AN: So here is the next chapter- I hope you enjoy it. Also it has come to my attention that some of you think I actually plan these chapters out, the truth is I don't. What you see and read is literally made up on the spot, apart from a few rough ideas that are floating round in my head- which is also why I don't really know where this story is going until I have written it.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the chapter and please let me know what you think.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything.


Blood roared in her ears and she could feel her heart pounding in her chest as she saw him- the love of her life laying in his father's arms and seemingly lifeless. The first thought that comes to her is how broken, how small he looks and how he barely resembles the man she loves.

The second comes from the deeper, darker part of her and it screams for blood, for vengeance.

As if on instinct her fingers curl inward; the nails piercing the delicate skin on her palms. It calms her- the pain, grounds her in such a way that she can nearly say Jugheads name as she takes a half step forward- crimson running through the gaps between her fingers.

It's fitting she thinks, the blood on her hands- symbolising all of the death and destruction ripping the town of Riverdale apart at this very moment.

She just never thought Jughead would be one of the casualties.

The realisation cripples her.

A half scream half sob tore from her throat as she lunged forward, collapsing on the ground next to Jughead and cradling his head in her hands.

''Juggie please, please no'' she cried pressing trembling fingers to the side of his neck in search of life, there was none.

''Don't leave me'' she sobbed ''you promised you'd see me soon ok, you promised'' she let her hands hover over the cuts on his face, linger on the missing flesh where his tattoo had once resided- feeling the bile rise up in her throat and a fresh wave of tears make tracks down her cheeks.

''You said you'd never stop loving me Juggie, well the truth is I'll never stop loving you either- it's that simple. I love you so much that sometimes it hurts to be away from you'' she took a staggering breath ''I can't live without you Juggie, I can't and I know this is selfish but I need you to wake up because our story isn't over; it can't be.''

Betty clutched him tighter ''there was so much you wanted to do Jug, wanted to be. Remember all of those plans we made, we were going to open our own newspaper; be super sleuths on the side because we just couldn't give up solving the mysteries. None of that can happen if you don't open your eyes for me'' she waited for what seemed to be forever but there was no response.

If possible her next cry was even louder than the rest, breaking her in ways she didn't even know she could be, filling her up with a rage so mighty even she was partly afraid of the other side of her.

It was as if she was at war with herself, one part wanted to lie down next to Jughead- let the world wear her body down so she could join Jughead in the afterlife. The other part wanted her to use that rage, use all of the anger, the frustration and light a match- light a match in the heart of Riverdale and watch the whole town around her turn to ashes, wanted to watch it burn. It wanted her to find those responsible and tear their hearts from their chest, to crush them, make them feel like she did right now- broken, in pain, lifeless, that part needed them to suffer for what they did to jughead.

Only then would it settle, only then would the raging inferno cool.

A pair of arms encased her torso and she struggled, ''let go of me'' she growled kicking out at the offender and bringing her elbow back to hit them.

''Betty, there's nothing we can do'' she recognised the voice of Archie but even that was not enough to calm her because the arms holding her were wrong, so wrong. She wanted the warmth that only seemed to come from Jughead, wanted the beaming smile he would grant her and the sweeping warmth that would encase her form as he did.

She wanted all of it.

''I don't care, I'm not leaving him'' a sudden burst of strength had her breaking from his arms and she collapsed on the ground, taking Jugheads face between her hands in a gentle hold.

''Come back to me'' she whispered, pressing her lips to his before pulling away to lay next to him, curling around his form protectively and placing her head on his chest.

They would have to pry her cold, dead- thump, she almost missed the first beating of his heart over her thoughts but then came the next thump, thump, thump.

''He's alive'' she whispered, barely daring to believe it as she met the eyes of one Archie Andrews.

''What?''

''He's alive'' it was louder this time and had them jumping into action.

Archie, Sweet Pea and Fp lifted the teen between them, Betty clinging onto to him for dear life as they made their way to one of the trucks nearby- Cheryl and Toni following in their wake.

It took almost no time at all for them to load Jughead into the truck, laying him on the blanket in the back and then all piling into the vehicle.

