Scooby Doo! Mystery Incorporated fanfiction by dewapain
in which Fred Jones Sr desperately tries to rescue bond with his son and learns, that greed and crimes committed in its name make one lose everything, even humanity.
Although it was only half an hour until sunrise, the glow of a new day still had not appeared on the horizon. Only the light of the roadside lamps and headlights of the van were broking the darkness.
Fred had stayed up many nights, due to investigating with the gang or projecting a new trap, but none of them seemed to be as long as this. To him, it seemed like they had broken into mayorβs office a week ago, not just two minutes after midnight.
Fifty meters from his house, Fred slowed to 20 kilometers per hour and turned the headlights off. He didnβt think that dad was asleep, unaware of Fredβs absence, meanwhile the fact, that he still hasnβt seen any information about missed call, was giving him some hope.
Young man parked van in the same place, where he did few hours ago, after arrival from police office, as quiet as possible. Autumnβs wind hit his body, as he got off.
He should think about drinking some hot milk and having hot bath, so he could wash away smell of oceanβs water, dust, mud, fear and horrible shame, but all his thoughts headed towards one destinationβ¦
He hid his face in his hands.
Shame was absolutely the worst of all.
It wasnβt about masked villainβs escape. Maybe he would catch him, if he didnβt fall, weakened due to dramatic chase and shocked by the fact, that monster had saved him from certain death under rocks from apse tumbling down. It wasnβt about confrontations with gangβs parents. After unsuccessful mission in the caves, Fred drove all friends home. Their parents, informed by phone about kidsβ safety after countless missed calls, seemed to await just behind the door.
The Rogersβ just pulled Shaggy and Scooby in the hall and slammed the door.
βI know, that some of your friends canβt predict consequences of their decisionsβ, Mrs Dinkley growled at Velma. βBut you should be able to refuse!β
Nan Blake took her daughter quickly, and Barty without hesitation sent Fred to the devil. Teenager didnβt oppose him, feeling that he deserves all the scolding.
βI nearly killed us allβ, he moaned. βI could kill us all! What kind of leader am I?β
Dad kept telling him, that he should quit solving mysteries, but Fred has never considered it (maybe once, during the case of fake ghost in their house). Now he knew dad was right. From the very beginningβ¦
He entered the house through side entrance and went to his room without turning light on. The fire on fireplace went off hours ago, darkness was filling every corner. He didnβt see any light coming from dadβs bedroom. Fred looked into his room, curious, if heβs really asleep.
He stopped immediately. His mind was telling him, that heβs afraid of dad waiting in the darkness, angered enough after breaking into his office, but the rest of his body, paralyzed, knew better.
Mayorβs bed was empty. The curtains around it hang as leftovers, and the rest of it lied on the floor as a rag.
His body changed into giant block, but the senses became sharper. He observed the spacious room and listened carefully, still standing in the hall.
Nearby the bed stood a grand mirror. Despite darkness, Fred noticed that instead of smooth surface, he looks at rough plane full of cracks β like someone hit it with a fist. Some splinters were shining on the floor. He smelled dadβs eau de Cologne and a light scent of salt, and another, well-known, but hard to recognize at the same time. Fred overcame the weakness in his body. He took waterproof pocket flashlight, then directed a beam of light straight at the floor in front of the mirror and hissed, as he saw scarlet dots covering the parquetry.
βDad?β, he whispered.
Silence was the only answer.
He walked into the bedroom silently, filled with irrational fear of revealing his presence. Right β dad was angry after the action in the city hall, but never got so furious to start devastating someoneβs property (his own property, in particular). Even the time we crushed his election meeting, as we were chasing a robber dressed up as vengeful Osage, Fred thought. He felt pain, as he curved his mouth in a nervous smile.
He was moving forward slowly. As the ray from flashlight trembled with each nervous move of his hand, Fred was noticing new elements of β now he had no doubt β crime scene. He saw red stains on the curtainsβ leftovers on the floor and white sheet on the bed, and scratches on a wall nearby, so huge that only a monstrous predator could make it. Fear pressed him like a battering ram. He choked with the air he breathed. He felt like a person sinking in the oceanβs deep, where the death itself was lurking.
A rustle in the darkness. Fred started illuminating all the corners of the bedroom to discover source on the sound, at the same time being afraid of it. Finally, white light fell on the dark shape near the wall next to the door.
Fred felt that his legs transform into substance without bones and muscles he could control. How stupid he was, as he thought, that he had freed himself from the nightmare for the rest of the night! Now this nightmare stood in front of him. Fred tried to make a step, but fell. Pressing his back to the bed, he watched tall shadow approaching slowly.
