Archie's POV*
Archie walked into Biology class, avoiding Jughead's stare as he entered the room. As he walked down the rows, he saw Cheryl, sat on her own and being confronted by two girls with malice glinting in their eyes.
"We were wondering Cheryl" One of the girls said in nasal voice "Back in July you told the po-po that Jason drowned"
"Yet" The other girl continued "We come to find out that Jason didn't drown. He was shot. Slightly suspicious no?"
Archie now had his back turned to the conflict as he stowed his bag under one of the desks but that didn't make it any less clear who it was that started talking next.
"Are you living manakins suggesting that I had something to do with my brother's death?"
There she was. Cheryl Blossom. The bluntest girl at Riverdale High. Thank god John wasn't here because his brother was certainly unpredictable around Cheryl. He might've defended her or accused her and he honestly couldn't settle on a prediction.
As Archie sat at his desk, he could see the faces of the two girls that had confronted Cheryl. They were playing a decent poker face but you could tell in their eyes that the directness of the question had thrown them off.
"We're just curious... what do the police think happened?"
"I'll tell you what I told them, which is that Jason did fall into the water. We both did. I made it to the shore, he didn't. Maybe he got to the other side and someone shot him there. Who knows?" Cheryl shouted that question loudly, as an accusation to the whole room.
Archie was afraid that the girls were going to push further, Cheryl looked like she was only seconds from storming out and if he was going to talk to her and find out how far they'd gotten in the investigation he needed her here. It was the one opportunity he had where asking to talk to her wouldn't be weird and suspicious.
Luckily just at that moment the Biology teacher walked in, demanding that everyone pair off and set up for the class dissection. He took his opportunity.
"Can I be with Cheryl?" he asked, taking the curt nod from the red-haired girl as a yes.
"Oh, and I wanna be with Betty" shouted Veronica from next to him.
Well that's going to be a fun pairing Archie thought to himself. As far as he knew Betty had forgiven her but the tension was definitely still there between the two. Despite Betty's protests she got stuck with Veronica after Moose stole Kevin, for reasons that Archie couldn't fathom. He picked up his bag and sat down next to Cheryl, making sure not to be too close to her. From what John had told him, she had a thing for personal space.
"Cheryl, we haven't talked since I came over to apologise for my brother in the summer, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry about your brother" he spoke as calmly and as sincerely as he could but not so much that she suspected his fear of her fragility.
"Jason was the best" She said in a lower voice than he'd ever heard her use.
"If I can do anything to help"
"That's sweet Archie...but unless you were at Sweetwater River and know who shot Jason..."
Her face tore him up inside. Okay so he didn't know who shot Jason, he couldn't help her in that regard but he was still withholding information about that gunshot from her. Information that could prove valuable in her brothers' case. Guilt rose in Archie's chest as images flashed in his head of him at Sweetwater river, of the gunshot they'd heard and Cheryl, crying on a rock by the river, broken at the death of her beloved brother. It made it that much harder to ask his questions.
"Do uh...do you know if the police have any leads?" Archie's heart was pumping as he managed to spit out the question.
Cheryl looked at him with a mixture of disgust and confusion "What? No, you ghoul but it's only a matter of time and my twintuition is telling me, it's someone we all know"
Archie swallowed down the fear that had risen in his throat at Cheryl's words "Right... well I'm not great at science but I can take point on this if it's two weird for you"
Cheryl looked at him, confused "Weird why? Oh, you mean because my brother is being cut up right now with a blade just like this one? Possibly at this very moment? Don't worry I'm fine"
Cheryl turned to look right at the two girls who had interrogated her earlier, right before stabbing the scalpel she'd unwrapped right into the frog they were dissecting.
"In fact, I'm amazing" she said as she drew the blade down the frog's underside, cutting it open and getting a collected gasp from the girls in front.
Johns POV*
John was walking back from the construction site after another troubling day. Even after everything he'd done to protect his father's business it still seemed as if it was going to go down in flames, he'd had a quick peek at the books while his father was working with the guys and they weren't good. He'd have to figure something out.
