Nothing. I felt...absolutely nothing. My mind was a puddle of mush. I had cried and cried and cried for what seemed like hours, and I soon fell asleep, clutching my mother's body. At what I assumed to be the early hours of the morning, I was awoken by an angel, her halo a fury red. "Lia?" They were calling, their voice muffled. "Lia, baby talk to me!" It was a blur until sirens were screaming outside. I blinked my eyes back into focus, my hand the first thing that I saw. They were stained red, the blood dried into my skin, there was a small part on my palm that was clear from where I assume someone scraped some of the blood off to test it. I could feel a blanket wrapped around my shoulders, and I could hear the muttering of others in my house. Someone knelt in front of me, and I lifted my gaze to find the angel who was calling to me. It was Cheryl. She gently took one of my hands and started to wipe the dried blood off them with a wet cloth.
"What happened?" I rasped.
"You didn't show up at school today." Cheryl told me softly, not looking up. "I got worried. I left halfway through, came here and found you clutching your mother's body. I called Sheriff Keller, and it turns out that your mum wasn't the only person attacked, Moose and Midge were too. But...they managed to survive. Moose is in the hospital."
"I'm happy he and Midge were able to make it." I muttered. Cheryl set the towel to the side when my hands were clean.
"Go have a shower, Lia." Cheryl reached up and brushed my hair behind my ear. "You have to make a statement, I'm sorry." I nodded reluctantly. I shakily stood and dragged my feet towards my bedroom. I stripped and got in the shower. The second the water started running, I started crying again, curling into myself and leaning against the side of the tub. Despite everything, I managed to get cleaned and into something comfortable, a pair of sweatpants and a loose shirt, hanging off my shoulder. Cheryl coodled me into the couch, wrapping a blanket around me and practically forcing a mug of tea into my hands. Sheriff Keller perched himself on the edge of the ottoman, facing to me.
"I am so sorry Lia." Sheriff Keller said. "I know this must be hard for you."
"It's not every day you find your mother killed in cold blood now is it?" I commented.
"Can you tell me what happened?"
"I was at Pop's for the fundraiser event, and I got home pretty late, around eleven or so. The door was open. I first thought that mum had just left the door open. I went inside and I saw the destruction, I thought we were robbed at first. But then...then I saw her." My hands gripped the mug tight. "In a pool of her own blood. She was cold, I don't know how long she'd ben dead for, but…" I closed my eyes. "I swear, I was at Pop's all night, I didn't do this!"
"I believe you, Lia. We have to take your mum in for examination, the police will be here the rest of the day to collect evidence then the cleanup people will be here to fix this place up. Ok?" I nodded. "Do you have anywhere you could go?"
"She's staying with me." Cheryl but in.
"Cher…"
"I'm sure Mother won't mind." Sheriff Keller nodded.
"Ok. I'll give you a call, Lia, if anything else happens, ok?" I nodded. After packing a suitcase and loading it into Cheryl's car, I took my bike and followed her to her house. Cheryl insisted on taking my suitcase as I shouldered my bag. "What is she doing here?" Penelope demanded as we entered the house.
"Laura Jhonson just died." Cheryl said, slightly offended. "Lia has nowhere to go so I offered her sanctuary here. She'll be bunking with me, so there's no need to prepare a room." Cheryl then turned on her heel and lead me to her room. My phone then pinged and I checked it and saw that it was a text from Veronica, inviting me to officially meet her father and join her and our friends to watch the premiere of 'The Matcherlorette'.
"Cher, I'm gonna head over to Veronica's tonight." I told her. "I'm not sure when I'll be back, but I'll be back."
"Ok." Cheryl said softly. "Be safe."
TIMESKIP
I had never been to Veronica's house before. She lived in the Pembrook, on the top floor. Veronica welcomed me in with open arms. In her luxurious lounge room, I was curled up in a blanket on one of the single chairs, nursing a drink. Archie was in the other one with Veronica, Betty and Jughead on the sofa. "Why don't you come sit next to me Loverboy?" Veronica asked. She shifted over in the seat for Archie.
"I'm sorry." Archie said. "This thing with Moose...honestly. It's like nobody cares. My dad keeps saying 'leave it to Sheriff Keller' and I'm like 'yeah, dad, 'cause he did a great job of catching Jason's murder' Oh, wait, I'm sorry, that was us."
"Inside voices, please."
"No, don't stop him." Jughead said. "Archie going Travis Bickle is my favourite Archie yet."