βItβs you. Itβs you againβ¦β
The monster stopped and, to Fredβs surprise, switched on a lamp on the bedside cabinet. Yellow light illuminated whole room. A grotesque figure showed up in its full splendor, from golden braces on the shoes to tips of goatβs horns.
βWhat do you want, monster?!β, Fred screamed, filled with panic. All the courage and determination that helped him start chasing the creature, suddenly disappeared. He understood, why Cassidy warned the gang against him. βWe donβt have the piece anymore, just leave us alone!β
The monster stopped, then kneeled next to him. Fred moaned, as he caught his shoulders with unbelievable strength. He looked into monsterβs face and noticed, that something changed β Freakβs face has softened. Instead of wickedness, Fred saw pain and sorrow in his eyes.
βFreddie, do not go. Do not fear. It is me.β
Some years ago, Fred was preparing a school project and exploring old family album, he discovered old photos of his dad. He couldnβt believe, that smiling lad with giant backpack wearing T-shirt with old rock bandβs logo posing on the mountain trail and always irritated mayor sitting in the office are the same person. The surprise of discovering dadβs youth was nothing comparing to well-known voice coming from behind hideous mask.
Fred tightened his eyes. After confrontation with the parrot he suspected, that dad is lying to him, but he didnβt know, if just a little or completly, but he didnβt expect him to be able to such meannessβ¦
βI donβt believe. Itβs a nightmareβ, he said aloud, aware that now heβs lying to himself. His body knew, just like few moments ago, when he noticed torn curtains.
βFreddie, it is meβ, Freak repeated. No β his dad. βBut I will not harm you anyway. Freddie, I am sorry.β
Fred opened eyes. Dadβs attitude encouraged him enough.
βItβs all your fault. That kids, old mystery incorporatedβ¦ And now me and my friends. You have robbed us and escaped. Youβ¦ how dare you?β
βIndeed, it is me. From the very beginningβ, dad agreed. He was talking quickly, like he had a hard exposΓ© to tell and wanted to end it as soon as possible. βI escaped with the piece.β
βWhere is it?β, Fred asked, still shocked.
βThereβ, dad pointed into the nearest corner. Fred saw golden shape on a cabinet. βBut now it does not matter. I do not want it anymore. After this nightβs eventsβ¦ Freddie, I am sorry. I am so sorryβ, he tightened his fingers on sonβs shoulders. Fred felt, how rough claws cut into his skin through sweaterβs material. βI used to be wild, I desired adventures. I used to be unbelievably greedy. I came here thirty years ago to explore this cursed town and find the treasure. I prepared myself a costumeβ¦ At daytime, I was searching in archives and libraries, at nights, I was visiting suspicious places, exploring cemeteriesβ¦β
ββ¦but I did not find anything. Then, they came to the library to ask for the scroll they had found in Spanish church. I decided to use them and then eliminate. I attacked them in the caves just after they had escaped with the piece found in that chest. I told them I will convince everyone about their parents committing various crimes if they will not abandon Crystal Cove. I led to imprisonment of the parrotβ¦β
βPlease stopβ, Fred whispered. He wanted to cover his ears, so he couldnβt hear the confession of dadβs sins, but the curiousness won over fear.
Β βSome years later, I won local election and gained nearly unlimited power over the town. Despite having much lesser time, I could go anywhere I wanted, without need to dress up. The parrot was in the shelter, mystery incorporated stayed away from the town, at least, for long timeβ¦ Williams has worked here for some years, Owens as well. He is hiding currently, but he stays here.β
βThere are also Brad and Judyβ, Fred said.
Dadβs eyes, opened widely and directed at Fred, turned down.
βThey are not going to take any step closer to Crystal Cove, if they still believe the threat they heard from meβ¦β
βWhat did you tell them? That you will prepare proofs of their parents committing β¦ a murderβ¦ or somethingβ¦β, Fred began slowly, unable to avoid listening to dadβs untold story.
βTwo years after groupβs departure Chiles wanted to returnβ, dad was speaking silently, with his eyes casted down. Fred realized, that mayorβs gesture expresses something he had never observed in his behavior: shame. βMarried to Reeves. They had new-born sonβ¦ I took him and threatened that I will hurt him if they will not go away for good.β
βYouβre sickβ, Fred whispered. βWhat have you done with this boy? Is he still in town? He must be eighteen right nowβ¦β
Monster raised on Fred eyes filled with pain. His blood-red lips curved. Fred didnβt know, that one can express remorse so well, wearing a mask. One sight into his eyes was enough to realize the most terrifying truth of all that he has encountered this night.
Fred wished he could scream and curse, but his body betrayed him. He just demanded:
Sharp claws on his shoulders disappeared, but mayor didnβt move back. He embraced Fredβs face instead.