He was still going over potential solutions in his head as he entered town, when out of the corner of his eye, he spotted someone familiar. Alice Cooper, Betty's mom. It was curious that she'd be away from the register's office when there was so much to write about regarding Jason's death. It was even more curious that she was going into the coroners. He waited so that she had at least thirty seconds on him before crossing the road and following her in. The coroners wasn't well lit and didn't have a reception. Why would it, Dr Curdle and his son were the only ones that worked there and they were both pretty gothic. He kept low to avoid the windows and followed the sound of Alice's footsteps down a short corridor, up some stairs and through a door into a dark operating theatre. The only light source in the room came from the LED lamp that was illuminating a body on one of the tables, where Dr Curdle was stood, so John scuttled into one of the dark corners and waited for Alice (Who was stood in the dark on the opposite side of the room) to speak.
To his surprise Dr Curdle spoke first "Every corpse has a tale to tell, step closer to the body"
Jesus, how did he do that. John was convinced this guy had supernatural powers or something. Alice didn't seem bothered though. She stepped out into the light, tape recorder in hand.
"There are several morbid details that you should find relevant to your article"
John had to supress a gasp. If she was here to write a story then there was only one body that could be worth a visit. Jason Blossom. He wanted to move and get a better look at the corpse to confirm his theory but he was afraid that Dr Curdle and his radar powers would notice.
Alice walked closer to the body and turned her tape recorder on "What details Dr Curdle? What sticks out to you?"
"Marbling of the veins, signs of scavenger activity. Ligature marks on both wrists and a hint of cryronecrotic preservation."
Alice handed Dr Curdle a small white envelope and leant closer "Small bills, right?" she said distractedly as she inspected the body.
As Dr Curdle stepped away from the body to open the envelope, he allowed John a better look at the cadaver, in particular the hair. It was muddy and matted but the colour was unmistakable, bright red. He bolted, he didn't even look back to see if he'd caught any attention, he just ran. He'd seen some fucked up things over the summer but this really took the cake. As he burst out of the coroners and into the street, he was thinking only one thing. He had to tell Betty before her mom published that article. If he didn't, it could be all out war between the Blossoms and the Coopers...
Betty's POV*
"So, what did Moose want?" Veronica asked Kevin in a sly tone.
Betty smiled, Veronica was certainly devious. She'd waited to bring this up all through Biology and only now when it was just Kevin, Veronica and Betty, walking to lunch, had she brought it up. If Betty hadn't had other things on her mind like Veronica's desperate quest to prove her friendship then she was sure that she would have broken much earlier on and asked.
"Oh my god" Kevin began, clearly glad that someone had finally asked "I don't even think he knows. I mean I am devastatingly handsome in that classic pre-accident Montgomery Cliff kind of way and sexuality is fluid but can someone called Moose actually be that fluid?"
"Okay" Veronica laughed "Well I ship it"
"Well of course you would, you're a big city girl with loose morals"
The reality of what Kevin had said only seemed to dawn on him after he said it and his face dropped.
"I uh...I just meant that Moose has an official girlfriend. Midge"
Betty tried to act as if she hadn't even realised what Kevin had accidentally eluded to and nodded innocently.
"Anyway, it's terrible to say but part of me wishes he would just stay in the darn closet"
And just like that Kevin's hole got magically deeper and right on cue he realised, just as they were approaching Archie's table.
"Obviously I didn't mean...the literal closet" he said weakly with a slight gesture towards Archie and Veronica.
Although it was painful to think about all that again, she couldn't help but smile inwardly. Kevin was one of those people who dug themselves into holes and instead of escaping, found ways to make it deeper.
They sat down and Betty watched Veronica eye up the guitar that Archie was holding.
"Archie" she exclaimed in dramatic relief "Any new material that you'd like to try out on a very forgiving audience" she asked throwing Kevin a glare.
"I uh..."
"Please" Veronica pleaded
Archie looked at Betty as if asking for permission. She smiled at him.
