I do not own Riverdale. The CW does. No copyright infringement is intended.

"I need a name," the Black Hood had said. This was the second time and now she had to provide a name.

The first name had been Nick St Claire .

"I need a name now!" The Black Hood had all but practically yelled.

"Fine. Okay," Betty said, hesitating. "Toni Topaz," she managed to say.

"Toni Topaz it is," the Black Hood repeated and before she could say anything else he had hung up.

Betty sat in her bed staring at the phone in front of her. Nick St. Claire had been found floating in Sweetwater River and now Toni would be found there too. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she thought about it.

A part of her wanted to call Juggie and tell him to warn Toni, but she knew that would be futile.

"Toni Topaz, Toni Topaz. Okay she's absent," Mr. Philips said, bubbling in the attendance. Jughead glanced at the empty seat across from him. Where the hell could she be? They had been together last night watching Halloween on his laptop. They had fallen asleep on his couch but when he woke up this morning she was gone.

"Everyone please turn to page 151. Now who can tell me why George did what he did to Lennie?"

"Sweet Pea?" the teacher called.

"What exactly did George do to Lennie?" Sweet Pea asked. The class erupted in laughter.

"Someone obviously didn't do the reading," Mr. Philips said. "Jughead?"

"George did what he felt he had to do," Jughead said, "he didn't see no other alternative. If he hadn't chosen this difficult, though, incredibly unsettling choice, Lennie would always been an impediment to his dream." As Jughead answered he couldn't help but think of Betty. Had she broken up with him, because he was more of an obstacle in her life? Was he in the way of her perfect future?

Class went quickly as everyone wrote an essay of whether George had made the right decision. Jughead took out his phone and texted Toni.

Where u at?

Lunch was boring without Toni. He missed her sarcastic wit and the way she grumbled about the food on her tray.

"You okay?"

"Hey, Sweet Pea. You've seen Toni?"

"Wasn't she with you last night?" Sweet Pea said. "No I haven't seen her."

School ended and Jughead hoped to see Toni in his trailer but when he swung the door open, Hot Dog hopped on him. Hot Dog farted happily as he licked Jughead's face.

"Hey, buddy. Have you seen Toni?" Jug said, patting the dog's fur.

Jughead dialed and heard three rings. He was going to hang up when the ringing finally stopped. Pressing his ear ever so closely, he heard someone breathing on the other side.

"Toni, stop it. This isn't funny anymore. I can hear you breathing."

The breathing got louder. "I'm not laughing. I know we saw that scary movie yesterday, but you are taking it too far."

The breathing got louder and that caused Jughead's heart to beat faster.

"Toni?!"

The breathing got deeper and then there was silence.

Jughead called all the Serpents and told them what happened.

"We will search for her and if that includes going North we will. This isn't something she normally does," Sweet Pea said.

Jughead thanked them and was hopeful that they would find her. He rode to Pop's Diner on his motorcycle and rushed in. He would get a quick bite and then continue his search.

"Hey, Pop's. You haven't seen a girl with pink hair in here, have you?"

"No I would remember her. That's for sure. Is it going to be the usual?"

"Thanks Pop's, and yes."

Slurping his milkshake, Jug found he didn't really have an appetite. Worry did that to you. He was about to leave when Archie walked in. He hadn't seen Archie since the whole breakup thing two weeks ago, and he was the last person he wanted to see now.

"Jughead, hi," Archie said.

"Hello," Jug said with a sigh and headed for the door.

"Hey Jug, is something up? Besides-"

Jughead debated on whether he should tell Archie what happened and decided it wouldn't hurt.

"My friend Toni is missing. I mean I haven't seen her all day and I know it's just a day but I think something's wrong, Arch."

"I'll help you find her," Archie said and they headed out. "What does she look like?"

"Well she has pink hair. She's short with caramel skin and brown eyes. Oh and I forgot to mention she's a Southside Serpent."

"She sounds hot," Archie said.

Jughead nodded and smirked. They went to Archie's house and got two flashlights and Archie got his bat.

They walked to the woods, as the sun came down.

"Jug, about two weeks ago."

Jughead shook his head. "I don't want to talk about it." His tone came out gruff.

"Betty doesn't want me. I get it. I want to be with someone who isn't going to judge me. Who I don't always have to worry if I'm good enough for. We would've never worked out. I was just so stupid."

"You weren't stupid, Jug."

"Anyway I found someone more like me. She gets me, Archie. Anyway it seems like the universe doesn't want me to have good things."

"You mean Toni?" Archie asked.

"Yeah Toni," Jug said, pointing his flashlight toward some bushes. "I mean we like the same things. She's into all the weird shit I'm into. I know they always say opposites attract but that's bullshit. It's easier when you are alike."

"Betty tries Jug," Archie said.

"I know she does but one day she's just going to realize that I hold her back. I'm not what her mother wants. I can't be who she wants me to be. With Toni I can be me. I don't have to hide. I'm sick of hiding."

"Betty did what she did because-"

Suddenly Archie fell and his flashlight rolled away.

"Archie, are you okay?" Jughead said, shining his light on the ground. That is when he saw why Archie had tripped. Pink hair shone in the light and when he bent down he could see her clearly. Toni was lying face down on the ground. Her leather jacket now frayed and her bow was in her bloodied hand. Archie got up and looked down at the girl.

"Toni," Jughead whispered, turning her over. Her right cheek had been scratched. Jughead was on the verge of tears and he just stared.

"I've got her," Archie said, picking up the small girl. They went back to Archie's car and drove to the hospital.

Jughead and Archie sat in the waiting room.

"Hey Ronnie, I can't talk right now. I'm with Jughead. I'll tell you later." Archie said, and hung up his phone.

"Who would do this to her?" Jughead whispered. "I can't imagine who would do this. They messed with the wrong people, Arch."

"What do you mean?"

"Whoever did this to her not only messed with her. They messed with the Serpents and we will come after them."

The doctor approached them and Jughead's heart beat faster at the doctor's grim expression.

"Had you not brought her in when you did, she would've been dead in half an hour. Thankfully, she will make a full recovery but it will take months before she's back to normal. She will be okay."

"Can I see her?" Jughead asked, getting up quickly.

"Only her family members."

"She doesn't have anyone else," Jughead begged.

Jughead tentatively approached the hospital room. Toni lay there and for once she didn't have that grin she always seemed to have.

"Toni," he whispered. Grasping her hand he gave her a gentle squeeze. "They say you're going to be all right and you better be. Okay!" he yelled the last part at her. "You better be okay. Archie and I we found you. You're tough and you will make it through this. I don't know who did this to you but when I found out who they'll be sorry. Who did this to you?"

A tear had slipped from his right eye and he imagined her saying, "Oh come on, Jones. What the hell are you doing? Is that an actual tear?" Glancing at the clock he saw that he only had two minutes left to be with her. "They will pay," he whispered in her ear. "Who did this to you?" he asked her again. Sucking his teeth in frustration, he was about to head out the door. Suddenly just as he was about to leave, he heard.

"Betty."

Lollypop, lollypop, lollypop. I hoped you liked this chapter. Let me know. Thanks for reading.