It was a slow, painful and horrific sight. Nobody knew it was coming. Nobody was aware of the pain that this tragedy would cause. It starts off like ripping off a bandaid. You feel the sting and then it goes. But then it sets off a fire. And it all starts crumbling. Pain, devastation and depression all start to take formation. Bones turn brittle and crack under the slightest amount of pressure. Nobody knew how much one death could cause so much chaos.
Everything was fine. Nobody was in pain or suffering. Betty was trying to find out who was the Black Hood. Her and Cheryl were deep in the investigation together when they found a haunting discovery. Her father was the Black Hood. She was told to act like nothing happen. Cheryl was in her house that night. And then she heard knocking. She opened the door, and screamed. What she saw was the Black Hood standing in her doorway with an axe. She raced up to her room and slammed the door shut and moved a heavy desk to block him from getting in. But it failed he swung the axe into her door. And when the door opened. She wasn't in the room. This which drove The Raged Killer up the wall and went down stairs and outside. To be only met by Sneaky Cheryl with her bows and was shot in the right shoulder and ran off wailing. Cheryl alerted her cousin and Betty went searching for her father.
But that didn't stop the angered Killer. No it only gave him more freedom. To relinquish his true deviled plan. He didn't bother heading to the hospital. He was too angered by that. He waited in his house. Timing the right second to release his evil plan. When the clock struck, it was time. He spotted Alice making dinner for him and Betty. Alice turned the corner to walk over to the fridge and was met by her husband. She truly didn't love him.
Weeks ago she stepped out on him with her true love and then Fp turned her down at Pop's and she felt so broken and unwanted. So when he asked her back. She took him back. Not because she loved him. No because he was her only option. She hadn't spoken to Fp since she confessed her long dreaded secret. That she had his baby. And now he's dead. She killed their son. He comforted her what seemed like hours and then they came back to her house. And she hadn't spoke to him since. She was truly broken over it. She loved him. No she still does. She didn't know why she didn't just tell him. Maybe she was scared to be hurt again.
As she was trying to cut the potatoes. She felt a weird vibe. Then she looked up from then cutting board and up at her husband. She could see a hole on his shoulder. "Hal, honey, are you okay? You have a bleeding hole on your right shoulder." She informed him unaware of his plan. He stifled a growl and walked away. She sighed and continued to cut the potatoes.
While in the room, Hal grabbed his special phone for his killing duties and dialed his daughter. "We keep missing each other." He chuckled as he could hear deep breathing.
Betty looked around the hospital and saw her father room. And then opened the door. Her eyes widened when she saw doctor Masters bleeding out of his neck and then the phone rang. She hesitantly picked up the while cord phone. "We keep missing each other." She could hear his chuckle. It sent chills up her spine and she felt tears fall from her terrified eyes. What did have planned?
"You just kill for fun now?"
"No, I don't Betty. And now I have you here. I need you to deliver a special message." Her heart was pounding. Why?
"Why?"
Hal stayed slient as he held Alice to his body with a knife to her neck. "I have your mother here." Alice whimpered from the tape over her mouth. She was just making dinner when he grabbed the knife and pointed at the chair and tied arms and held a knife directly over her neck. She was going to die. She knew it was risky.
"Moms there?" Betty stuttered as she looked around the room where Doctor Masters was killed.
"Yes. And if you don't deliver this message. To Fp Jones. The love of your mother's life. I will slit your mother's throat in the middle of kitchen floor!" Hal screamed as Alice wiggled in his grasp.
"Okay. I will. Don't hurt her." Betty said before hanging up. She had to get Fp and now. Her mother's life was in danger.
Little did Betty Know Hal already slit her throat and Alice was quickly dying. Because the second the phone ended. Alice broke her hands free. And knees him in the groin. Hal growls angrily and presses inward and watches as she squirms and falls to the floor. "F-p lo-ves m-e." She cries as the knife was left in her neck. And those were her last audible words before her eyes closed forever. Hal was off to his next victim. Jughead or Fp. He couldn't decide. Maybe he will just do both.