"Would you? I'd love to hear it"
He seemed to relax at that "I'm still working on the lyrics, so..."
He didn't need to finish the sentence, they were all friends here. He picked up his guitar and began to play. At first Betty was filled with happiness at hearing once more how brilliant his music was but as the lyrics began to flow, she found meaning in them. It was like every line was relevant to her own life and the war of emotions she was feeling inside at the moment. Tears began to well in her eyes as she stared at the boy that, only a day ago she was obsessing over. Now when she looked at him all she saw was last night, how it had all seemed to be going so well only for him to confirm her worst fears.
She couldn't do this anymore, she wasn't perfect like everyone thought. Betty knew that people expected her to forgive him and accept the fact that they were never going to be together but she didn't want to. She wanted to be selfish and this façade that she'd been putting on all morning had finally cracked...
Archie's POV*
Just as soon as he'd gotten into the rhythm of his latest piece, it ended and he was forced to accept that it definitely needed a lot more work. As he looked up though all those thoughts were swallowed by the sight of his best friend Betty Cooper, her eyes welling up with tears.
"Betty? You okay?"
She looked down and let out a small, sad chuckle "I'm supposed to say yes. That's what the nice girl always says but... I'm not. I...I want to be, I thought I could be, but it's too much too fast Archie"
She looked at him for a moment before she broke out in sobs and ran.
"Betty wait" he shouted after her, as he put down his guitar and ran after her.
"Come on, listen to me" he said placatingly as he touched her shoulder to get her to turn around.
" No. No when...When I think of where I feel safest and most myself, I think of us, in a booth at Pop's"
"Me too" he yelled desperately.
"But that's not true anymore. I thought I could pretend that this weekend didn't happen but... I can't give you the answer you want. That's what you said to me and that's how I feel right now, I'm sorry" She sobbed as she turned and bolted again.
Archie was about to follow when a deep voice from behind him yelled.
"Mr Andrews, if we could have a word in private"
He turned to see Principal Weatherbee looking at him intently. He looked back towards Betty but she was far away now, reluctantly he followed after his principal until they were in a more private area of the field.
"You're in a very good place right now Mr Andrews" Weatherbee began cautiously "Varsity Football, AP music tutorials, yet this morning in the hallway you wouldn't meet my eyes. Why?"
Crap. Well that solved the mystery of whether or not he'd noticed that little incident.
"I was distracted...I wasn't feeling well" he blurted.
"Archie, if there's something you want to get off your chest, perhaps about Jason, now would be the time"
What was this guy Psychic or something...?
"If I knew anything that would help with Jason's case...I would have told you already"
"Okay that's fine but Archie, you know if there's anything that you're keeping from me, no matter how big, I will do my utmost to protect you. You know, that right?"
"Of course, sir" he said nodding his head as Weatherbee studied him one last time before walking away.
As soon as he was out of sight, he bolted. He had to find Grundy, Archie just hoped that she wasn't in a lesson...
Jughead's POV*
As Jughead walked through the hall on his elaborate route to avoid Gym, all he could think of was Archie and what kind of predicament he was in. Like magic, a sound like thunder echoed towards him and there he was in the flesh, Archie Andrews. He was sweaty and looked like he'd ran all the way here, desperately he checked the window of Miss Grundy's room before bursting in. Jughead smiled to himself, it was like sometimes the universe just goaded him in his detective ways.
He cautiously walked up to the door and checked the corridor around him. It was empty, perfect. He placed his ear to the door and began to listen.
"...just asked me if I knew anything about Jason" Archie's voice was low but distinctive.
"And? What did you say?" came the panicked voice of the school music teacher, Miss Grundy.
"Nothing. That I didn't but he said that if I did, I shouldn't be scared and he'd make sure I was okay"
Jughead frowned, he knew Archie had to have some relation to the death of Jason Blossom based on his fourth of July theory but just how deep was he?
"Of course, he would, you're his student"
There was a strange silence before Archie replied.
