A Kind Of Emotional Tether

Part Four

"If you die, I'll literally go out of my freaking mind."

-

"Look, at the end of the day I'm able to handle our, like terrible, life-shortening lifestyle. But that was because no matter how many horrible ghouls got up close and personal and nearly caused me to exit my body in an ethereal form, it always ended and that was that."

Everyone shifted uncomfortably in their seats as Fred sped down the empty highway.

Shaggy was leaning against the back door of the van, Daphne sitting right next to him. All of them were out of breath and Shag's breathing seemed to hitch every few seconds, his hands were shaking hard. But he couldn't get them to stop.

They had just been chased out of Fred's house by a woman taller than Shaggy wearing what looked like a baby doll's face.

She was recognized as Marilyn Andrews, an ex-special forces who had been terrorizing Coolsville for the past month or so. That is, until some meddling kids came along and did what they do best.

They thought it was gonna be like every other case, every loose end gets tied up and the bad guy goes to jail for a long ass time.

Except this time that's not what happened.

Instead Andrews escaped, and her first instinct was to go after the meddling kids that thought they could outsmart her. Just to ensure it would never happen.

"Shaggy she's ex-special forces, of course she can break out of prison. I-I guess we were just hoping she wouldn't remember how." Velma gently pet Scooby's head that was resting on her lap.

Shag let out a tired laugh, "Or course we were. You guys know what your problem is? Like, you're never willing to admit when maybe this is out of our hands. Maybe, just for once, we could let the damn police handle something!!" He lifted his hands up in frustration.

He knew that Velma and Fred would rather die than admit they were in over their heads.

It was possible they still had trouble trusting adults and that was why they never bothered to never get them involved.

Nobody responded.

Daph had gotten on her knees and turned around to look out the window, probably checking to see if they were being followed.

She let out a sigh of relief and pressed her forehead against the glass.

Shaggy felt his heartbeat relax as he looked at her calmed face and her gentle eyes. For the moment everything was quiet, all of them just trying to grasp onto reality and keep their wits about them.

Velma continued to pet Scoob's shaking head.

Fred gripped tightly onto the steering wheel.

Shaggy and Daphne stared into each other's eyes trying to find an anchor to hold onto.

Eventually, the silence was ended by Fred handing Velma his phone and telling her to dial 911. Shaggy felt a rush of relief run over him and he finally felt his tense body relax.

Velma explained the situation as clearly as she could, she was having trouble forming full sentences.

"G-Got it, okay....um thank you officer."

She hung up and turned to Fred, "Uh- They tell us to head toward the high school a-and wait for them. I-In the van of course."

Fred nodded and without signalling, he turned right toward their school.

As he turned he said, "Daphne, there's a compartment right next to where we keep the spare tire. Open it and get what's inside." Daph nodded slowly and began to crawl over to where the tire was kept.