Betty starts running as fast as she possible could t warn Fp. She knew they once had a relationship in high school. And she knew her mother loves him. How could she not known that? She runs all the way to his trailer. She starts banging on the door hopelessly. She felt sick to her stomach. He had to open up the door. When the door finally opened, Fp rubbed his eyes. He was having a screaming match with his son over the battle. He looked over at her state and instantly shakes the anger and replaces it with worry.
He welcomes her in. Jughead was sitting at the table where his father was five minutes ago. He looked over to Betty and knew something wasn't right. She looked panicked and scared. "Betty what's wrong?" Betty looked over at her boyfriend and her eyes just break way with tears. She can barley breathe as Fp puts his hands on her shoulders.
"My dad â- is the- Black H-ood." She breaks into sobs as Jughead envelopes her into his arms.
Fp looks at the girl in front of him and feels his heart plummet. He needs to know what she was saying. Hal Cooper was the Black Hood. What? He couldn't wrap his mind around it. Betty's cries drowned out his thoughts and he opens his mouth. "Betty, shh! It will be okay." He calms her. Still trying to wrap his mind around the fact. It felt cold rushing through his blood as he watched the Cooper girl sob her heart away.
"He- called me to tell me to give you a special message. Something about you being the love of my mom's life. And if I didn't. He would... slit her throat in the middle of the kâ-" She explained until her throat closed up from the tears.
Fp's eyes widened he had to go get her. She wasn't safe. Jughead saw the pained look in his father's eyes and knew that his father was in love with her. He could just see the love in his eyes. When he screamed at his father about leaving them in a house with a potential murder. He could've sworn he saw his father's eyes flicker with regret.
It wasn't long before they Arrived at the Cooper's house. Fp went first. Since he had a bulletproof vest on from helping getting rid of the Ghoulies. He looked around the house searching every square inch of the house. Betty held Jughead's arm as they approached the kitchen. Her heart stopped as she saw the Brutal sight. Blood spattered on the walls. She looked further in the kitchen and saw... her mother. She felt like she was about to throw up. Her mother's neck had been slit open, crimson cursings dried to her ghastly white skin.
She dropped to her knees. Shaking her mother hoping it would bring her back to her. She wasn't okay. Her mother was dead. Jughead watched as the girl he once knew shatter in a blink of an eye. Her cries shattered his heart. He couldn't possibly know what to do. There was nothing he could do. The damage was already done. His eyes stayed fixated on Betty's face. He didn't want to see the aftermath. How could someone do this?
Fp was upstairs when he heard Betty's cries. He searched everywhere. His stomach plummeted when he turned the corner to the kitchen. He felt like was in a nightmare. He wanted to wake up. He opened his squinted eyes to see his love of his life with her blood all over the kitchen. Her neck was slit open. Betty was shaking her mother's lifeless body. Pain broke him. He collapsed to his knees. Earth shattering cries erupted from his throat as he laid his head on her blood soaked shirt. Jughead watched the heart-wrenching slight as he dialed 911.
Fp didn't care anymore. His only reason he bothered trying was her. Alice Susanna Smith was gone. She was forever gone. Her smile he loved, her smirk and her fiery attitude was disappearing. There was no more Alice. The woman who loved throwing bricks at windows. Was gone.
The pain only grew as Sheriff Keller came into the house with three other police officers. And when Alice was placed in the Black body bag and sealed tight was when Betty officially broke into never-ending sobs. The whole entire neighborhood came out of their houses. Fred opened his door and saw three cop cars and one Condonor black van. His mind was blown away. Then he saw Fp's and Betty's heartbroken expressions. He didn't open his mouth. He already knew. Alice was gone. Soon news vans started appearing. Betty hid behind Fp as they new reporter asked them questions. She didn't even have words. Her father lied. He was going to kill her no matter what. If she would've just came home? Maybe she could've stopped it from happening.
She felt hopeless. Her father had tricked her. Her mother was gone. Her best friend. She didn't have anyone. She would have to be forced into foster care. As Fp talked She held onto Jughead for support. If she didn't? She was pretty sure she would collapse.