"Is this... how you feel about me? Is it real? Because if it's not then I don't know what I'm protecting"
Jughead winced, his friend was in a relationship with a teacher and if that wasn't bad enough, he'd just opened himself up to manipulation by a predator in giving her an ultimatum. Of course, she was going to tell him it was real now. He had no cards to play.
"It is. It is real. Maybe it's not right but it's real. Which is why you can't go to Weatherbee. If you do, we will never see each other again" came Grundy's reply.
Jughead sighed, never try to play a game master. He couldn't stand just listening to this any longer, he had to see the monster that had ensnared his friend. When he raised himself up to look at them though, he saw them together. In a deep kiss and he knew that if he was going to confront his friend on this one, he'd need backup. He silently crept away from the door and began walking away down the corridor, pulling his phone out as he did. He smiled as he saw a message from exactly the guy he wanted to talk to.
Have you seen Betty, I need to talk to her and she isn't answering her phone!!
Jughead replied.
I don't know, sorry John but there's something I need you're help with. It's about Archie and it's serious.
Veronica's POV*
Despite Cheryl's speech of self-indulgence during Vixen practice she was feeling good as she sat down next to Betty to stretch while they waited for their glorious commander to return.
"After this I'll totally need a pedicure, you?" she asked Betty hopefully. After the drama at lunch she had been scared that she might be back on thin ice with Betty but she'd seemed fine with her while they were practicing for the pep rally and Veronica really wanted to be friends again.
"I'll have homework" Betty sighed
Ouch, not a good sign. She quickly switched topics.
"I know everyone's supposed to grieve differently but Cheryl's hosting a pep rally to cope with her loss. That's either brilliant or psychotic or both"
"Yeah well at least Cheryl's not putting on an act, pretending she's a butterfly when she's really a wasp"
Excuse me what? She knew that she was morally at fault but the old Veronica was starting to seep through, starting to give her ideas and insults that she'd vowed she'd never use again.
Veronica tilted her head at Betty "For the record the only reason I went into that closet with Archie was so that Cheryl wouldn't"
"Oh, so you did it to protect me?" Betty replied sarcastically.
"Damn straight"
"Okay so nothing happened between you and Archie in the closet, then?"
Veronica stumbled over her next comment, she was trying to play this reasonably but there really wasn't a reasonable response, at least not in her head.
"Yeah that's what I thought" Betty hissed, getting into her flow "You know Archie and I were fine before you got here!"
"If by fine you mean he was oblivious and you were pining after him in quiet desperation"
"We were friends at least"
"No, you were walking on emotional eggshells, scared to tell the truth"
"Okay, you don't know me Veronica"
In one unfocused second, Old Veronica finally broke through.
"It is not my fault that he doesn't like you!"
She instantly regretted it. Old Veronica retreated back inside her like a satisfied monster and she was left trying to pick up the pieces. She had to think fast.
"...If that's...what you're thinking. It's not anyone's fault. It's not even stupid Archie's, it's just how it is. Most of the time the people we like don't like us back. Romeo and Juliet are the exception not the rule. Look never speak to me again if that's what you want. I'll accept that but what exactly did Archie do wrong?"
Betty looked at her incredulously "Are you seriously taking his side!?"
"No, I'm not taking any sides"
"Is this your way of trying to get us to be friends again?"
"THE PUSSY CATS ARE GONNA ASSIST US AT THE PEP RALLY" Cheryl yelled jovially as she ran up to Veronica and Betty.
"Oh sorry, am I interrupting?" Cheryl said her voice dripping with intent.
Great here she comes to wreck the day, Veronica thought.
"No, you're not actually" Betty said as she looked at Veronica, her eyes venomous "I was about to come find you Cheryl, I have a gift certificate for hers-and-hers mani-pedis and blowouts at Chez Salon. Do you wanna come with me?"
Veronica shook her head "Don't do this"
"Butt out closet monster" Cheryl laughed "You have forfeited the right to take the high and mighty road. As pour moi Betty, but of course, I never say no to a pedi and I was just about to suggest the same thing"
She looked at Veronica with an evil smile "Can I steal her?"
