Archie had a bad feeling. He just couldn't shake it. He looked over at the clock next to his bed.
10:27 the lights from the clock glowed in his room. He sat up, grabbed his phone for the umpteenth time that night to call Veronica. He had promised he wouldn't but it was late. They should have been done by now. He had to call.
He held the phone against his ear, his heart pounding as it continued to ring and she didn't pick up. With a sinking feeling, he called Betty. Who also didn't pick up. He shook his head, determined.
"That's it. I'm sorry Ronnie but I'm not sitting around waiting." He muttered and pulled his shoes on.
He ran down the stairs and pulled the front door open, the chilly night air hitting his face.
He took his phone out, called Jughead.
"What is it Archie?" he picked up after 2 rings, his voice disgruntled.
"Jug have you talked do Betty tonight?"
"Yeah she called me a few hours back, said she was with Veronica. Why?"
"Jughead it's late! Veronica said she would call me as soon as they were done. Somethings wrong."
"Archie I'm sure they're fine. Did you try calling them?"
"Of course I did Jug! Neither of them are picking up!"
There was a pause on the other end of the line. "Okay where are you?"
"I'm on my way to Pops. Just in case they went by there tonight."
"Okay I'll meet you there. I'll try calling Betty too."
"Alright."
Archie practically ran into Pops, pushing the door open making his way to the counter.
"Hey Pop have you seen Betty or Veronica tonight?"
"No son, I'm afraid not. They haven't been by here."
The pit in his stomach felt worse, as he turned around looking all over the diner even though he knew they weren't there. Something had happened.
He felt like such an idiot he could have slapped himself. Why hadn't he stopped them? He should have just tied her to the damn bed, he thought angrily.
The bell jangled and he looked up hopefully but it was only Jughead.
"Any luck?"
"They haven't been by here." Archie said, his voice frustrated. "What do we do Jug? I don't even know where to look for them!"
"Well Betty did mention something about Sheriff Keller when she was talking about tonight. Let slip actually." Said Jughead, thinking hard. "Let's go check there. Maybe try calling Kevin."
"Yeah okay let's go." Said Archie, making his way to the door.
They opened the door and stepped out, and Archie froze, his heart going cold at what he saw in front of him.
Betty was making her towards them, her hair ruffled and face streaked with dirt. But what petrified Archie was the girl Betty was dragging along with her.
Veronica was slumped against Betty, her eyes shut, and as Archie stared, he saw, there was blood on the side of her stomach.
"Ronnie!" he shouted, coming to his senses as he ran towards them, Jughead close behind. He skid to a halt in front of them, pulling Veronica into his arms.
"Archie I'm sorry. I didn't know what to do. We don't have our phones I couldn't call an ambulance."
Archie could barely hear what Betty was saying. He looked at Veronica's face, she looked pale, her breathing was shallow and her body was limp.
"We have to get her to the hospital Archie." Jughead yelled. "Now!"
Archie couldn't move. It was his dad all over again except this was worse. He could have stopped this, he should have.
Jughead smacked him on the head. "Archie now!"
He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. He lifted Veronica up in his arms, and turned to Jughead. "Get the car!"
Jughead looked around helpless. "Which car? Neither of us have one!"
Archie could barely process what was happening when Betty yelled from the road. He turned around to see her, pulling open the door of a random car parked in the lot.
He didn't question it and started running towards her, , Veronica tight in his arms.
Jughead jumped into the driver's seat and Archie got in the back, placing Veronica carefully on his lap.
"Betty whose car is this?" asked Jughead tensely.
Betty shook her head frantically. "I don't know who cares? Just drive!"
They reached the hospital in record time as Jughead broke all the speeding limits, Archie holding on to Veronica trying to stop her bleeding the whole time. He just couldn't believe it. His heart was thundering, his head hurt, he couldn't understand what was happening.
He jumped out of the car as soon as Jughead screeched to a halt, gathering Veronica up in his arms. He ran into the hospital yelling for help.
A nurse ran out of one of the rooms, her face going pale as she saw them, quickly calling for help.
As the doctors pried Veronica out of his arms and placed her on a stretcher, Archie slumped to the ground as they rolled her away from him. He held his face in his hands, shaking. Praying they weren't too late. Praying he wouldn't lose her.
So this chapter is a lot shorter, but really I couldn't add more to it. It serves as the setup for what's going to happen in the story. I would love to see what everyone thinks so please stop a review. It would mean the world to me.