Soon Veronica came bursting into the chaos. She heard from Archiekins. And whatever she was doing before didn't matter. She was held hostage by her father's son's enemy. Luckily her mother saved them. Cheryl heard from Toni. Who was told by Jughead. And as soon as she saw her cousin she engulfed her in her arms. She was worried for her. Hal took off. They didn't know where. But there were thousands of angry states and cities looking high and low for that criminal. Betty hasn't spoken since she found her mother. Her throat was sore from screaming and crying uncontrollably.
The next day, She woke up in a unfamiliar bed, but not strangers. She remembered the horrid night. She would never ever forget it. She sat up numbly in bed and got up. Her feet felt like they were stiff. And had been for sometime. She couldn't move. Then a tap on the door frame stirred her from her dark thoughts. She looked up to see an equally shattered man in front of her. Fp knew how she was feeling. Like she was stuck and couldn't move. He knew it was much worse for her. It was her mother.
"Morning, Betty." He said softly with almost no feeling just as numb as he felt.
She stood not moving and looked down at her feet. "Morning, Mr Jones." She didn't want to be polite for once in her life. She didn't find a reason to. She knew she was gone but she could still hear her mother's calming voice.
Tears burned her eyes as they weren't shedded as she kept staring at her feet as if the time would click back to when she had her mother. But she knew very well. Her mother would never be at her graduation, cheering louder and prouder than any other parent. She would never see her get married, have children. It was starting to hit her. There wasn't a time machine. No pill to bring her back. In reality she wasn't coming back. "Uh, Betty, are you going to be okay today?" She heard a concerned voice peak through her soft agile ears.
She looked up meeting his eyes and then she felt her strong facade crack and tears broke. "She's gone." Her voice broke his heart. "She's never going to make Chocolate Chip pancakes again." She sobbed as she felt his strong arms holding her.
She didn't even like Chocolate Chip Pancakes and yet she was going to miss them. Maybe it was because it was made by her heart. Her mother always cooked with love. And now she won't have that. It made her really want that back. And yet she never will.
Fp was stunned. He didn't know what to say or do. He did the only thing he could think of. He pulled into his arms and let her break down. He wasn't sure why he hadn't cracked open a bottle and drowned his thoughts and grief with liquor. He hasn't downed one. Maybe it was because he knew she wouldn't like him to do that. She was right. She would never ever be in their lives again. Her cries about their son. Now she was with him. How could life be this unfair? That answer wasn't going to be answered until Hal Cooper was playing for his crimes. He wanted to murder that bastard for taking Alice away from him. He wished he could take Betty's pain away and his as well.
Jughead didn't know what to say either. Nobody's talked for hours. It had been only a day since Mrs C was murdered. And He had to be the strong one for his girlfriend and father. He hoped Betty didn't have to be put in foster care system. He didn't want her to leave him. He knew she was in a tremendous amount of pain. And that would never go away. It may fade but never disappear ever.
He went to school. Everyone swarmed him asking him questions. It drove him insane. Why did they care now? They never paid attention when Betty had a serpent Slut written in pigs blood on her locker. No they gossiped. They didn't care. At lunch he sat at their lunch table. Archie and Veronica came into the lunch room and eyes followed them like stalkers and lurkers they were.
"How's betty?" Veronica asked as she sat down and looked honestly at Jughead watching him carefully. She knew everyone was asking. He swallows his bite of his burger and lowered his eyes to floor. "What do you think, Veronica? Her mother's dead!" He snapped sharply as he chewed his bite. Veronica looked down at her tray and numbed her tongue. "Jug, I'm sorry I asked. I'm just worried about my B." She whispered softly as she wiped her eyes.
She didn't mean to upset Jughead. Betty hadn't answered any of her texts and calls. She was getting worried. "She's at the trailer with my dad. When I woke up they were talking and she was crying. It hurt me to see her in that much pain guys. I didn't know if she will ever recover from this." He said softly as he gulped down the rest of his chocolate milk.
Veronica nodded and Archie rubbed her back. It wasn't fair. None of this was fair. Betty shouldn't be going through this pain. It was unnecessary. It shouldn't have been done. Archie didn't know it was like to lose a parent. He knew what it was like to almost lose one. He honestly didn't know what to say or do to make her feel better. The only thing that kept him going was trying to find who shot his father. Which now he knew it was Hal Cooper.
