Chapter Eleven : Cut and Bruises
Betty stood outside of the Pembrook, Veronica beside her. "Are you sure I can't give you a ride?" Veronica pleaded and pouted her lip. It was morning now, the sun dancing warmly above the sky. Veronica had a black lace dress with a white collar. She wore a black dress coat, blocking herself from the chilly morning weather.
"I'm fine V. You've already let me borrow an outfits. You've done enough." Betty murmured softly and gave her friend a hug. "Thank you. Remember our promise." she added quickly before turning and tightening her ponytail.
The reason she decided to walk by herself was because she needed to stop at her house. She knew nobody would let her alone, but this was something she had to do. She needed to clean up and get new clothes, her own clothes.
Veronica looked as if she wanted to say more but decided against it. "Of course, B." she smiled and Betty turned, starting her walk home.
Veronica was right, it was a long walk. Impossibly long. Still, it flew by to Betty. She paused at the front of her door. The window was still shattered, and it was clear objects still littered the floor.
Pushing open the door, she flinched at the fact that it was unlocked. Was her mother even home?
"Mom?" Betty started, and was answered with silence. Cold, dreadful silence.
Everything was exactly how she had left it, every tiny detail. Her mother hadn't even gone home. Where was she staying then? Where could she possibly be staying other than here? The Register?
Crouching on a knee, she began to pile glass in one pile and stuff that could be saved in another. Tears slid down her face and in a silent sob she kept sorting. Glass cut into her hands, palms and blood dripped onto the floor in a mangled mess. She would need to use a mop before leaving.
After around two hours, the house was as clean as possible. Blood still smeared her hands and she still needed to mop. Many pieces of her house were missing, lamps, dishes, the television even. Her garbage was filled and trash bags filled to the brim with broken items rested against walls.
Walking numbly to the sink, she turned on the water. Glass marks covered her bloody hands. Tiny pieces of glass were jabbed into her palms and all over her hands. It hurt worse than what her nails could do. Still, she was slightly resistant to the pain. Slightly. Placing her hands in the water, the blood washed off. Her hands burned with pain at the feeling of water against her shaky, pierced hands.
After the blood was removed, she sat down on the table, since most of the chairs were broken, and looked to her hands. With one of her gnarled hands, she pulled pieces of glass from her other hand, putting the pieces in a pile. Then she did the same for the other hand and washed her hands with water again. Next, she used a towel to scoop up the glass and threw it away.
Wrapping her hands adhesive wrap, she pulled out the mop and began to clean her blood from the floors. Once she put away the mop she let out a sigh as she fell to the couch in a sitting position. She looked around her house and frowned. It was horrible, truly.
When her phone buzzed in her black jeans, her head reached for it and picked it up. Her hands ached at the simple touch of her phone on her gnarled, cut hands. Maybe she should have worn gloves or swept instead of handpicking the glass. Still, in a way, the pain was able to remove her worries, or at least distract them.
Unknown Number
Betty felt a shiver run through her spine, the Black Hood was enlisted under Unknown Number. Quickly, she pushed away her fear and answered it, holding the phone to her ear. "Hello?" she questioned and took a breath. Worry flickered through her eyes, and she was glad whoever was calling couldn't see her fear.
"Betty Cooper." The familiarity of the voice sent cruel shivers down Betty's back. Betty bit her lip and her eyes felt raw before unshed tears. She pushed some hair from her face and swallowed, taking a shaky breath.
"Why are you calling me? How do you even have my number?" Betty asked coldly, tightening her grip on the phone and narrowing her eyes. The Penny person from Jughead's phone was on the other line.
"Hi, Ponytail. Lovely to hear from you again. I need your help." the voice answered and Betty swallowed hard.
"No. I'm not helping you." Betty's voice was cold and she was surprised at how strong it was. A trickle of pride echoed in her mind and she sat up a little straighter.
"Oh, you are." Penny's voice grew sinister and cruel. "Or else you get hurt. Remember the last time you tangled with the Ghoulies?"
The Ghoulies. Betty froze at those words, swallowing hard and closing her eyes. She knew them all to well. They were the ones who almost killed Jughead… the ones who put him in that coma.
