Chapter Two

We finally come to a stop after what must have been at least a two-hour's drive. While I was awake, that is. I have no clue how long I was out before I woke up in a panic. The sack made it difficult to breathe and impossible to see. At first I couldn't remember what had happened, but it all quickly came back when my futile escape attempt was thwarted by a harsh kick to the groin. That took all the fight out of me, although the chuckles of the men in the backseat made my blood boil.

I hear the car doors open, and heavy boots step out onto gravel. I keep still, straining my ears to pick up any new information that could help me get out of here.

Hands grab me by the arms and yank me up and out of the car. My wrists scream against the metal digging into them with the new pressure, and my head collides with the door frame before my feet are finally grounded again.

"Get him inside!" A loud voice demands. The men on either side force me forward, and we fall into a hurried pace. I hear a door open, and then I'm led into an unknown building. I want to ask questions, but don't test my captors' temper. There will be time for that later. Hopefully.

"Hey," one of the men jostles my arm, getting my attention as if I wasn't already listening intently. "There are stairs here. Cooperate or we'll push you down."

I nod in understanding, and step forward carefully until my foot finds where each stair ends. It's intimidating to go blindly down the cement, knowing you won't be able to catch yourself and the people guiding you don't really care.

Finally we reach the bottom, and I allow myself to breathe properly again - or as well as I can under the bag. I'm dragged through hallways, trying to keep track of each turn. Left, left, right, left, right...Suddenly the fierce grips on my arms are gone, and I'm shoved forward. I can't stop it or cushion my fall, so my side collides painfully with the cold floor. My whole body is jolted violently, and I let out a loud groan as I roll onto my back.

Someone wrenches the bag off of my head, leaving me to blink under the dim fluorescent lights. Cool air sweeps against my sweaty scalp, and I take in my surroundings. Four men tower above me, blocking the entrance to the little room. I quickly analyze the situation, taking note of the guns tucked into belts and knife handles peeking out of boots. Not to mention the fact that any of these men could snap my neck like it was nothing.

My heart pounds in my chest, palms clammy behind my back. I hate feeling so small, but I'm afraid to move and go against some unspoken command. Glancing around, I realize I'm in what seems to be a storage closet, most likely in the basement of whatever building I'm in. The room is empty except for a plastic chair shoved in the corner. I slowly prop myself up into a kneeling position, making myself feel a bit less vulnerable. The men eye me carefully, but stay where they are. It's as if they are waiting for something, but I want answers now.

"Who are you?" I demand, glaring at my captors. "Why am I here?"

"We're the Scorpions," a new man pushes past the group by the door, walking right up to me. Two of the men come around us, effectively surrounding me and making everything more claustrophobic. "Name is Venom. You'll be answering to me."

"Yeah, not likely," I snap back, anger swelling in my chest. I rise to my feet, just a bit awkwardly without the use of my hands. Even though Venom is still a few inches taller, standing makes me feel more powerful and in control of the situation. I'm pissed, and terrified, and I'm not going to bow down to these people.

The backhand takes me by surprise, the force behind it sending me stumbling into one of the guys behind me. I let out a little cry of pain, unable to bite it back in time. The man I ran into pushes me back toward Venom, who is glaring daggers. He grabs a fistful of my sweater, yanking me forward and invading personal space.

"Listen to me, boy," Venom spits the word into my face, with the same inflection he would use if he had called me a dog. "I call the shots around here. The Scorpions do what I say, so I strongly suggest you get your arrogant ass off that high throne of yours and learn to take orders. I know you're well acquainted with a less-than exemplary lifestyle, and that your dad is a drug-dealing drunk with a short temper. As the son of a Serpent, you should be familiar with how this works."

The jab at my dad hurts, especially with all the nasty rumors people have been saying. Sure, Venom is right about some of it. Dad had a bad drinking problem and made a lot of mistakes. But that was before he started to prove to me how much he really cares. "You don't know anything about me or my dad," I hiss, eyes narrowing.

Venom smirks at that, leaning away from my face. "FP Jones - or Forsythe Pendleton Jones the second - became a Southside Serpent when he was sixteen years old after being kicked out by his father, Forsythe Pendleton the first. After that he spent some time in the army, but came crawling back to the serpents after a year. He married Eleanor Levins, a woman from Greendale who melted his cold heart. They had two kids: you and your little sister 'Jellybean'. You excelled in school, specifically reading, writing, English literature. FP used to work for Fred Andrews, but when their friendship fell apart and your dad lost his job, he went off the deep end. He got drunk and was abusive towards your mother, so she took Jellybean and moved to Toledo, Ohio. Eleanor couldn't afford to take both kids, so you were left behind. You were bullied in school and then bullied at home. Your grades plummeted and you got sent to detention at least once a week; you got expelled three times before finally coming to Riverdale High -"

"- How do you...?" I gasp, eyes widening.

"How do I know so much about you?" Venom asks, pulling me forward to whisper in my ear. "It's my job, Jughead. I know all about how you and your friends uncovered the murder of Jason Blossom. I know Archie, Veronica, Kevin, and of course Betty. I've been watching her almost as much as I've been watching you. She means a lot to you, doesn't she? You two were sharing quite the moment before the Serpents showed up at your door."

"No!" I protest, freeing myself from Venom's grip. "No, she has nothing to do with this!"

The man laughs in front of me, head tilted back. "You don't even understand what 'this' is, boy!"

"You want me for something, right?" I press, trying not to sound as desperate as I am. "Well you've got me, okay? My friends don't know about you, or where I am. They aren't involved, so leave them out of it!"

Venom takes a step forward, and I have to fight my instincts to back away. He lashes out, grabbing my jaw, his eyes glinting dangerously. "Then I suggest you do as you're told, Jughead," he growls, squeezing my face tighter. "That means answer my questions, follow any commands we give you, and play by my rules."

"Or what?"

"Or you'll find out just how much pain you can stand before you crack."