Prologue: Awake
Archie's room was pitch dark when the light from his iPhone pieced through the static black of the night. His ringtone, a snippet from Iron & Wine's "Flightless Bird, American Mouth", woke him up in a groggy, zombie-like daze. It took a moment for the teen to gather his thoughts and his eyes to adjust. Archie quickly grabs his phone, which reads "Call from Jughead", swipes accept and places it up to his ear.
"Jesus, Jughead. What time is it?"
"It's 4:30 AM."
"Okay, so why are you calling at-"
"There's been a murder, Archie. Someone's dead. I just heard someone call my Dad from the office. I have no idea who it is... or how... but there's been a murder at that old clearing near the creek."
"Lover's Creek?" Archie asks, "I didn't even know people still go there."
"Yeah." Jughead responded, followed by a long period of silence, "I guess they do."
"Holy crap... Jughead..." Archie whispers to himself in disbelief.
"I felt like I had to call someone."
"Of course, bud. Do they... Do they knew who it is?"
I heard them say something about Riverdale High School, Archie... Something about having to make an announcement. I think it's someone we knew."
"Don't panic, man. Your Dad would tell you if it was someone close, yeah? He won't let you find out when everyone else finds out."
"I don't know, Archie... I really don't know. After the call, I heard him rush out of the house and drive off. I think it's really bad. Like... really, really bad."
"So what now? I feel like I can't just sit here and do nothing."
"Let's meet at sunrise. We can meet at Pop's and then ride our bikes over to the creek. 7 AM sharp." Jughead confirms in a sharp tone.
"I'll be there."
If only we knew... the bloodshed... the horror... or mystery to come.
