“Well, I came running as soon as I heard that explosion,” Mr. King replies. “It was loud enough to wake my ancestors.”
“Sorry to frighten you,” the woman says. “The car backfired and gave us all a jolt.”
Mr. King turns to the group and says, “Everyone, this is Ms. Daedalus. You’ve already met her son, Icarus.”
Velma says, “I’m a fan of your work!”
“Thank you, my dear,” replies the Ms. Daedalus. “It is one of a kind.”
“Yes, quite right,” Mr. King interrupts. “So were my prized possessions. And they were stolen by that menacing monster!”
“Monster?” Russ says, raising an eyebrow. “These kids mentioned a Minotaur, but I thought they were just kooky. Are you serious?”
“Yes!” Mr. King answers. “That big brute is the bane of my existence. It’s why I called you all here. There’s still one person missing, though.”
As if on cue, an all-terrain sports utility vehicle comes rumbling up the drive.
Out of the driver’s seat jumps a burly, barrel-chested man. He is wearing a pith helmet, combat boots, and safari gear.
Slinging a tranquilizer rifle off of his shoulder and into his hands, he cocks it and announces, “I’m hunting me some Minotaur!”
“Excellent,” Mr. King says. “The gang’s all here. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Dr. Martin Clark, archaeologist and professor. He discovered the artifacts from my private collection.”
“How do you do?” Martin says, tipping his hat.
“Now let’s go back to the mansion to discuss my plan,” says the billionaire. “We will also enjoy a nice meal in the dining room.”
Scooby’s ears perk up. “Rining room? RET’S GO!”
Press here.
“LUNCH? That’s the magic word!” Shaggy cries. He and Scooby-Doo leap out of the van. They run toward Mr. King and shake his hand.
“Rub-a-dub-dub, where’s the grub?” Shaggy asks. He and Scooby-Doo are both drooling.
Mr. King chuckles and guides the members of Mystery Inc. through a hidden entrance in the garden maze. After numerous twists and turns, they reach a fancy picnic shelter.
In the center is a long table with a giant feast. Standing next to it is Wadsworth, the butler.
“We’ve prepared a small meal for your guests, Master Minos. There’s roast turkey, mashed potatoes, mixed greens salad, corn on the cob, and candied yams.”
“Small meal?” Fred exclaims. “It looks like Thanksgiving dinner at all our houses combined.”
“Like, we’ll certainly be giving thanks for all this food, won’t we, Scoob?” Shaggy says.
“Rhat’s right!” Scooby says. “Rhank you!”
Quick as a flash, the two friends dive face-first onto the table and inhale everything in sight.
Scooby-Doo stretches his mouth open wide and devours the turkey whole. A split second later, he spits out the bones.
“Rummy in my tummy,” he says, patting his belly.
Suddenly a loud explosion startles the group.
KA-BOOM!
“Good heavens,” shouts Mr. King. “What on Earth could that be?”
If the gang follows Mr. King toward the sound, press here.
If the gang runs into the mansion, press here.
If the gang runs left, down the straight path
If they continue their investigation
The gang continues their investigation by taking the straight path down to another clearing. Inside the open space stands a grand structure made of sparkling white marble.
“Like, I sure hope that’s a really fancy snack stand. I’m starving!” Shaggy says.
“Re, too!” Scooby says, rubbing his stomach. “Ry tummy’s rumbling!”
“That’s not a snack stand. It’s a mausoleum,” Velma explains. “It’s a large tomb for Mr. King’s deceased relatives.”
“Jeepers,” Daphne says. “I sure hope we don’t meet any of them. We don’t need ghosts as well as a Minotaur.”
“Speaking of which,” says Fred, “aside from a fur patch and some muddy footprints, what evidence do we have that he really exists?”
Velma shoots him a look. “Fred, how long have we been in this business?”
Before Fred can answer, the group hears a low grumble.
“Like, I sure hope that was your tummy, Scoobs,” Shaggy says.
Scooby-Doo shakes his head no.
