'Ah, Jughead. I assume you know why you're here?' Hiram asked, grinning.

'No, Jug! Don't-!' She was cut off as Hiram placed a firm arm around her neck.

'Let her go!' Veronica and Jughead called at the same time.

'Of course,' Hiram replied, 'as long as you're happy to make the deal, Jughead?'

'Yes! Just let her go.'

Hiram smirked but obliged.

Jughead approached Hiram slowly, but Betty had other ideas and launched herself at him, tackling him with a hug. 'Don't do it,' she whispered in his ear. 'It's a stupid decision. He'll kill you!'

'Betty, you know I have to.'

'No, you don't!' she cried.

'Betty, I would do anything for you. Anything. And I won't hesitate to do this too.'

'Please, Jug. Don't,' she begged.

Jughead planted a soft kiss on her head and let go, walking to Hiram as much as it pained him to leave Betty. As soon as he was in arms reach of Hiram, the older man grabbed a pair of handcuffs from his jacket, placing on Jughead's wrists tightly. Jughead held back a wince as they dug into his already raw wrists.

It was only when Jughead was restrained that two men that Jughead had failed to notice marched in, each grabbing Betty and Veronica.

'No! Let them go!' Jughead protested but Hiram grabbed him, placing him in a choke hold, knife positioned at his throat.

'Now, before we let your girlfriend go, let's make sure she keeps her mouth shut.'

'Don't even lay a hand on her-' Jughead started, but Hiram's hold became tighter and Jughead could feel warm blood trickling down his neck.

'Oh no, I won't be. It's you she'll keep her mouth shut for.'

Jughead barely had time to register those words before Hiram slammed the handle of the knife into his face, his nose visibly breaking on impact, blood gushing from it.

'Jug!' Betty screamed, horrified.

'Now, Betty, we can't have you telling any officials about Jughead's whereabouts. Not even your friend Andrews. After all, he is going to die tonight.'

Jughead forced himself not to show fear. But death? That was something he was afraid of.

'NO!' Betty screamed, desperately trying to get out of the man's grasp.

'Oh, yes. And we can't have any of you breathing a word about it.'

Hiram reached into his pocket, pulling out a small bottle.

'See this? This is polonium. It's the deadliest poison out there. Just a drop can kill it's victim within a day.' Hiram lifted the bottle to Jughead mouth. 'And I'm afraid Jughead here is the victim.'

Jughead tried. He tried so hard not to drink any of it. No to even open his mouth. But he did. He opened his mouth, let the poison his mouth and…

He swallowed it.

'JUGHEAD!' Betty shrieked, terrified.

Then, a loud thud rang through the air and Hiram fell to the ground to reveal none other than Archie Andrews, bat in hand.

'Archie!' Veronica called, speaking up at last. Archie didn't even spare her a glance as the men let go of Betty and Veronica and charged at him. It wasn't long before Archie had hit them both in the head, and rushing over to Jughead, who lay gasping on the floor.