred gestured to the beds. "Let's check underneath these."

Shaggy reluctantly nodded as he crouched and peered under one of the beds. "Like, I can't see a thing, Fred."

Fred was kneeling next to the other bed. "Me neither. It's too damn dark."

Then he paused, glancing at the bedside lamp. He reached for it.

"This should work!" Fred cried, grabbing it.

He went back under the bed. And he saw something, but he couldn't make out what it was. It was shiny and small. Fred thought it had a silvery shine to it.

"Shag, I think I found something!"

He was about to reach for it before a muffled scream reached his ears. Fred gasped, lifting his head quickly, hitting it hard on the underside of the bed. He dropped the lamp, its bulb breaking.

"OW!"

"Freddy, are you okay?"

Fred rubbed his head as he emerged from under the bed, wincing as he did so. "Just peachy."

Shaggy's breath hitched. "Like, what was that –

And then they heard more screams crying for help.

"Daphne and Velma!"