The sound gets louder and turns into a growl. “GRRRRR!”
Then they hear a thump, thump, thump, like thundering footsteps.
The friends jump and huddle together in the corner of the clearing.
“It’s coming from the other side of this hedge,” Velma whispers. “If only we could see over it!”
Shaggy turns to Scooby and says, “Okay, buddy, time to put Plan Periscope into effect!”
“Rye-rye, Raptain!” Scooby-Doo says and salutes his friend.
Shaggy squats down low while Scooby climbs onto his back. The Great Dane stretches his neck like a periscope and peeks over the hedge. He scans the perimeter from left to right.
All Scooby-Doo can see is the top of the maze. It consists of hedges, leaves, vines, a pair of horns, and some branches.
“Rorns?” Scooby-Doo wonders aloud.
The horns shift upward, and Scooby-Doo is snout to snout with the Minotaur.
ROAAAAAAR!
“Rinotaur!” Scooby-Doo cries. “Re’s real!”
Suddenly sharp claws slice through the hedge. They tear through the thick vines like tissue paper, shredding them to bits.
The Minotaur stands face to face with Scooby-Doo. The hound’s jaw drops in fright.
A massive furry paw lunges for Scooby-Doo. His hind legs pinwheel so fast they bop Shaggy on the head a few times.
SMACK! THWAP! WHACK!
The cowering canine hides behind Fred and Daphne. The Minotaur roars again as he rips the leafy wall apart.
“ZOINKS!” Shaggy shouts. “Like, this guy sure knows how to make an entrance!”
Daphne gasps. “What do we do now?”
If the friends run for it, press here.
If the friends hide in the mausoleum, press here.
“We don’t need to go looking for trouble,” Shaggy says.
“Rhat’s right!” Scooby-Doo agrees.
“We’ll wait for you inside,” Daphne says to Mr. King.
Wadsworth leads the team toward the mansion.
“Like, we should stock up, Scoob,” Shaggy says. “Just in case.”
“Rof course!”
The two friends head back to the table. Scooby-Doo lifts up one end, and the food slides down the other. Shaggy is waiting with open arms to scoop up the delicious pile.
He makes sure to balance everything carefully so it doesn’t fall. The candied yams rest on top of the corn on the cob, which rests on top of the mixed greens salad.
“This should hold us over until we get to the mansion,” Shaggy says.
“Ri rope so!” Scooby-Doo says, licking his lips.
Then he and Shaggy run to catch up with their friends.
Wadsworth leads the way to the mansion. It is a tall, beautiful building that is hundreds of years old. They enter the grand foyer.
“I love this place,” Daphne says. “There are so many rooms!”
“Indeed, Ms. Blake,” Wadsworth says. “You’re welcome to trade places with me and clean them if you like.”
Daphne pats him playfully on the arm. “Oh, Wadsworth, you’re so funny!”
The dry British butler doesn’t crack a smile, but instead ushers the group toward the kitchen.
“Bonjour,” says the French maid. “I am Yvette. So nice to meet you.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too,” the gang says.
Yvett
e holds up a tray. “I have prepared some hors d’oeuvres for you.”
Shaggy leans over to Velma and whispers, “Is that something we can eat?”
Velma chuckles.
Then she explains, “Yes, Shaggy. Hors d’oeuvre is the French word for ‘appetizer.’”
“Like, they sure look appetizing,” Shaggy says and takes the tray from Yvette.
He and Scooby-Doo tilt back their heads and pour the contents into their open mouths. Their cheeks puff out to the limit.
At that moment, Mr. King walks in with three other guests.
Wadsworth clears his throat and says, “Those hors d’oeuvres were for everybody!”
Shaggy and Scooby-Doo’s eyes widen as they gulp the food down their gullets.
“Oops,” Shaggy says.
“Rorry,” Scooby-Doo adds.
“Oh, nonsense,” Mr. King exclaims. “There’s plenty more where that came from. Let us go to the dining room, and I’ll introduce my guests.”