A few days pass and baskets were covering the Jones's porch with food and home bake goods. Betty hasn't gotten out of bed in three days. It's been three days since her mother was murdered. It will be her funeral in a few more days. Betty was nowhere close to being ready to let her mother go. And she wanted her mother more than anything. She missed her mother's wonderful cookies and her smile. Oh god her smile was always making Betty better. When she had a broken heart. Her mother would just smile and it would make her smile. She hated the fact her mother was going to be in the ground in a few days. That didn't make sense to her. Her mother wasn't supposed to be dying so soon. She was expecting when she was older and didn't need her mother so much. Of course she would always come to her. And now that right was wrongful taking away from her. She thought long and hard about the fact. The old hard truth. Her mother would never be at her beck and call ever again. She would never get advise from her mother. And yes they did fight occasionally. But what daughter and mother never fought? She didn't know a single one. She was appreciative of Mr Jones. He took her under his wing and gave her a home. But that still didn't mean she didn't need her mother. And now she needed her mother more than anything. And where was she? She was in a fucking mogue.
She never thought she would have to deal with this. Her father was no longer in her life. She didn't care. He broke that chance the moment he picked up that gun and shot Mr Andrews at Pop's Diner. She no longer saw him as her father. No she didn't even know this man. It was like he was a demon. Or he wa the devil himself dressed as her father. Same build.
She heard all about her father's story. He sent her a recording. And she sat up in the bed, bawling and hyperventilating beyond her control. Fp came into the room and stood frozen. He didn't know what to do. He did the only thing he could. Hold her until she stopped.
After several minutes later, She finally stopped crying. She didn't speak. She just handed him the recorder. He pressed play and his heart pounded. Why can't he leave them alone? He was fleeing while they were suffering. How was that right or ethical? He wished he could kill that bastard himself and let him suffer like he did to his daughter. He couldn't even believe the things Betty was told to do. What kind of father does that? It made him sick to his fucking stomach.
And then the day came. The day they had been dreading for days. It was time to say their final goodbyes. Betty didn't bothering putting on makeup. She knew her mother preferred her not wearing makeup. Her mother was a believer of the beauty within and natural. She walked over to her closet and slowly pulled out her Funeral dress. It was a bluish Black. Her mother loved blue.
Fp showed up in a nice black suit. He couldn't believe it was the final time. The final goodbye. His final I love you to her. And this time he wouldn't get a goodbye back or I love you back. Betty stood by the brown casket shaking as she placed a white flower on top. She didn't want to say goodbye. She never wanted to. She knew one day she would have to. But she never thought it would be now. She was only sixteen. She was going into her junior year after summer. Her mom wouldn't be able to help her with collage applications or pick out her prom dress.
She stood up and walked up to the podium. She slowly pulled out the paper she had been gripping the whole service. "My Mom was a very ambious women. She was motive and strong. She would be there to cook and clean after us kids. We were very messing when we were younger." Betty said through a soft chuckle. She scanned the service and spotted her sister who was wiping her eyes. Polly chuckled painfully as tears stung her cheeks. "Yeah, I don't how she did it. And she used to make these Chocolate Chip Pancakes. And I didn't like them and now for some reason I want them. All the time." She choked out as she looked back down and wiped her eye gently with a tissue.
After she finished she sat back down next to Jughead and cried into his arms. She never felt so weak until that moment. She always put a brave face. She never felt her face fall. But lately she hadn't been able to. Mary got up next to say a few words. Mary knew Alice for years. They grew to like one another. And now she had to save goodbye forever. She never thought this day would have to come. She was in Chicago when she got the call from her ex-Husband. And man she cried for hours on the phone as he calmed her. Hermonie Lodge couldn't believe she let her husband get in the way of her friendship and now it was never going to I'm sorry.
Then It was Fp's turn. He didn't know what to say. He didn't know if he should tell her he told her. Or just keep that a secret. He had been watching the room closely as he walked up. He wasn't stumbling which was a shock to him and everyone else. He was sober. But he didn't know if he could continue that streak.