"Doesn't it feel like he's targeting us? I mean, specifically. I don't want anyone else getting hurt."
"You know, back in our salad days, we had a getaway on the Cape, all of us in our kittle cul-da-sack got together and hired private security to keep out the riffraff as an added layer of protection." Veronica said.
"I loved that little house." Hiram commented as he walked in. Everyone but me stood.
"Daddy!"
"We're on our way to dinner at the club." Hermione added.
"I wanted to meet your friends first." Hiram continued.
"Great. Thank you." Veronica said. "This is Betty Cooper."
"Hi, nice to meet you." Betty greeted.
"And Jughead Jones."
"Hi." Jughead said. "You know my dad."
"I do." Hiram agreed. "He's a good man. He values family. I hope his return comes sooner rather than later."
"Yeah, so do we."
"And daddy, this is-" Veronica started.
"Archie Andrews." Hiram interrupted. "The boy who's captured my daughter's heart."
"Daddy!"
'It's nice to meet you, sir." Archie greeted, every bit the nervous boyfriend is, offering his hand.
"Ah, please, call me Hiram." The elder man greeted, shaking it firmly. "Listen, I couldn't help but overhear your discussion. And I, um...I understand your frustration with Sheriff Keller. As for someone who's had his own share of run-ins with the law, I can say with confidence that the police aren't always the solution. Sometimes we need to take matters into our own hands. We need to protect ourselves."
"Before we leave, is Lia here?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah, she's just…" Veronica turned to where I was sitting.
"Oh mija." Hermione sighed, walking over to me. She wrapped me in a hug, holding me tight. "I am so sorry. Your mother was one of my best friends." My eyes started to water. Hermione pulled back and wiped a tear from my eye. "Now, anything you need, anything at all, Hiram and I are here for you."
"Your mother was a wonderful woman." Hiram said. "May she find peace." I nodded. Hermione walked over to him and took her husband's arm. "It was lovely meeting all of you. Archie, why don't you come over for dinner this week? I look forward to seeing what you come up with to save Riverdale." And with that, the duo left.
"What were they talking about?" Veronica asked.
"Oh, um…" I looked into my glass. "Mum...mum was murdered."
"Oh my god." Betty gasped.
"Yeah, the day of the fundraiser. Don't know how it happened…"
"I am so sorry Lia." Jughead muttered, reaching over and putting a hand on my shoulder.
"It's ok, the CPS will talk to me later about what I'm gonna do, probably send me to a foster home 'till Dad is released from jail." I shrugged helplessly. "But who knows."
"Well, whatever happens, we're here for you." Archie said. I smiled slightly, I had amazing friends. After watching The Matcherlorette, I returned to the Blossom's. I knew where Cheryl left the spare key, so after letting myself in, I retreated up to her room. She was asleep already, facing away from the centre of the bed. I smiled softly. after changing into my, admittedly less expensive pyjamas, I slipped into bed as well. The moment I had settled, Cheryl turned over, curling into my side and holding me close. My eyes drooped, my arm coming o wrap around Cheryl's shoulders and pulling her towards me.
TIMESKIP
I was dreading going to school today. If Hermione and Hiram already knew about Mum, the entire school would know. Plus, me showing up to school in Cheryl's cherry red convertible was sure to draw some attention. I was dressed in tight jeans, boots, a Pink Floyd tank top and my un-branded leather jackett. My hair was messy, and my eyes were covered by thick sunglasses. "I found out that one Kevin Keller has been night cruising in Fox Forest." Cheryl told me at lunch. The two of us were in the far corner of the cafeteria, talking and eating, No one dared approach us. I had gotten a few condolences here and ther from students, but Cheryl managed to shoo them all away.
"That's not a good thing." I said, glancing over at her. "His dad surely told him whad happened to Mum in her own home, and then Moose and Midge too at Lovers' Lane? It's like he has a death wish or something!"
"I admit, he is crazy. But…" Cheryl shrugged. "You can't really control anyone."
"Yeah…"
TIMESKIP
Cheryl and I managed to grab the newspspwer the next morning before her mother did,and snuck it up to Cheryl's room to read. My eyes widened at the front article, my fingers almost tearing through the page as I read. Cheryl read over my shoulder, her hand on my back for comfort. 'This is the Black Hood' The newspaper read. 'I am the man who shot the adulterer at Pop's. I killed the child predator in Greendale. I shot the drug and sex adicted teenagers at Lovers' Lane. I killed the adulterer in the home in which she left the products of her infidelity. Riverdale is not innocent. It's a town of hypocrites, degenerets, criminals. My wrath is the price of your lies, your secrets, your sins. I will not stop. I cannot be stopped. I am the wolf. You are the flock. This is the blood letting. You will hear from me again.' I dropped the newspaper, my shaky hands coming up to my face.
