Was it the fingerprints? Was it a strand of hair? Was it some darned mechanism left at the mariner? How could they possibly know?

Mouth widening and eyes like saucers, she stood on the edge of the world, the lighthouse lamp resonating an ethereal flicker. In the corner, a scarred raincoat (too big for any mortal human), metallic boots with a hydraulic system and prosthetic hook wedged in between two wooden slats.

Her face grew more desperate. The groan of the tired breaks echoed. She clenched and unclenched her fists. The thud of the panel door reverberated. The howl of a canine. Her feet cemented to the spot. An audible burst of ‘jinkees’ and ‘ahh Scoob old buddy’ wavered in the air. She fell into deep brooding thought, like a widow on a walkway.

What was she to do? How could she bring more light to this dark place?

A door handle creaked a familiar creak. Those pesky teenagers. Those meddling kids!

I thought my plan was perfect. I thought no one would know.. I thought the gold was mine, but this isn’t my show. The Mystery Van will be in my nightmares for years, There isn’t much to do now but cry out all my tears. Trading stories with the others of our failures and fears.

But how did they know? How did I blow it? Was it the dog that made me sink so low? Was that what got in the way? All I know is my hatred grows with every day. And back to my cell, I will leave you, just a few more things to say. If you see those kids, that dog, you’re better off going soon. That shadow you see is your looming.... Scooby-Dooby- Doom!

The realisation that she hadn’t gotten away with it happened when she saw the Scooby-Doo Mystery Van pull up to her drive. Milo and Dean piled out the back, ripping away the Daphne and Velma masks. They lifted Token out the back, who was covered in blood and looked towards the sky, muttering prayers. They brought him into the kitchen, laying him down on the tiles. He gasped and spluttered. Blood shot out over the surfaces. “What the happened?” She said. “What’d you think? Your fucking plan didn’t work.” Dean dragged a kitchen towel down and held it to Token’s wound. “He caught a stray.” Milo searched through the cupboards, grabbing a bottle of vodka and set the gas hob on. “What’re you doing?” “You think a doctor would take him? We need to seal the wound and get out of here. That van needs burned out too.” She looked on at the entire scene, almost in a daze. Her plan so perfect, every angle realised. Her confidence had been shown in her choice of the Mystery Van and matching masks. Imagine the headlines that would have generated. And all it took was one stray fucking bullet to ruin it. She drew and shot Dean through the head, who landed with a thump on Token. One more ended Token. Milo threw the bottle towards her, but he was dead before it hit the floor. She’s have to do better next time. She grabbed a can of gasoline from the garage, pouring the contents out from the van to the kitchen. She lit a cigarette on the hob and took a draw. Today was not the day to quit smoking.

The Van wasn’t nearly as glorious as she had imagined, and couldn’t help a wave of disappointment consume the thrill of a chase. She would have preferred no trouble at all but... it was all the same anyway, right?

She had already packed a small bag of devious belongings, because, unlike all the other amateur rebels who thought they could assume they were criminals, they were all the same.

But not Xalta. She was something else. And since she’d been watching shows of Scooby Doo for her whole miserable childhood, they team was going to have to try a little harder than that.

Nonchalant, she waltzed through the back door, humming the intoxicating theme song. She laughed as she imitated the same one liner and an accusatory finger from all those pathetic perpetrators, ‘I would have gotten away with it if it wasn’t for YOU!’ Bah. As if. She didn’t want to try get away with it because she was going to walk right into their arms. And surprise them she would when they realised she had more in stock for them than they had bargained for. This was going to be fun.

Sitting by the window, Sophie sipped tenderly at her freshly brewed coffee. Colombian was her favourite, only from a cafetière. Any other draconian method of brewing a coffee completely spoiled the flavour she said. The rain lashing at the thin pain of glass in front of her, the only thing protecting her from the elements outside, Sophie pondered if she’d ever felt more cosy than this moment.

Allowing her mind to wander, Sophie recalled fondly the events of the past few days. The screams of fear that bellowed from the fair goers. Oh the fright! A rye smile crept across Sophie’s face as she pictured the fear in the eyes of one particular little girl. 6 or 7 years old, if she had to guess. Long brown hair that reached the small of her back, piercing blue eyes, little mousey nose and cheeks full of freckles. Picturing how quickly the joy on this girls face went to absolute horror actually made Sophie laugh to herself.

Often times Sophie said that this, the time after a ‘mission’ as she called it, was her favourite part. Reflecting on the horror she’d caused, remembering the anguish. This just makes it even more worthwhile, more delicious Sophie thought to herself.

You see, no one had ever survived even the briefest glance at Morbilla, the queen of the undead. A fact that Sophie saw as a badge of honour. But also a fact that made her incredibly lonely, how could anyone ever love her if they could never get to know the true Sophie? If she can’t even love herself.

Sophie’s euphoria was interrupted by the all too familiar feeling of being completely alone. “This always happens, always ruining the moment for myself” she said out loud, as if angry with herself. Looking back up from her coffee Sophie spotted a familiar vehicle pulling into her drive. “Those fucking kids” she thundered. “I guess it’s about time they get to know the real me.”

She panicked, and hid behind a bush beside her home. She watched through the branches, as the door slid open. The blue fire emitting from his head, as he walked out of the van. Shaggy had followed her. He wailed throughout the air: “I ONLY NEED TO USE POINT FOUR PERCENT OF MY POWER TO BLOW YOU TO SMITHEREENS, DUDE!” She ran. She ran as far as she could. Yet she could never run far, or fast enough.

As they pull into the gravel driveway my mind is racing, oh how could they come and try to find clues to something covered up so well. Sweat dropped as I raced around to make sure there was nothing visible to get caught. I open the door “hello I’m Ellen what brings you by“, I asked? Telling me they were here to find clues to a mystery from 7 years ago that they would like to ask me some questions. I politely agree and walk them to the kitchen. Have you ever heard of the man that used to live in this house? I reply yes he was a very quiet man I think his name was Paul foster he was in his late 60s. He had lived here for over 40 years before he went missing 7 years ago. Hmmm well I have not heard anything about him I respond. They ask if they can look around I say that’s fine knowing that there is no evidence left to be found. I’m washing dishes when I look out my kitchen window to see them searching outside, oh am I nervous they are literally right on top of Mr. Foster. I never thought they would come to look for him honestly no one would miss an old hermit that stays at home all the time. I poke my head out and ask them if they would like some lemonade. They all come back in and ask me more questions. How did you know Mr. Foster? Well I didn’t really know him that well I just knew he was an old hermit that lived here. How did you end up living here? I saw the place go up for rent about a year and a half ago. I thought I could fix it up a bit and call it home. I sat there nervously wondering how many more questions could they ask? Then finally they asked how long have I had the garden outside. I said well when I moved in I just kinda kept up with it that is was a beautiful garden I didn’t want to go to waste. They looked inside the house for about an hour and then thanked me for my time. I knew at that moment it was over I finally got away with it.