Press here.
Wadsworth leads the way to the mansion. It is a tall, beautiful building that is hundreds of years old. They enter the grand foyer.
“I love this place,” Daphne says. “There are so many rooms!”
“Indeed, Ms. Blake,” Wadsworth says. “You’re welcome to trade places with me and clean them if you like.”
Daphne pats him playfully on the arm. “Oh, Wadsworth, you’re so funny!”
The dry British butler doesn’t crack a smile, but instead ushers the group toward the kitchen.
“Bonjour,” says the French maid. “I am Yvette. So nice to meet you.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too,” the gang says.
Yvette holds up a tray. “I have prepared some hors d’oeuvres for you.”
Shaggy leans over to Velma and whispers, “Is that something we can eat?”
Velma chuckles.
Then she explains, “Yes, Shaggy. Hors d’oeuvre is the French word for ‘appetizer.’”
“Like, they sure look appetizing,” Shaggy says and takes the tray from Yvette.
He and Scooby-Doo tilt back their heads and pour the contents into their open mouths. Their cheeks puff out to the limit.
At that moment, Mr. King walks in with three other guests.
Wadsworth clears his throat and says, “Those hors d’oeuvres were for everybody!”
Shaggy and Scooby-Doo’s eyes widen as they gulp the food down their gullets.
“Oops,” Shaggy says.
“Rorry,” Scooby-Doo adds.
“Oh, nonsense,” Mr. King exclaims. “There’s plenty more where that came from. Let us go to the dining room, and I’ll introduce my guests.”
Press here.
As the Minotaur slashes through the hedge, the five friends turn tail and escape down the nearest path. They run as fast as their legs can carry them. The Minotaur gives chase.
THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!
Scooby-Doo looks back and sees the monster gaining on them. Big, hairy hooves pound the ground as steam billows from his nostrils.
“Ruh-roh!” Scooby cries. He jumps onto Shaggy’s back.
The friends follow the twisting path until they reach . . . a dead end!
“ZOINKS!” Shaggy exclaims.
“We’re trapped!” Daphne shouts.
“Let’s think of a plan—and quickly,” Velma says. “The Minotaur is getting closer.”
“I’ve got it!” Fred announces. “We’ll make a human ladder and climb over the hedge.”
The Minotaur is just around the corner.
Shaggy hops onto Fred’s shoulders.
Fred threads his fingers together, making a step for Velma. She puts her foot on his hands and hops up onto Shaggy’s shoulders. Daphne follows. Then they wait for Scooby-Doo to climb up next.
“Scooby-Doo, where are you?” the friends ask.
They teeter and totter, slowly losing their balance.
“ROARRR!”
The Minotaur has cornered the canine. He grabs at Scooby-Doo, who slips under the monster’s hooves and runs toward the gang.
The Great Dane climbs up the human ladder and reaches the top of the wall. He loops his tail around Daphne’s arms and yanks, hoisting his friends into the air and over the hedge.
They land in a heap and tumble all the way down a high hill. When they finally reach the end, everyone gets up and dusts themselves off.
“Phew, we made it! Great job, everybody,” Fred says.
“Not that great,” Daphne replies. “Look up.”
The members of Mystery Inc. stare at the mansion at the top of the hill.
“It looks like it’s a mile away,” Shaggy complains. “Now we have to start all over again.”
“I’m not walking all the way back,” Daphne says, sitting on a log. She pulls her cell phone out and starts dialing. “Let’s see if Mr. King can send a limo for us.”
The rest of the gang takes a seat and waits.
“All is not lost,” Velma says, reaching into her bag. “I found some Scooby Snacks!”
Scooby-Doo licks his lips and says, “Scooby-Dooby-Doo!”
THE END
To follow another path, press here.
“I’ve got an idea,” Fred whispers. “Follow me, gang.”
He points toward the mausoleum and signals for the others to keep quiet by putting a finger to his lips. Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby-Doo tiptoe to the tomb.