Veronica gave Betty one last look as Cheryl took her hand and walked her away. Once Cheryl had gone it was pretty much an unspoken rule that practice was over so she quickly got changed and caught an uber over to Pop's to surprise her mother at her new job. It wasn't as if she had anything better to do now that a pedi was off the table.
She walked in the door and saw her mother in a yellow uniform collecting some plates from a table, she walked up to the desk and waited for her.
"You're doing great Mom" she called as her mother walked over "Better than me this week"
Her Mom sighed "Yeah, we're surviving Ronnie, by our wits because that's what we lodge women do. If your Dad could see us now..."
"He'd say, you look stunning in that new uniform"
Her Mom smiled at her "I'm going for this Joan Crawford-Mildred Pierce thing. Is it working?"
She laughed "Definitely"
The bell on Pop's door rang and Veronica turned to see Archie Andrews walk into the diner. They shared an awkward glance before they both looked away but her Mother had already caught on.
"And who might this heart breaker be?" She asked in a knowing voice. Veronica just shook her head in reply.
"I'm picking up an order for Andrews?" Archie asked, turning to face her Mom.
"Ah you must be Fred's other son, you're as handsome as your father was"
Veronica sighed, she did not want to be present when Betty's possibility of being with Archie took another hit.
"I'll see you at home Mom" she said quietly, not quietly enough though.
"Wait. I'm sure Archie would happily escort you"
Great. The nightmare scenario. Her mother handed over Archie's goods and before she knew it, she was walking back through the neighbourhood with Archie in tow. She had to say something but really the only thing they had to talk about at this point was Betty.
"Is uh... Is Betty still mad at you?"
He sighed solemnly "we're back to no texting, what about you?"
She smiled sarcastically "I'm back to being the shallow, toxic, rich bitch who ruins everything in her path. Which is unfortunate because even though I just met Betty, it really felt like we were meant to be best friends. Like it was our destiny or something and now...it's like there was this train that was heading to the rest of my life and I just missed it"
Archie looked at the floor for a minute, probably trying to figure out how to respond to something that deep.
"Well, Betty and I have been next-door neighbours since we were four. We've always gone to the same school, been in the same class" he laughed "I remember in the second grade I was having trouble reading and my teacher Mrs Gribrock told my Mom and Dad that I should stay back a year to get caught up. Betty was so against us not being in the same grade that she took it upon herself to tutor me every single day"
Veronica was starting to see how Betty was feeling hard done by. It was clear she'd been pinning after him for a LONG time.
"In the second grade" She asked in disbelief.
"Yeah, anyway when I passed, thanks to Betty. I kissed her and asked her to marry me"
Oh Archie, if only he could have understood what he'd done.
"She was like oh, little Archie, we're too young, ask me when we're eighteen and I'll say yes"
"Wow" she mumbled.
A dark look passed over Archie's smiling face "I hate that I hurt her"
That sentence was all the confirmation she needed, to know that he'd never been leading her on, that he'd never even known. Poor, stupid Archie.
"Giver her time Archie. That's all you can do. Don't despair, I don't think your story with Betty is over"
He looked at her doubtfully as they continued to walk back to the Pembrooke.
Betty's POV*
Cheryl had insisted on going over to Betty's house first, despite Betty's efforts to protest that her Mom would one hundred percent not approve. Now she was sat there as Cheryl gave her 'The Ultimate makeover'.
"Your rooms so sweet" She commented as she checked her makeup in the mirror.
"It's too pink. It doesn't feel right anymore"
"No, I like how girly it is, mine is too. You should come over and see it sometime but just you, not Veronica. I mean she must be evil incarnate if even you won't have her for a friend"
Cheryl applied more makeup to Betty's face as she chewed on what she'd said. Veronica was evil right? She deserved everything she got. She said it over and over in her head but every time she just couldn't imagine her voice saying it. Cheryl was right, Betty always saw the good in people, it was part of what made her the good girl, no matter how much she was tired of hearing it. It was part of who she was, the light side that fought the dark in her.
