Fred was the typical popular jock in high school; Captain of the football team, Prom King, straight A's, invited to all the "cool" parties, and even the "uncool" ones. The thing is, Fred went. He really was the all-around good guy. The first to defend anyone being picked on. It was his unflinching character that made those around him trust him unconditionally. It was also that which led to the formation of Mystery Inc. While at a party in the woods Fred was dared to enter the woods in search of a haunted gravesite. Trying to impress his long-time crush, Daphne Blake, Fred accepted the dare taking Norville "Shaggy" Rogers and Velma Dinkley along for what turned out to be a life-changing night. The four friends, along with Shaggy's dog Scooby Doo, spent the years after high school investigating claims of the paranormal with Fred always taking the lead. He instilled courage in the face of the unknown and was admired by his friends. After the zombies rose...
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"Wha... wha... What did you just do Velma?" Fred stammered back from the dark stain spreading on the dark asphalt. His flashlight jumping from the mangled corpse before him to the gore-soaked tire iron hanging by Velma's side. "Wha... Why?"
"Because it had to be done. Didn't you see what that thing was?" Just then Daphne ran from the scene, mascara smearing down her cheeks. With terror in his eyes, Fred looked one last time at mild-mannered Velma as she became a zombie executioner extraordinaire.
"I'm going to go check on Daph." Things were never the same. Fred lost a part of himself that night. He had gotten used to solving mysteries where the "monster" was some hapless fool trying to make a quick buck or some low-level criminal miscreant. The possibility that the monsters could be real never crossed his mind. "Daph... You okay?"
"Did... Did you see what she did!" Tears streaming down her face, "She... She killed a man. He was... He just needed help." His beautiful high school crush collapsed into his chest sobbing heavily. He held her tight not knowing what to say. They had been a couple ever since that night in the woods so long ago. The whole gang agreed to find colleges near each other so they could continue their Mystery Inc exploits. They found themselves in Western Massachusetts; Fred attended Amherst College, and Daphne went to Mount Holyoke. While Velma went to Smith and Shaggy took classes at Hampshire College. Now the jock and popular girl were in the Mystery Machine while on the road the bookworm and pothead surveyed the scene. They were all best friends, but the bond between Fred and Daphne was more. Stroking her head, all he could manage was, "It'll be alright. Everything will be alright."
He had no idea just how wrong he was going to be.
