Chapter 14: I’m going to get SOMETHING from this.

Chapter 14: I’m going to get SOMETHING from this.

The sun eventually rose. A little slower than normal in her perception.

Perhaps sleeping on uncomfortable stones does that. Rachel did not really care. Nor did she move too quickly from her perch. She had almost the same problem she had last night. She was just better rested.

All she had managed to decide before she fell asleep last night was that she was going to get something from this trip. As much as she liked the woods, she was going to consider this a wasted trip if some happiness was not the result.

So she reviewed the situation. She had arrived with Brad and a couple of his friends in a two car convoy. That was good. That meant she could still leave whenever she wanted. The only question was with whom?

Brad’s two friends were right. Wealthy as they might have been, they only joined in because they were promised a wild party with eager sluts next weekend. Megan suspected that the moment they stopped getting bribes, they would disappear. She was used to the type. Hell, she used such people on occasion. But never for anything this personal. If Brad and her were to have a future of any kind, these two had to go.

Brad himself. Lots of possibilities there. Good looking and wealthy. Had fantasies that turned her on. She even knew him for a while before this. Why she never chased him before she could not figure out. Forget the family’s plan. If anything worth doing was still salvageable from all this, then he was the path to go. He just had to step back from his loser friends.

Megan all but made up her mind then and there. Still, considering the other parties would help her get through the morning better. There was no way she was letting this stretch on past noon.

Shaggy. Not the worst looking hippie around here. Or the ugliest male she had ever seen. She had to admit she was clever as well. To boldly go and lure them along deeper into the woods as he did was crazy and insane. That it worked so well bordered on the astounding. Or that each and every one of them were complete fools. No, she would rather compliment Shaggy rather than think that. She had to respect him because of her pride. But her pride would not let her be any more interested in him.

Daphne. She shook her head at this point of her thoughts. As independent as she could be, she still had trouble understanding her rejection of Brad and an easy lifestyle. Sure, she was lovely, even sexy. She could have any man she wanted. Probably smart enough to get any life she wanted. But the life she appeared to want confused the Hell out of her. Perhaps it was for the best to make peace with her and leave her alone.

Locals. The inhabitants of the commune were much like some small village in a quaint little country. Often nice to observe, but not really the life the visiting tourist wanted to live long term. This could almost be a living history exhibit. She expected the tourist areas were kept PG on purpose. but of some of the moans she thought she heard in the distance were any sign, it was very realistic in its free love away from young impressionable minds. She snorted. Maybe kept away from the too young. But any adults brought into it would likely have quite the impression made on them. Tempting, but no. Still, they might be useful. She did not know. Yet.

Megan decided. Peace when possible with Daphne. Love possibly with Brad. Lose the annoying, tolerate those not being troublesome. So she stood up and dusted herself off. She listened carefully for the largest noise. Logic said following that would lead to the tourist area.

It almost worked. Turns out the parking area was even louder than the tourist at this time of morning. Then she saw them.

Daphne and Shaggy. Now they had they had a Great Dane with them.

What happed next had Megan wondering if she he had any ‘spiced’ food. Food not served to those under 21. Also usually served in a separate area where no child can get at it. Or be accidently affected by the fumes. It was the kind of event that belonged in fiction.

The dog spoke. In perfect English. Well, there was a bit of an accent. Still it sounded better than some of the youth she heard at the beach the other day. “That’s it, Shaggy.”

“Did that dog just talk???” Daphne asked.

So Rachel was not the only surprised one here.

“Great Scooby. Daphne. You ready.”

“Been ready since last night. Let’s get out of here.”

“Like you sure you want to ride east with me?”

“You did not try to take advantage of me. So you better than any other ride options I have right now.”

Ouch. Time to put an end to this. Megan thought. She spoke the next part just loud enough to be heard by the group. “You’re probably right.”

The two humans by the van spun around.

Shaggy started looking around for an escape route.

Daphne on the other hand had a glare hot enough that it should have set a few of the cars on fire. “What. Do. You. Want?” She bit off each word as though they were bites of a medicine flavored cake.

