Fifteen - An Unsettling Encounter -

It took me a few moments to recover from what just happened.
And I may or may not have waited a bit for MB to come back. I did a quick look around inside the building, but only ended up easily concluding that he was truly gone.
With that, I backtracked the way I came, where I saw the fisherman who called out before had now arrived at the docks. He was wielding a flashlight which he was using to search around the area, peering in a difficult manner from underneath his dirty green rubber hat, his long trench coat that stretched to his ankles drenched in water.

I leaned an arm against the wall, raising a brow, and smiled in an amused sort of way.
"Hello there."
The fisherman swung around instinctively, blinding me with the light.
But I kept smiling, nevertheless. "Who are you?!" He exclaimed, shaken.
I did a quick curtsy, "Sarah Demens, pleased to meet ya!"
He straightened his back, swallowing. "I don't know who that is.."
"Then why'd ya bother asking me who I was?"
He turned his head, sheepishly. "What you doing here, kid?"
"Investigating. Showed up in town tonight, now I'm helping out Mystery Incorporated. These missing kid cases have got 'em baffled, so I'm here to assist."
His expression changed to one I couldn't quite identify, before he eased his body and moved it away, lowering his flashlight. "Well you won't find anything here."
"No, I won't." I responded, as my eyes trailed back to the building.
"My colleague took care of that."
"Colleague??"
"Yes," I turned my head back to him.
He lifted his head, his eyes enlarging with realization. "Ohhh, so that other kid was with you...well, what was all that commotion?!" "A rather unfriendly individual. One who has become a prime suspect in these cases."

I turned and picked up my things from the dock, holstering my weapon and holding the tracker close to my chest, which was pointed towards the town, beeping increasingly.

I made a tiny gasp before the fisherman's voice brought me back to the conversation.
"Well whatever you're going to do..do it. You find those kids. They have families..loved ones..who..should have been there to protect them....."
My head lifted at this and I pivoted my body back around to see that the fisherman was now facing the ocean. My eyes moved to the dock a minute before returning to him. I read between the lines.
"Lemme guess....dad? Grandpa??"
I heard him swallow even from where I stood. "....My grandson."
It was bold of me. Real bold. Probably shouldn't have done it. But I did..
and the hope it gave after doing so was well worth the risk.

I walked around the man and stood infront of him, and I nodded my head encouragingly as our eyes met. "I'm gonna get your grandson back. I promise. I won't stop until I do."
His eyes were suspicious and he turned his head about, not removing his gaze from me.
"You promise, eh? What good is that to me? I don't even know you."
"Because, I always keep my promises. One way..or another..I always get what I want."
His eyes fell. ".....What if you're too late?"
"..Pray it isn't too late......and if it is...I promise I'll destroy the piece of crap responsible."

With that, I turned and exited the dock. I felt the fisherman's eyes follow me before I finally entered the darkness and left him behind.
~
As I made my way back to town, I pointed my flashlight ahead through the darkness, hoping to run into someone familiar--particularly someone like MB, not really someone like the Creeper.
The tracker was beeping like crazy, still pointing toward the town, which led me to believe MB had returned there after departing from the docks.
The road was getting bumpy due to the dirt ground and I may or may not have tripped a couple times, you have no proof. That's when I heard a loud, abrupt distant noise that sounded as if someone were blending rocks--I stopped dead in my tracks and looked all around.
What in the name of holiness.
I cocked my head to and fro to hear further and clearer, seeking out the source of the commotion.
The sound, which was similar to a snarling beast, came even closer, which I now detected was coming from some sort of machine. A monstrous machine. I realized then what it was as the earth rumbled underneath me and I heard revving of an engine. A motorcycle.

My head turned at that moment as the hulking mechanical bike approached me from behind.
And among the darkness and the faint light of the single bulb of the cycle, I could make out the rider's features. And my jaw dropped as I saw who it was.
"You!"
It was the weird smoking tattooed motorcycle guy from the Marketplace; Derek.
He kicked down the brake and parked next to me, at once a suspicious smirk planting on his eerily semi-attractive face. Only semi. Something about him still repulsed me.
I narrowed my eyes suspiciously at him and instantly pointed my flashlight in his eyes, "What are YOU doing here?" "What am I doing here?" He shot back. "What are you doing here?"
His voice..so calm, collected, spooky and downright creepy. I'm sorry, my dudes, but I just did not like him. Nor trust him. And it was positively evident since our last conversation that he was with Cataclysm. There was definitely something wrong with him, even if he wasn't.
Weird, I know, coming from someone who travels with villains. But him?
I dunno. Just..wrong.
"It makes perfectly logical sense why I'm here, you suspicious pineapple. How did you travel here on a BIKE? And why the HECK are you even HERE?!"
"Always so suspicious. What do you think, hm? Do you even remember the intention of the Marketplace? Were you paying any attention? It's for TRAVELERS. Like a pitstop for adventurers, you might say. An in-between place to rest, got it? Which implies that I am an adventurer."
"Poppycock."
I hate when villains have points.

