I am so sorry for the long wait! I was getting writer's block and also went to Africa for a month, then got back home and was a camp counselor for a week, and now I'm playing Helena in a Midsummer Night's Dream this summer. SO I've been just a tad bit busy.
From this point on I want to put up a potential SPOILER WARNING for season 2 because some of my decisions are inspired by things that have been happening since the season 1 finale.
Chapter Six: Jughead
I'm preparing myself for death. For all the lights to snuff out for good. More than anything else, my heart breaks over the fact that Betty will have to see it. I know she's strong, but she's already seen too much. We all have; but I wanted to protect her.
I shouldn't have yelled at her, shouldn't have stormed out, shouldn't have put the Serpents before her.
I clench my eyes shut, unable to watch the gun go off. I'll feel it. Or I won't. That's enough.
Dad will see this, too. Horrible guilt washes over me. I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I always make such stupid mistakes. Too rash, too angry, too prideful, too weird, too broken. All I do is cause people pain.
A scream rips from my throat. I don't want to die!
The gun clicks. Empty.
Pride be damned, a sob escapes me. I sink farther into myself, trying to hide from the world. My whole body is shaking like a leaf, and I struggle to draw a shuddering breath.
"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." Venom finishes, before gesturing for his goon to stop recording.
It takes more courage than I knew I had to regain some composure. Hastily wiping the tears from my face, I sit up straight in the chair. I want to stand, but I'm not a complete idiot. Venom may not have shot me, but I already know the other man has a loaded gun somewhere. And if I'm being honest with myself, I don't know how well my legs can hold me right now.
Venom removes the mask, turning to me with a sneer. "Don't test me, boy," he spits, coming closer. "Next time won't be a warning."
I want to shout that he won't get away with this, that the police will find him, that he can't make Betty or my dad do anything. But those are clichés, and even I don't believe them. Life isn't like a novel – the bad guys don't always go to prison and sometimes the good guys die. And happy endings don't come for people like me.
"What's your motive for turning in the Serpents? How could you possibly benefit from that?"
"You're a smart kid, Jughead," Venom narrows his eyes at me, which are full of malice. "But you're in way over your head. You don't cooperate and you'll get hurt. Keep running your mouth, and we'll make you to shut up. You do not want to test my patience, because I am not forgiving." He grips my throat, squeezing slightly as if in promise of what's to come. "I don't like you, Jughead, and I won't hesitate to cut you down. I can make your life a living hell while we wait for your Daddy to follow our rules. So don't push your luck."
"You don't know me," I snap back, grabbing his arm and knocking it away. "And you can't make me do anything."
"You underestimate how much power I have, Jughead."
I rise to my feet, standing my ground in front of my captor. All of the pent up anger and fear drives me forward, my hands itching to hit the man before me. "I already escaped once, and your goons can't even shoot straight! Like you said, I'm smart. I helped uncover the murder of Jason Blossom, and I'm going to turn you in, too. The real question is if you'll make it to prison, or if you'll be dead like Clifford Blossom."
Venom laughs; I'm really starting to hate that sound. "What?" He asks, as if talking to a dumb child. Our faces are inches apart now, as he looks down on me menacingly, voice turning to a whisper. "Are you going to kill me, Jughead? I'd like to see you try."
"Don't push your luck," I spit in Venom's face, repeating his previous warning.
The uppercut comes out of nowhere, sending me sprawling backward, colliding with the chair on my way to the floor. My brain is dazed, and I flounder for a moment, trying to regain my vision.
Before I can move, a heavy boot slams into my unprotected ribs, stealing all the air from my lungs. Another in the same place has me crying out, trying to curl into myself. Venom lands one last kick to my back, knocking me flat onto my stomach. I stay still, trying to recover my breathing and any pride I have left.
Venom rolls me over to my side, and I look up in time to see him snap a photo of me on his phone. He smirks at me, contempt clear in his eyes.
"I can do so much worse than that, Jughead. Give me a reason to strike, and I will."
"How fitting," I retort, thinking of the man's chosen name. Venom gestures to man who shot Mr. Andrews.
"This is Cruncher. I think you can guess what he does best."
"Obviously not shoot." I know it was a stupid thing to say, but it came out before I could stop myself. Cruncher kicks me in the stomach, interrupting my attempt to stand. He promptly follows it with a charged blow to the groin, sending me back down to the floor. I grit my teeth against the pain, holding back the groans rising in my throat.
"I'll show you just how straight I can shoot –" Cruncher snarls, pulling the gun from his back pocket.
"Put it away," Venom barks, glaring at Cruncher. "As much as I'd like to put the brat down, we can't." He meets my gaze, holding it menacingly. "Yet."
"Ominous," I snap, my voice coming out weaker than I thought it would.
Venom snags a handful of my hair, unprotected by the usual beanie. I cry out as he drags me to my feet, storming out of the room and into the hallway. Cruncher follows close behind us, gun still gripped in his hand. Each stumbling step and tug against my scalp sends protests through my muscles, head pounding from the recent abuse.
Venom stops our march through the halls to grab something that was hanging from a hook on the wall. I hear the chains before I can see them properly, and I know that my chances at escaping again are going to be slim.
He drags me forward and back into the small room that I was kept in before. The chair is still sideways on the floor, but the previous guard is nowhere to be seen. I'm shoved to the far corner furthest from the door. Cruncher and Venom stand next to each other, effectively blocking any chances of me getting away.
"Try to escape and you'll regret it," Venom sneers, pushing past me and anchoring the chain around a pipe attached to the wall. I'm tempted to make a run for it, but the dark expression on Cruncher's face makes me think twice. Venom yanks me closer to him before wrapping the chain links tight around my torso twice, before fastening them with a sturdy padlock.
"You seriously need all that to secure a teenager?" I taunt, fists clenching. "And here I thought you were a professional kidnapper."
Rough hands wrap around my throat, shoving me until I slam against the wall. All air is gone. I can feel my mouth gaping as I try to pry Venom's fingers from my neck, but he's squeezing, and my vision is blacking around the edges.
He lets go, knocking me into the wall again. I slide down, clawing at my throat as air attacks my lungs. My hazy mind registers the slamming of the door as the two men leave me alone. The clicking of the lock reverberates in my ears, mocking me.