The Minotaur continues to tear his way through the hedge wall.
When the friends reach the mausoleum, Fred pulls on the heavy door handle.
“Drat!” he says. “It’s locked.”
“Jeepers,” Daphne says. “How are we going to get inside?”
“Like, leave it to Scoobs!” Shaggy says.
“Rhat’s right,” Scooby-Doo agrees. He pops out a claw and sticks it into the keyhole. He jiggers his finger up and down and side to side, sticking out his tongue for concentration. Then suddenly, CLICK! The lock pops open.
“Ra-da!” says Scooby, taking a bow.
“Great job, Scooby!” Velma says.
She reaches into her bag and hands the dog a Scooby Snack. He gobbles it up and licks his lips. “Rummy!” he says.
Finally Fred pulls the tomb door open, and the gang clambers in. They push it shut, lock it, and lean against it with all their weight.
ROOAAAAR!!
Outside they hear the Minotaur roaring angrily. He’s torn through the wall, and his thundering footsteps rattle the mausoleum. Spiderwebs and dust shake loose and rain down on the gang.
A daddy longlegs spider lands on Shaggy’s head. It crawls down onto his nose, and he opens his mouth to scream.
Thinking quickly, Scooby-Doo puts his paw over Shaggy’s mouth, stifling the cry.
The spider hops off of Shaggy’s nose and lands on Scooby-Doo’s paw. Scooby’s eyes go wide and bug out of his head.
He opens his mouth to scream, but Velma clamps it shut with her hand.
“Shhh!” she whispers and brushes the spider away. “Stay calm, and I’ll give you a Scooby Snack.”
“Rokay,” Scooby-Doo says.
If the gang stays in the mausoleum, press here.
If they go back outside, press here.
Once it is quiet, Fred unlocks the door and peeks outside. “The coast is clear,” he says. Then he steps out. Seconds later he bumps into a mysterious figure.
CRASH! OOF!
“Ouch!” Fred cries.
“Good heavens!” exclaims the figure. “What are you doing here?”
“Wadsworth!” Daphne says. “What are you doing here?”
“Mr. King sent me into the maze to find you, Ms. Blake. That’s not as outrageous as hiding in a crypt!” replies the butler.
“Jeeper
s,” Daphne exclaims. “We were hiding from the Minotaur!”
“He’s real?” Wadsworth asks. He looks shaken but quickly regains his composure. “Why don’t we go back to the mansion and get to the bottom of this?”
“Sounds like a wonderful idea,” Velma says.
“Rexcuse me,” Scooby-Doo says, tugging on her sleeve. “Ry Scooby Snack, please.”
Velma throws the treat up in the air and Scooby-Doo gobbles it up.
Press here.
We don’t need to go looking for trouble
Wadsworth leads the way to the mansion
Once everyone has entered the lavish dining room and taken their seats, Mr. King continues the introductions. His first guests are a stylish woman in a business suit with a pencil in her bun and a teenage boy in a hoodie and jeans.
“Ladies and gentlemen, may I present Ms. Daedalus and her son, Icarus.”
The young man turns to the group and says, “You can call me Russ.”
“I am the architect who designed the garden maze,” Ms. Daedalus says. “Russ is my assistant and junior designer.”
“Nice to meet you,” the gang says.
Mr. King then introduces a burly, barrel-chested man wearing a pith helmet and safari gear.
“This is Dr. Martin Clark, the archaeologist who discovered the ancient relics. He’s also a professor.”
“That’s me,” says the big man. “Martin’s my name, and excavating’s my game.”
“Mr. Clark has found precious artifacts from all over the globe. Most end up in museums, but some get snatched up by brilliant billionaires like myself!” Mr. King says with a laugh.
“That must be really exciting, sir,” Fred says to Martin.
“It sure is,” replies the professor. “One of the missing items is an Incan idol made of Peruvian turquoise. It was found at the ancient city of Machu Picchu many years ago after an ancient temple was discovered.”
The Mystery of the Maze Monster Page 2