"Listen you, I have things which require my urgent attention, and I have no time for your malicious intentions. So begone, I shall deal with you another time."
I started to advance away, when he quickly kicked up his brake, revved his engine and scooted up to intercept me. "Not so fast, Queen Hotness." He rudely jotted out as he drove infront of me, blocking my path. "I heard you and your boys had showed up in town and was quite excited at the thought of seeing you again. I thought..you know..we could go get a drink or something."
Ah..mark this as the first time anyone has ever asked me for a drink.
Ew.
I disliked him more and more with every breath he took.
"Heh. Heh. Heh. HEH HEH HEH, no thanks."
I tried to leave, but he stopped me once again.
I was getting annoyed. "Holy god, I hate you."
"C'mon..I don't bite..unless you're into that." Ew the sequel.
"This, I believe, is what the lads of law would call 'false imprisonment'. Can I go, scurvy?"
"Not until you agree to a drink." "So you are holding me against my will, how nice."
"Hm, I thought you liked bad boys? Doesn't this impress?" "I confess, I have a weakness for bad boys......just not...YOUR kind of bad boy..." He seemed confused. "My kind?"
I gestured at his attire. "The tats, the smoking, the cycle, no doubt course language and extremely suggestive means of flirtation, not to mention the deal with alcohol and overall crude nature of your nature...yeah no. That don't impress. It annoys."

Derek seemed to be irritated by this, but only slightly. He tightened his grip on the handles.
"Come on. One drink. Whatta ya say?" "I'm this close to going full vamp and drinking something else.."
This only appeared to make him more aroused. Lovely. "Ohhh, you got a dark mind..heh heh..I like that." Ew pt. 3.
"Please stop." "Oh, is that a plea?" "Before I kill you, yes."
"HA! You do NOT disappoint, Demens! Wow..you sure were colored wrong."
I cocked my head and squinted. "Colored by who?"
He ignored me. "And to think, I had it in mind that you were this prissy insignificant do-gooder, trying to make it in the big bad world. You know your stuff..and you're willing to rip out the throats of anyone standing in your way." I rose my eyebrows. This guy was NUTS.
"Alright, drink crap aside, whatta ya want? I know you're with the lovely fools over in Cataclysm, no question about that. My question is, what's your intention here and why are you so interested in seducing me?" His brow perked at this. "Oh?"
Sigh. I was getting nowhere. "It IS questionable why you're here, of all places. And for how long, I can't be sure. With all those missing kids and your mysterious arrival..yeah, I'm a little suspicious."
"You have your suspect." Derek replied, looking as calm as ever. "The raging brute from the docks. He's the one attacking you, too, not me." "He's very well one of many. There's lots of crooks here in town. I'm not weeding out anyone. Especially not you."

He chuckled and lowered his head. "So sassy...heh heh..sorry..you just remind me of..someone I used to know." His eyes fell in memory and he rubbed his hands together, gently licking his lips.
I rose a brow at this, before his eyes snuck back up at me. "Her name was Ruby."
The brow rose higher. "Did ya kill her????"
His playful smirk now turned to something disturbing, like..satisfaction.
And his dark eyes fell to the ground once more. "I'll tell ya the rest..IF we get a drink."
"In that case.." I leaned in and looked him dead in the eye. "..I'll read between the lines."
My hand was now visibly placed upon my holster, which he took notice of.
"Go-a-way."
I proceeded to go on my way, as his eyes followed my gun, without him speaking a word.

It looked as if I were homefree, until his voice brought me back to his unsettling appearance.
"I've been watching you, Demens..you easily fall over tough, psychotic, dangerous men..so why not me?" I shrugged. "Maybe it's a form of self-torture, but I seem to google over the guys that show zero interest in me..the day they do is the day I know something is wrong."
He narrowed his eyes, trying to make sense of this.
"In other words..you? Jim? Crushing on me? Yeah, no. I'm no one's type, pal. Lie to someone who'll believe it."
I turned and moved away, but he kept trying. "Can I at least give you a ride back to town?"
"I have legs. I can walk." "It's a long way."
"Not as long as this conversation lasted. Which lasted TOO long, by the way. See ya, delinquent."