The blonde settled next to him, lips at his ear and wincing as a pained moan escaped the teen ''stay with me Juggie, stay with me'' she pleaded, repeating the phrase as if it was a mantra as they drove to the hospital.

It was pandemonium when they arrived, Fp carried Jughead in his arms with Betty clutching the arm that dangled, seemingly unable to keep her hands off him.

''WE NEED HELP OVER HERE'' Fp shouted, garnering the attention of a few passing nurses and doctors who came rushing over.

A gurney was supplied and the teen taken from his fathers arms, the doctors throwing around medical terms.

''Miss, I'm going to have to ask you to let go'' a nurse ordered not unkindly and it took Betty a moment to understand she was talking to her.

''No, I'm not leaving him'' she tightened her grip on his arms but a few of the other nurses pulled her off of him.

''No, no Juggie'' she cried as they wheeled him down the corridor and out of sight ''where is he? Where have you taken him? You're not taking him away from me?'' she sobbed in hysteria, breath coming out in pants as if she were having a panic attack.

''Betty, hey calm down'' Fp soothed; enveloping the girl in his arms and dragging her with him to some chairs in the waiting room ''they're just doing their jobs ok, they're gonna save him'' it sounded more as if he were reassuring himself rather than her, only serving for Betty to cry harder.

Fp held her just as Jughead was prone to do and she had the passing thought that maybe it was a Jones thing, before her mind circled back to the image of Jughead laying on the cold ground.

It seemed to be burned in her brain that image, the panic only increasing the longer she was away from him and not able to make sure that breath still resided in his lungs.

''B'' a voice called from behind her and Betty turned to face the raven head, grief lining her features.

''V'' she said, voice no more than a whisper.

''Shh, shh'' Veronica soothed, taking her in her arms and running a hand down her back in comfort. Betty didn't know how long she sat and cried, only knew that by the end her head ached, her eyes itched and she could no longer find the strength to sob.

It wasn't much later that a haggard looking doctor emerged from the hallway to approach them.

''He's stable for now'' were the first words out of his mouth and Betty felt the relief hit her ''we've put him into a medically induced coma to reduce some of the swelling on his brain but in time I am confident that he should make a full recovery'' there were thanks all round and then the doctor took his leave after telling them which room he was in.

Fp and Betty went in first, the tension leaving their shoulders as they saw evidence of Jughead alive; even if he was hooked up to breathing tubes and probably wrapped in enough gauze to be a living mummy.

The blonde sat down at his bedside, taking his hand in her own and relishing the touch of his skin against hers- loving the warmth radiating from his fingertips.

''Where are you going?'' Betty asked when Fp made to leave the room after saying goodbye to his son, confusion and disbelief evident in her tone.

''To win a war'' he said simply and then she understood, he was going to fight the ghoulies that she had been informed of.

''You're just leaving him'' she stated, but a part of her screamed that she get up and go with him, go and avenge what had happened to Jughead.

''I'm not taking this lying down Betty- that's my son and they, they-'' he couldn't seem to finish the sentence, voice cracking on the last word and that's when Betty understood.

The ghoulies had attacked his son, dared to harm a hair on Jughead Jones' head and there was no way in hell that Fp Jones would let that act go unpunished- she respected him for that alone.

''Go'' she ordered and he looked startled ''give them hell.''

Fp made his way to the door, but stopped before opening it ''if anybody tries anything, if they try to hurt him-.''

''I'll kill them myself'' she said, voice devoid of warmth as she stared at him challengingly- the other side of her rejoicing at the threat.

''Good'' he replied and then disappeared out of the door.

It should scare her, how willing she was to make threats on people's lives but the reality of it was that she would be damned if anybody else hurt the boy in front of her- even if that meant killing someone to protect him, robbing someone of the breath in their lungs and feeling the blood run down her fingertips, staining the skin.

Somewhere inside of her the darker part sung in pleasure.


AN: So how was that? Please let me know because I tried so hard to write this chapter and not mess it up because I think it is kind of an important chapter, please let me know what you think and I hope there wasn't anything wrong with it.