"Alice and I go way back. I met her in my English class. She always had the best grades and man I was jealous. Me here. I didn't have the best grades." Everyone chuckled, including him. "One day she dropped her books and I helped. I know it was cliche romance movie. She looked up at me and smiled and man that smile. It actually smile." He took a deep breath. "And now I think as I look up in the sky. She would be smiling at how much I was a fool up here. And I wish I could've told her. When I had the chance. That I love her." He felt his eyes prickling.
Tears rolled down his cheeks as he moved over to her casket. And looked down. He replaced that frown with what he wanted to see. He wanted her to smile and say I gotta. As much as he prayed that would come true. He knew deep down it was never going to happen. Alice he knew and loves was forever gone.
And then the final goodbye was the hardest for everyone. You thought you were crying enough already. No tell me when you see your loved one being lowered into the ground. Six feet under. Deep under but you can still feel them. For Betty, the Final goodbye was excruciating for her. And then her heart plummeted deep down when she saw the casket with her mother disappear within thin air.
Alice Susanna Smith was gone. And then Fp came crashing. His love of his life was gone. He will never get to tell her he loves her or marry her. Be a father to their other children. All he could do now was be there for her current children.
"Mom! No, no, no don't leave me! Betty cried as she thrusted around in her boyfriend's hold.
She felt alone. Her mother wasn't there. It was too much. She wanted her mother. She fell to her knees and beat the ground with her small hands. She wanted to kill her father. And nobody was going to stop her. "Mommy!" She whimpered as she looked at the fresh tombstone with her name heavily engraved in the stone.
She went home that night. She slept like a baby. Fp was fighting the urge to nurse the bottle. He was fighting an ongoing battle with his inner demons. Jughead snuggles in the same bed as Betty. He couldn't sleep from the cries coming from the living room. His father was crying. He knew this would happen.
Hang The Caution Tape I'm Dangerous.
The day They got the news. They best news. It might not the news that could bring her back to them. But it was the best news. Hal Cooper had been caught and was thrown in a prison cell. It was two months after her mother's funeral. After months of hard searching they finally found him. And that day she went to her mother's grave.
She sat down on a green patch of grass. She put flowers down next to her gravestone. She smoothed her finger over her mother's name and smiled for the first in two months. "Mom, we got him. He's in prison. You can finally rest. I miss you so much, Mom. Fp, Uh started drinking again. Hiram Lodge fired him from Pop's yesterday and then he picked up the bottle and hasn't put it down since." She whispered to the known as she let the tears cascade down her cheeks.
In truth everyone was struggling. The whole town hadn't been same since she was murdered. Many who didn't care moved on and forgot about her. The people that knew and loved her with all their hearts had a harder time letting go.
She took a deep breath and wiped her eyes. She then heard whispering from the other side of the cemetery. She looked up from her mother gave and over at the whispering she heard. She spotted Cheryl. After Cheryl said some words. She looked up and caught Betty's eyes.
"I was visiting Jason." She mutters softly as she sat down next to Betty. She saw a few more tears escape her eyes.
"Does it ever get easier, Cheryl? I mean yes now that Hal is behind bars. It has gave me some relief. But she's still gone. And that's not changing." Cheryl didn't know. Her pain was still there.
She slowly pulled her closer and whispered," Cousin, it does. I know it doesn't seem like it will. But It will. And now your father is behind bars. It will help the healing process." She spoke softly as she wiped her cousin's tears.
"I just feel so anger with the world. They took her away. And now that his trial is starting soon. I didn't know if I can last anymore with her. It's been the most diffcult two months in my life, Cheryl. Fp got fired and now started drinking. I'm worried I'll lose him too." Betty bursted into tears. Fp was her only family left. He became her back bone. When she couldn't function on her own.
"I felt so angry too, Betty. You should talk to him. Tell him how you feel. And yes the trial will be hard and back backing. You will need a support system. I wish I had that with Jason. Mom didn't care for me never had. That's why I got emancipated." She listened to Cheryl's advise and hoped she was right.