"That...that last one was mum." I breathed, my hands closing over my mouth. Tears sprung to my eyes and dripped down my cheeks. "It had to be. What, does that Alexader isn't my father? Then who is?" I gripped my hair. "That means Alexander isn't Chloe's father either, then what about Paris? Are they Alexander's child?"
"Hey, hey, hey." Cheryl soothed, gehtly untangling my hair from my fingers. "Whoever it is, we'll find out who it is, together." Cheryl pulled me into her and held me close. "Whoever your real father is, I won't love you any less." I pressed myself into Cheryl, seeking her comfort.
TIMESKIP
Cheryl and I decided to have some relaxing time, just the two of us, at Pop's. We shared fries as we talked over milkshakes. Cheryl's was strawberry while I went for classic vanilla. As we were talking, we heard a familiar voice. "Thank you, Delores." It said, causing me to turn and spot Kevin.
"Any time." Delores responded. "Have a good run, Kevin." And with that, my friend left the diner. I peeked out the window and watched as he made his way to the forest.
"Oh Kevin." Cheryl sighed. "You precious, beautiful, compulsive piece of trash." I pulled my phone out and dialed Betty, putting it to my ear.
"Hey." Betty greeted.
"Hey B, Cheryl told me what Kev was doing and…" I watched as Kevin disappeared from sight. "We think he's going back."
TIMESKIP
Cheryl, Betty and I picked our way through Fox Forest, trying to find Kevin. We came across him easily. "Oh my god." Kevin groaned. "What are you guys doing here?"
"Lia called me, said you were going for a jog, headed towards Fox Forest." Betty explained.
"Fact." Cheryl said, pointing at her cousin.
"You said you weren't gonna do this anymore."
"For god sakes Betty, what do you want from me?" Kevin demanded.
"I want you to have more respect for yourself than this."
"Respect for myself?"
"Yes."
"We have been friends for a long time, but you still have no idea-"
"Well then tell me, Kev, please!"
"You act like we've got the same set of options, but we don't, and Lia doesn't either." I stiffened at my name. "You live in this pale=pink world of milkshakes and first kisses and 'am I gonna date Archie or Jughead."
"Except for when she's Dark Betty." Cheryl pointed out.
"Right! Right, right. Except for when your exploring your BDSM sexuality, which again, you're allowed to do, but I'm not, because why?" Kevin spread his arms wide. "This is what I've got, Betty! Me, these woods! Lia was out here not too long ago." Kevin pointed at me. "She knows the feeling. So please, don't come here and tell me it's disgusting. If you can accept what I do, whatever I do then we're just...we're not really friends." Kevin turned and started to walk away. I jogged up to him and turned him around, talking in a hushed voice.
"Look, Kev, I don't care that your cruising." I told him softly. "I car that you're cruising when there's a serial killer on the loose. He attacked Fred and Moose and Midge, he killed Mis Geundy and my mother. I just…" I sighed. "I want you to be safe, alright." I pulled a piece of paper out of my pocket and pressed it into Kevin's hands. "This is the number to the Whyte Wyrm. If you're ever in trouble, call it, ask for a Toni Topaz, she'll help you." Kevin nodded.
"Thanks Lia." Kevin replied before running off.
"You used to cruise here?" Cheryl demanded. I turned back around, shoving my hands in my pockets.
"Yeah, I used to." I explained. "Back after my...holiday at the Sisters of Quiet Mercy, and after Chloe died, I needed a distraction."
"Seriously, Lia." Betty sighed.
"I haven't done it in over a year, after I started to catch feeling for someone." My eyes flicked to Cheryl, so she know I was talking about her. "I swear, I'll never do it again, but we can't controll Kevin, he can do what he wants, he'll be safe."
TIMESKIP
"Do you mean it?" Cheryl asked that night, curled into my side in bed. "You won't cruise anymore?"
"I haven't cruised in forever." I reminded her softly. "I'm loyal only to you, forever and always." I kissed the top of Cheryl's head. "And if I ever break that trust, you have full permission to destroy my rep." Cheryl laughed.
"I would never do that." Cheryl looked up to me and smiled. "You mean too much to me." I smiled back, closing my eyes as our lips met in a soft kiss.