βYou will call me monster and you will be right. Indeed, I am a horrible person, but I do love youβ, mayor was throwing words from his mouth quickly, as if he got a tiny piece of time to confront his hostage. βYou are the most precious treasure I could have ever dream about. Treasure that I do not deserve and should not ever obtainβ¦ Tonight, after I had attempted to kill you unwittingly thanks to my madness, I realized, how far it has goneβ¦ So farβ¦β
βLet me goβ, Fred repeated louder.
βYou are angry with me and you are rightβ, he whispered. βI do not know if I can ask you for forgiveness. Thus, I would like to ask you only for one favor. Please, help me put this mask off.β
In the first moment, Fred didnβt notice anything unusual in mayorβs words, soon he realized, how ridiculous the situation is. Why does he hear dadβs (or rather manβs, who played the role of his dad) voice, but still doesnβt see his face?
βPut it off yourself. You can do that, if you shared all your lies.β
Blood-red lips trembled, fear came to hideous eyes.
βI can not. I do not understand, whyβ, to prove his words, mayor grabbed the material on his jaw and pulled, without any result. Places pierced with sharp claws kept bleeding. βMaybe the material shrinked in contact with salty water and stuck to my skinβ¦β
βWhat a pityβ, Fred growled. βYou can wait few hours till this eyesore comes off.β
Fear replaced sorrow in mayorβs eyes completely.
Fred turned his eyes away, on the one side, disgusted with his kidnapperβs image, on the other, embarrassed by the situation: he had the Freak of Crystal Cove, feared by adult, serious people, even psychopaths like Pericles, begging on knees in front of him. It felt so wrong and scandalous, that Fred decided to cut it off.
βBut you promise not to chase after disc and treasure anymoreβ, he began.
βAnd youβll help me find my parents.β
βAnd finally, youβll plead guilty.β
He stood up, grasped one of the horns and jerked with all his strength. Loud moan resounded in the bedroom, as mayor moved up.
βOkay, just like glued to the skinβ, Fred said, then sat before mayor. βLetβs try something else. Whereβs the rim of this mask?β
βJust beyond the collarβ, mayor was rubbing his neck.
The man put off purple coat, meanwhile Fred unbuttoned his shirt.
βWhat does it mean: beyond the collar?β, he asked, spreading shirt apart.
βJust under its rim. I wanted the material of the mask to cover neck fully, but in the same timeβ¦β
Fred stopped listening. He was looking with disbelief at mayorβs chest, pale like a wax, smooth, without any hair, without visible muscles. It looked like someone shrinked skin just over ribs. He touched small wounds on mayorβs jaw, cheek and temple, then put a hand on his pale chest, where he was able to feel a heartbeat.
Structure under his fingers was warm. Fred felt every movement of tiny muscles on mayorβs face. Finally, he came to terms with facts, that his eyes have known long ago, but his mind defended itself before believing in it.
Mask shouldnβt show expressions so perfectly. Hair shouldnβt connect with artificial material the same way, as with living skin.
Shocked, Fred was discovering new details about mayorβs image, which his rational mind has been rejecting for so long. Blood-red lips trembled. No human teeth were visible behind sharp, shark-like ones. Eyebrows without lashes were frowning too easily. Fred could even notice light veins on mayorβs forehead. When he touched his neck, he felt pulse without any problem.
βNoβ, he whispered. βReal demonβ¦β
He jumped to the door, ran to the hall, to stairs, to huge sitting room, finally, to main door, chased by Freakβs scream:
βDo not go! I am no demon!β
He was touching a door handle, while thin, but unbelievably strong arms caught him. Fred jerked, but didnβt succeed.
Mayor was pressing Fred to his chest and talking without break. Talking, how much he loves Fred, how as a father he feels responsible for Fredβs safety despite all horrible deeds and lies, how heβs going to protect Fred from any harm.
Young man was trembling in his arms, unable to stop the tears. Now he was at monsterβs mercy, tied to him with mutual bond, mutual past lasting eighteen years that appeared thanks to no one but this monsterβs crimes. Deprived of real family, maybe of friends, who he has disappointed. And somewhere, the terrible traps were waiting, prepared for meddling kids, who dared to reach for the disc into the darkness.
He turned to confront the monster, who used to hide so long behind humanβs mask. Looking into this hideous, unpleasant face, Fred felt some relief. It seemed easier to confront the villain, who he has called βdadβ since the moment he learnt to speak, standing before horned demon rather than a human.
βYou are my father, whether I want it or notβ, Fred said slowly. βI accept my past and its results. But itβs you who made decision, that led you to transforming into monster. The more, you must accept yours, with all its consequences, dad.β
The Freak of Crystal Cove was looking into his eyes with regret and sorrow. Finally, he nodded, as he realized, that greed and crimes committed in its name made one lose everything. Even humanity.
βI do acceptβ, he whispered.
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