"On the topic of friends Betty, I'm sorry I've been such a witchy witch to you. After Polly and Jason's epic demise I was angry at everyone but I took it out on you which was super unfair. Especially since in a way, it's kind of like we both lost siblings. How um...How is Polly?" Cheryl's smile reeked of fake concern and Betty felt like she was in some kind of trap.
When Betty didn't answer Cheryl continued to ask questions "Is she still in that group home? Do you think she knows what happened to Jason? That he was murdered?"
Betty was struggling to process everything Cheryl was saying while trying to figure out her motive at the same time.
"I...I'm not sure"
"What do you think went down between them?"
"I don't know" This was getting frustrating now.
"What do your parents say?"
"About Jason and Polly? Not a lot"
"Same. I keep thinking that maybe Jason said something to her or she said something to him. I mean didn't they have a big fight this summer?"
Finally, Betty broke, she had to know.
"Why are you asking me so many questions about Polly?"
Cheryl's expression changed in an instant. All of a sudden that nice girl façade vanished leaving behind the cruel, vindictive features of the Cheryl Blossom she knew best.
"Because, you dumb cow. Someone shot my brother and I think it was your crazy tweaked out sister" Cheryl turned her back on Betty, checking her makeup in the mirror again. In her head the dark side of her started conjuring images of all the things she could do. Of all the things that she should do! Cheryl came here just to accuse her mentally ill sister of murdering her stupid brother when in reality Jason had been the real monster. The rage grew inside her and she stood up as the images in her head grew stronger and stronger. Dark Betty was in control now.
"Get out of my house" she said in low voice.
"Not until you tell me--"
"Cheryl get the hell out of my house. Before I kill you" she was close enough to Cheryl now that she could see the fear in her eyes clearly. She'd woken the beast and now? Now she'd face the consequences...
John's POV*
He and Jughead stood in waiting as Archie walked up the driveway. After Jugheads text they'd met up immediately and once they'd discussed what they both knew they'd managed to put together a pretty messed up narrative. Of how Archie Andrews had been seduced by Miss Grundy the music teacher and how he'd abandoned his friends all summer to be with her. How they'd gone to the lake on July 4th and found themselves somehow caught up in Jason's murder. Now was the time for answers.
"The mystery returns" John called out to his brother as he approached them.
"what is this John?"
"An ambush" Jughead said next to him stepping towards Archie "I saw you Archie, in the music room and I heard what you and her said to each other"
"Keep your voice down jug, my dad's inside" Archie hissed.
"He's not Archie don't worry, I checked but you need to start talking right now" John said, trying to stay as calm as possible.
"How long" Jughead asked incredulously "How long has this been going on for?"
"Since the summer"
"Jesus Archie. I'm your brother you could have come to me"
"For what?"
"Help? Advice? To make sure that you weren't making a huge fucking mistake?"
"Why would I need your help, she loves me and I love her"
John covered his face with his hands and turned away but Jughead kept pressing.
"so, she's the reason you've been acting weird this summer?"
Archie sighed "One of them"
"One of them?" John asked, turning back around "what's the other?"
"We were at Sweetwater river on July 4th. We heard a gunshot. The, gunshot"
Jughead looked at John in disbelief.
"You have to tell somebody! That's information that could bring peace to a grieving family"
"Yeah sure John, it's also information that could land Miss Grundy in jail. So, you can't tell anyone, if people find out—"
"A kid is dead Archie!" Jughead hissed "and you're worried about some cougar?"
"Don't call her that" Archie said, his voice dangerous.
"Come on Archie, I heard everything. She's the one who's telling you not to say anything right? She's manipulating you and it's working. You need to do the right thing like the Archie I knew would"
"You need to shut the hell up Jughead" Archie got up close to him "Or I'll—"
That was enough. John stepped between them pushing Archie back hard.
"Or you'll what? Your gonna hurt him, over my dead body Archiekins" He shoved him again.