"What exactly do you want?" Betty asked skeptically, she didn't want to. Still, did she really want to wage war with the Ghoulies? Who knew what they would do to him again. Maybe they would even succeed and maybe they wouldn't let him live.
"More than one thing really. First though, I need you to get something for me. Two things really. You're going to help the Ghoulies with something. Oh, and money would be nice as well." Penny started, her voice sly and cruel.
"Money? How much?" Betty's voice was barely a whisper now. All her former strength was gone. She felt lightheaded.
There was a pause on the other side of the line. "How about… two thousand? You can do that right, Ponytail?"
"Two… two thousand?" Betty felt lightheaded and shook her head. She still needed to replace the items in her home and they didn't just have thousands of dollars sitting around for The Ghoulies. When Penny hummed a 'yes' on the other side of the line, Betty bit her lip. "O-okay. Jughead can't be involved though… right?"
"I won't tell him or bring him into this. You have my word. As long as you don't tell him at least..." Penny purred and Betty rubbed her shoulder in worry.
"I won't tell him." Suddenly, her first order came to Betty's mind. "What is the 'something' I need to help with?" she wasn't going to deliver drugs. Never. Betty readjusted her sitting position and waited for an answer on the other side of the line.
"The Ghoulies are going to make a delivery. Sadly… the Serpents are going to be in the second to only place available to do the delivery… how terrible, right? Well, here's where you step in. You're going to help us make the delivery. Since it happens right behind your precious Register. So, you are going to simply, look the other way and let a few Ghoulies of ours into your building so they can exit through the other door. Great, right?"
"No. I'm not doing anything for you." Betty replied harshly and moved to hang up. No way she was ever going to do anything involved with drugs. Especially if it was not good for Jughead, helping a rival gang deliver drugs. No. Never.
"You'll regret this Ponyta-" Betty threw her phone across the room, screaming it rage. The phone clicked and the other line went dead. Her body quivered and she pulled her legs to her chest, sitting on her couch with horror covered eyes. Had she just waged war against the Ghoulies by not helping with the delivery? She would give them the money, but she couldn't help them with the other part.
Tears rolled down her cheeks in floods as she shook violently. Her body fell onto the couch and she sprawled out on the couch. The makeup she had applied at Veronica's coming out in streaks. When two loud knocks at the door echoed through the house, she ran to the kitchen. She gripped a knife in her hands from one of the drawers and narrowed her tearful eyes.
"I have a weapon!" she shouted but backed away as the doorknob twisted.
"Betty! Betts! It's okay, it's just me…" a familiar, soothing voice murmured and the door opened, Jughead appearing at the entrance. Betty let out a shaky breath and put the knife on the table, running to his arms.
"God, Juggy… You… you scared me!" Betty growled, trying to pass her terror for humor. Jughead didn't fall for it and pulled her closer towards his warm body, his arms curling around her.
"Betty…" he murmured and stroked her hair, leading her back to the couch. He set her shaking body on the couch and sat beside her, still hugging her. "Do not lie to me. Why the hell are you here Betty?" Jughead growled in concern and she shook her head in worry. Jughead narrowed his eyes and breathed out in anger. "God, Betty! Don't lie to me!" he snapped, cupping her cheeks to make him face her. Only then to he see her bandaged hands and he shook his head with frustration and rage.
Betty looked numbly up to him with tear filled eyes. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" she sobbed and pulled away from him, standing up on shaky legs. "I'm sorry, Jug! Do you hear me? I'm so so… so sorry!" she covered her face with her hands backing up. Her breathing was fast and irregular.
Jughead immediately stood up and ran his hand through his hair, trying to control himself. "Betty…" she didn't stop backing away and repeating how sorry she was. "Betty. Betty!" he yelled as at all happened in slow motion.
Betty backed away and her foot slid on one of the trash bags she had pressed against the wall. Her teary eyes made it impossible to see, let alone catch herself and her hysterical state made it impossible to even try stop crying. She let out a scream, a horrified scream that was cut short as her head crashed into the wall and she fell limp to the floor.
"Betty! God, no… Betty!" the voice beside her yelled as Betty's eyes closed and her tears stopped. Her vision went black and her body went still.
Cliffhanger! Sorry guys!
Question: If she heals soon, do you think Betty should go through with the whole deal? Or just the money or not the deal at all?