Megan stepped back. She held he hands up in front of her, empty. And she made sure to keep an eye on the dog. “To tell you I’m done with this. I’m going to tell the family to let you chart your own course. You were born a Blake. That means wealth and weirdness are in your blood. I guess we underestimated just how much weirdness.”

The dog looked between the three humans. “What’s going on here Shaggy?”

“Not now, Scooby. I’ll tell you on the road.”

“Yeah. Not now.” Megan said. She turned back to Daphne. “As I was saying. Wealth and weirdness. You want to run off with some hippie in a van. You go right ahead. But if you do so. If traveling and solving mysteries is more important than a stable life, know others will move in.””

Scooby was getting confused. “Shaggy?”

This time it was Daphne’s turn to put Scooby off. “Not now please.”

Shaggy petted his dog’s head. “I’ll explain it all in a bit pal.”

Megan shook her head. Talking Dogs? As if this night had not been weird enough.

Then what her cousin just said finally sunk in. “Others can move in? They can have him.” Daphne paused. There was something about how Rachel has spoken the words. “You want him? He’s all yours. You can have Brad. Enjoy him all you want.”

“I’d say something like ‘you’ll be sorry’, but I don’t think you understand what you’re giving up.” Megan left.

Shaggy watched her leave. “Scooby, everything loaded?”

“Yes Shaggy.” The big dog replied as he closed the back doors of the van.

“Good. Then its time. Time to see what the future holds.”

“Oh no.” Daphne’s comment was a cross between a moan and an exclamation. The sort of tone no woman uses if she has the slightest happiness at all about what is going on at the moment.

“Found you. Now we’re going to fuck you.”

Daphne adjusted her position. Not in this or any other world. “Shaggy! Scooby!”

Shaggy came round from the driver’s side. “Not you two again.”

“Just give us the slut and you can leave. Else we’ll beat you into the mud.”

Scooby glared at the threat to his friend.

“You expect us to give her to you to be abused?” Shaggy glared back. “Like really??” Shaggy was more than annoyed. If there was anything had hated more than he liked food, it was people who abused women.

“Tell you what. You can join in.”

If this was a cartoon, Shaggy would have had steam coming out of his ears at this point. “That will not be happening.” Shaggy spoke with the certainty of death and taxes. “Scooby! Protect!! Like ZOINKS!!!” He shouted the last word at the top of his voice.

Scooby jumped in front of Daphne and started growling.

Daphne almost believed the dog was going to eat the two stalkers.

Shaggy did know better. Even he was almost fooled by Scooby’s act. Especially when the dog asked for ketchup.

“Did that dog actually ask for ketchup?” One attacker asked.

“Never mind that the other snapped. It doesn’t matter. Not does it matter why he wants it. The important thing is that we are all going is that we are all about to be eaten by a talking dog.”

Snoopy put on his most frightening look.

Daphne thought that look would convince the hound of the Baskervilles to give up evil and take up being a therapy pet.

“I asked for ketchup because ketchup makes everything taste better. And yes, I intend to eat you.” The dog growled.

Several brawny men came out of the woods. They made football linebackers look petit. “Shaggy, you yelled?”

“Yes. I am fine, but these two want to hurt Daphne.”

“Not on our watch. And sorry, Scooby, but we can’t let you eat them.”

“Not even one? Please?”

“Nope. No matter how evil, you are not allowed to eat them. Think about the bad breath they would give you.”

“Hey!”

Scooby made a show of thinking.

Meanwhile Shaggy had not just been watching the show. He had returned to the van, entered, then opened the side panel door. He motioned Daphne inside.

Of course, Scooby knew all this. He was waiting for the sign.

The two security people looked at the stalkers. “You two are leaving now.” They started approaching them.

“Now, Scooby!” Shaggy called.

Scooby dropped his vicious dog act and hopped inside the van.

Shaggy hit the gas.

The van sped off.

One would think their escape assured.

Sadly, there was only one road in or out of the Cummune. It was long enough that the stalkers were able to get into their car and race after them.

Shaggy drove as though he did road races as hobby.

Sadly the others were driving a sports car. A well designed, well cared for sports car.

Most people would not have put large bets on winner of this race.

Most people also had not spent as much time on these roads as Shaggy.