After awhile sitting in hollow silence she stood up and walked back to the trailer. When she got inside, She found him slurring his words. "Al, please come back!" He was screaming. Her heart shattered for him. "Betty needs you! Don't you get that?!" She came into the living room, grabbing the bottle from his hand. "Shhh! It's okay!" She soothed as he fell to his knees.
Fp looked back up from his knees and broke into sobs. "You left me, Allie. You left us! You look my happiness with you! How could you do that?!" He screamed at the wall. Betty watched with tears falling.
Jughead heard his father drunken screams and came into the living room to calm him down. "Dad, shh! She's Gone." He spoke softly as he helped his father to the couch as his eyes filled with his own tears. He knew his father was dying on the inside. He had been for two months. "No! No! She can't be!" His father screamed again. Betty couldn't watch anymore. She slammed the trailer door and left.
After Fp sobered up, He sat in his chair and looked at old photos. He couldn't believe Alice was gone. Hiram fired him yesterday. He was happy he was no longer his busboy. But he remembered the times he sat in those seats with Alice. He never got to say a proper goodbye. He got into his bike and drove to her grave.
As he sat by her gave. He started crying. He hadn't cried like this since the night she was murdered. Jughead told him that Hal was found and was rotting behind steel bars. He wished she could hold him again, kiss him again. It was all fading. He didn't know what the day it was. He felt lost. He didn't know what was going on? He felt alone. He wanted her again.
"I know, I haven't visited since the day we buried you. Al, I miss you so goddamn much, Baby. I didn't even get to tell you how much I miss you. Or how much I love you. And I haven't stopped since the day you broke it off. I feel so lost. Hiram is ruining this town. I gave Jughead my spot with the Serpents. Betty she misses. Jughead misses you. We still get baskets every damn day. I regret not giving you a chase at Pop's. I love you so much, Al." He broke out into heartbreaking sobs as he soothed his finger over her headstone.
Alice Susanna Smith
Mother, Friend and Girlfriend
More known as Al and Mama Bear
March 16th, 1972- May 9th, 2018
After he left her favorite flowers and never peonies. You had to be an idiot to give those. She was allergic to them. And everyone who knew her knew that very well. He said his goodbye and headed back to the trailer.
Days passed for awhile. Fp officially was back on track. Betty had started junior year and her father had been officially found guilty. And they hoped Alice was smiling from above them. Fp didn't find another love. Gladsy came back into his life and Jellybean and Jughead finally reunited again after two years of being apart.
By senior Betty was standing on that stage making her mother proud like she promised. Even though her mother wasn't in the crowd. She knew she was up above cheering louder and prouder than anyone.
"Betty Smith class Of 2020" Principal Weatherbee announced as she walked across the stage.
Fp stood up prouder than anyone else in the crowd. He knew that was what Alice always wanted. She wanted her daughter to be happy. Betty started speaking and the words just flowed. "I want to thank my mother for pushing me to my limits. I would like to thank my father Fp Jones. He stood there and helped me through my loss of my mother. And I know she's watching me and cheering." Betty said into the microphone. Fp's eyes welled up. She thought of him as her father.
"Jughead Jones Class Of 2020." Fp roars with happiness as he watches his son cross that stage. He knew very well his son deserved it.
"Archiebald Andrews." Archie crossed the stage and smiled at his mother and Father. His father was able to come after all. It's been two years since the Black Hood fiasco.
"Cheryl Topaz. Okay I read that right." Cheryl rolled her eyes and strutted in with a red lip.
"Yes your right, Principal Weatherbee. Toni proposed!" She shouted with a big smile. " And I don't have any real family. I want to thank Mr Andrews. He helped me fill out my first application. And I would like to thank Jason. Even though he's no longer alive. He gave me the courage to walk on this stage and get my Diploma." Cheryl thanked as she walked off the stage.
"Veronica Lodge." Veronica smiled as she was handed her well worth the hard work diploma.
Alice watched with tears of happiness. Her daughter made it. She only wished she could see her in real life. She was sad Fp finally moved on. But she would be cold if she wouldn't let him. He deserves all the happiness in the world.
After they've walked across the stage. Their journeys began. Fp watched with a watchful eye as his son got down on one knee. He only wished Alice could see it. And of course Betty's answer was yes.