I finally was able to do it. I escaped him.
I heard the loud roar of his engine, then squeal of tires, and when I looked behind my shoulder...
he was no longer there.
~
 I made my way back to town. It occurred to me that I should probably give a heads up to the others that I was coming back..just for polite reasons, you see.
So I pulled out my walkie-talkie and brought it up to my mouth, while my eyes were planted on the tracker gripped by my other hand, which was beeping and pointing in the very same direction I was headed.

I held the walkie button down, "Yo, my peeps!"
I awaited for a response. But all I got in return was silence. I was impatient.
"Guys!"
Still no reply. I narrowed my eyes and sighed in a frustrated fashion, before taking the walkie and bringing it back to my mouth. I went to speak, when the radio abruptly crackled.
"WHAT?!"
I jerked my head back for but a brief second. Jerk-off Master, figures.
"'Bout time." "You just--ugh! What do you want?!"
WOW, rude! I wasn't going to give into his anger problems.
"Several tacos and a nice cool bottle of Pepsi."
I was expecting sarcasm back, but I surprisingly got none. "Where are you?"
I for some reason thought it was necessary to look about, even though it served absolutely no purpose. "On my way back to the diner."
"And your mystery fellow?"
My chest tightened. Oh, that mystery fellow...what could possibly be said of him.
"..Gone. Vanished right infront of me."
"Vanished?" "Yes, I mean, legit just vanished."
"You should chase after more sophisticated men, then." I heard a voice faintly spout in the background, before the feed went back off. I furrowed my eyebrows.
"What was that?!" I didn't bother waiting for a reply.
"I am not chasing after anyone!! The only feeling I have for this guy is that he freaking threw a smoke pellet and made me choke and vanished before my eyes!"
I was really hoping MB wasn't around for this.

I could tell the Master was choosing to ignore my rant.
"Where are you now?" I shrugged my shoulders, trying to shake off my bad vibes.
"I'm out of the docks, back in town now. Should take me a few to get back. Is the gang still there?"
"--Yes..why?"
I walked around a random tire that was for some reason in the middle of the road.
"Well, I bumped into an old friend of their's..remember a guy named Carswell?"
Master apparently had the button held down, cuz I heard the following,
"CARSWELL?!" being cried out by all five.
"You mean he's out of jail?!"
"Roh no!"
I almost chuckled. "Not only that..but he was dressed in a more villainous attire..one you'd regret recognizing." "He was pretending to be the Creeper?!"

"Well..not only that...he wasn't just DRESSED as the Creeper....he WAS the Creeper."

"What do you mean, he WAS the Creeper?" Velma questioned.
"I mean the hair I pulled on that head wasn't part of no mask. He really WAS the Creeper. He was crazed and didn't even respond to my words...he tried to kill me."
"Rill rou?!" Exclaimed Scooby shockingly.
"That's impossible!" Yelled Velma. "He wouldn't be THAT violent!"

"Well tell that to my sore muscles from dodging all those lethal attacks!"

"Are you sure it was the Creeper?" I heard Daphne question. "One hundred percent positive?"
I huffed. "Yes."

With no one replying for a few short minutes, I decided I had said enough for now and should focus on just getting back. "Anyway..I'm coming back now. I'll tell you what all happened when I see you."
""Good." Master's voice uttered before he unexpectedly clicked off.
No goodbye?
No I love you? So rude.
I need new traveling companions.
I should put posters up.
'Small fierce erratic penguin in need of new adventure buddies'
-----------

I delved deeper into town, where the familiar parts started to resurface and not much sooner had I seen the familiar atmosphere that I saw the T.A.R.D.I.S. sitting in an alley;
that's where I knew I wasn't much further.

I started towards the path I took when first heading out--the streets became darker and the closer I got, the more of a foreboding feeling came over me. Which made me rather uneasy.
I was so close to the gang, and the area was rather harmless for the time being, what could possibly be wrong? I was coming up the street, getting ready to make that turn;
when I heard the familiar sound of a car engine.
I gasped..activity!
This caused me to rush the rest of the way and I skid round the corner, where I saw it.
A car! With people!!

And it seemed to be slowing down as if about to park right there..coincidentally right next to the diner.
I grinned wide and made the step forward, when suddenly, right before my eyes, CRASH

The car violently jerked into the surrounding vehicles, and did so again as if whipped by an unseen force, until the car was now swerving crazily around the street.
I gasped and jolted forward as glass shattered everywhere and the screams of those inside shrieked through the air.