Archie swung, a high punch with low velocity. John ducked and pushed him again, this time sending him sprawling back down the driveway. When he got up, he was angrier than John had ever seen him. He charged, grabbing John's waist and toppling them both to the ground.
John grunted as he tried to overpower Archie but he was at a disadvantage, he might have been older but Archie was far stronger. The red mist descended and suddenly John was taking a backseat, he put all his effort into rolling over, forcing Archie to the ground and springing John up on top of him. From there the red took over and before he knew it, he was punching Archie, over and over and over until Jughead pushed him onto his back and like magic, he was back in his own head. He stood up and looked at Archie, he was bleeding from his eye brow, lip and cheek but he didn't seem very hurt, more shocked and scared. He saw the same look in Jugheads eyes as he ran to check on Archie. Tears pricked at his eyes as the realisation of what he'd done hit him like a truck. He turned and began to walk away, his footsteps felt heavy. He'd reached the end of the driveway by the time Jughead grabbed his arm.
"John...what did you do?"
John just looked at him, his stare dead.
"I grew up with you John and I've never seen you in a fight. There's only two places in Riverdale where you could have learned to fight like that, where you could be as savage as that"
He shook his head "Look after him Jug, take him inside. You know where the first aid kit is. I...I need to be alone for a while"
"John..."
"LEAVE ME ALONE "John yelled as he ran off to the only safe place, he knew...
Betty's POV*
Betty was sat staring at the wall, she couldn't believe what she'd said to Cheryl and she was scared of what she might've done had her Mom not interrupted them and kicked Cheryl out.
Her door slammed open and her Mother walked in clutching some kind of burning herb.
"A little sage to banish the evil spirits" she bubbled, wafting the burning plant all around her room.
"Mom" she protested.
"I'm not joking Betty. That family is pure evil. I'm wondering if the Blossoms didn't kill Jason themselves. You know, sacrificed him to some dark pagan god that they worship"
"Mom...does Polly know about Jason?"
Her Mom turned away from her "I told her but half the time your sister dosen't even know what day it is"
"Why were you so against them being together"
"Many reasons. That family, everything they touch, it rots"
Now comes the big question she thought.
"Mom I was thinking... maybe it's time that I visited Polly?"
Her Mother stopped in her tracks for a moment before turning around and grabbing both of Betty's hands.
"I am so proud of how you stood up to that dragoness but honestly Betty what was Cheryl even doing here? And who's going to come waltzing in next? Veronica? Archie? How many times are you going to let them hurt you?"
She looked at her Mom with cold eyes "Until I learn my lesson Mom"
Her mother shook her head and walked away...
John's POV*
John nodded to the guard and lifted his sleeve to show him the tattoo of a skull that was hidden there. The guard chuckled and moved to unlock the door. He was wearing a leather jacket that was covered entirely in studs, so the movement caused a loud tinkling noise, like bullets being dropped. Once the door was unlocked the guard stood aside allowing him to walk into the building. He immediately descended two flights of stairs before walking down a long corridor into a mood lit room. The walls had big red sheets of silk hanging from them on which images of skulls were emblazoned. One of the walls had a door inset into it and behind it John could hear the familiar sounds of the tattoo pens being used. He ignored them and walked over to a small minifridge in the centre of the room, opening it and taking out a beer. Just as he did, he heard a chuckle from behind him.
"You're looking rough Johnny boy"
"I got into a fight" he replied bluntly.
"Oh yeah with who mate?"
"My brother" John stood up, but still didn't face the man addressing him.
"Ouch, that must have been fun...It's more than that though isn't it?"
John didn't reply he just cracked open the beer and took a big swig.
"Oh, come on John, I'm you're friend you can tell me"
He turned to look at him "I lost control Malachai"
Malachai chuckled again "John, losing control is what we do, we're Ghoulies. Chaos is what we thrive on. Now come on, the boss wants to see us about another job"
The words echoed in Johns head as Malachai put a rough arm round him and laughed...