Chapter Five: Betty

The four of us are huddled in the hospital waiting room. We ran out of tears an hour ago. Now we sit in silence. There are no words to say.

I didn't want to tell Archie that Jughead was taken, but I knew I couldn't hide it, either. Part of me hoped he would be too lost in his own thoughts to notice that his best friend wasn't there.

But of course it only took a few minutes of hugging on each other before he began to look around.

"Does Jughead know, yet?" He questioned distractedly, brow furrowed. He's still in his varsity jacket, stained with his father's blood.

The sobs I had been holding back came then, wracking my body as I leaned into Kevin's waiting arms. Veronica took charge, taking Archie's hands and holding them close.

"Archie," She began, unsure of how to phrase it.

"What?" He had demanded, fear rising in his tone. "Where is Jughead?"

"He – He was with Betty at the trailer park. After he went outside Betty heard gunshots and yelling…"

"Did you see anybody?" Archie asked frantically, turning to me. "A man in a black ski mask?"

"No," I shook my head. "No, all I saw when I ran out was a car rushing away."

"But he's alive, then?"

"Yes!" I said, mostly for my benefit. "Yes, I-I think so..."

After that Archie told us everything that had happened at Pop's. Nobody knew yet if Mr. Andrews was going to make it through surgery.

The vibrations of my phone break the silence between us. Archie glances over, but his mind is in the operating room with his dad. Veronica resumes stroking her fingers through his hair, trying to soothe him.

I pull the phone from my purse, surprised to see a text message from a hidden number. I open it with shaky fingers, dread coursing through me.

Above the video attachment are the words "Open in private."

I get up hurriedly, startling my friends. They all look up at me in surprise, expecting news on Jughead.

"Is it about Jughead?" Veronica asks, a small flicker of hope in her eyes.

"No," I lie, because that's exactly what I think this message is. "Sorry, I…Just really need to walk around. I can't sit anymore."

"Do you want me to come with you?" Kevin offers, concern evident on his face.

"No," I repeat, anxious to escape. "I just want to be alone for awhile." I hurry away before they can ask any more questions, making my way outside of the building. I find a reasonably empty corner of the parking lot, hidden by the dumpsters.

I turn back to my phone, holding my breath as I load the video.

A cry is wrenched from my throat when I see Jughead slumped in a chair. His face is streaked with blood, a bruise forming on his cheek. But he's alive. He's alive and that matters more than anything else in the world.

That's when a man in a black hood walks into frame. It can't be a coincidence that Mr. Andrew's killer wore a ski mask.

"You won't kill me," Jughead attempts snark, but I can see the fear in his eyes, the way his lip has begun to tremble. "You want me for something-"

"Shut up!" The man shouts, pointing a gun into Jughead's face. Panic rises in me, tears flowing freely down my cheeks. But I can't look away.

"Betty Cooper," the masked man begins, making my breath catch in my throat. Is this all my fault? Did they take Juggie because of my speech at town hall? "I'll keep this simple: You will deliver this message to FP Jones, and convince him to hand over each and every Serpent that took part in Jason Blossom's death to the authorities."

This is what I was afraid of. That Jughead would get trapped in a horrible mess because of the Serpents.

My thoughts stop dead in their tracks when the man forces the gun against Jughead's temple. My grip tightens around the phone, and I remain stock still, afraid that if I move, he'll shoot.

Jughead panics, fighting to get out of the chair, his eyes blown wide. The man holds him down by the neck, squeezing so hard that I'm afraid he will cut off Jughead's windpipe.

"Tell anyone else about this and –"

My scream mixes with Jughead's as the man pulls the trigger. I drop the phone, unable to watch my boyfriend's gruesome murder. I sink to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

But there was no gunshot.

I lunge for the phone. Jughead cowers in the chair. He's crying and visibly trembling in terror. A wail of relief shakes through me, my heart thundering in my chest.

The man steps in front of the chair, looking directly at me through the camera. I force myself to stay silent so I hear the words he says next.

"Unless you want to find Jughead at the bottom of Sweetwater River, I suggest you do as I say. I expect confirmation that you have received this message and understand my terms."

The video ends, but I cannot move.

"Betty?"

I snap my head up at Kevin's hesitant whisper. He is standing by the dumpster, shock and fear etched on his face. I try to form words, but everything just gets stuck in my throat.

"Who was that?" He asks, pointing to the phone.

"N-No one," I lie, shoving the phone into my pocket hurriedly.

"Don't lie to me, Betty," Kevin presses, coming closer. "I heard him. He has Jughead."

"Kevin, please," I beg, shaking my head. "You c-can't know about this. Please, he warned me not to tell anyone…"

"That's why you ran out," Kevin murmurs, forehead creasing. "I followed you. I know you told me not to but I didn't want you to be alone. It's not safe –"

"Listen to me, Kevin," I insist, rising to my feet and grabbing Kevin by the shoulders. "The people who have Jughead can't find out that you know. It's supposed to just be me and FP."

"Why? Why you two?"

"I don't know why they chose me. But they want FP to tell your dad the names of the Serpents that helped in Jason's death."

"How are you going to tell FP without the authorities overhearing?"

"I need your help."