Sapphire was missing.
No one knew where she was or if she was even okay. She wasn't answering any phone calls. Which okay, her friends weren't exactly surprised that she wasn't answering them.
But it caused a massive freak out when she didn't answer for FP. Sapphire almost always answers for FP and when she doesn't, she makes sure to call back.
But she hasn't, and it's been almost a week.
The Serpents were going crazy looking for the girl, but nothing could come up. At least until the newest segment from the Black Hood had everyone on their toes.
"People of Riverdale, I have rid this town of the drug-dealing child-killer and others like him. Now, you must choose your fate. The next 48 hours will be a test. And I will be watching you very closely. Show me you are pure of heart, and my work ends. Continue to sin, and I will take up the sword again."
Sapphire couldn't see in the small room she was being held up. A blindfold had already been placed over her head. She couldn't remember much. The last thing she could recall was crying and looking over the river. Someone had walked out from the woods and everything went blank from there.
"Don't you worry, Kate Keepon. Your fate lies in the hands of Riverdale now."
Riverdale was full of idiots. No one except those on the Southside seemed to be taking the Black Hood's words seriously. Until pictures appeared in their newspapers. The Riverdale Register and Southside Segment.
SOUTHSIDE SEGMENTS
Cleansing Sapphires
By Jughead Jones
What you are about to witness are three twisted tales connected to the tragic and macabre events that befell the town of Riverdale. Known as the "Black Hood murders," they were all the more tragic because those who bore witness to these terrible things were so young. A seemingly random shooting quickly revealed itself to be the first in a series of gruesome attacks perpetrated by a hooded assailant. These latest chapters began with the discovery if a letter from the Black Hood affixed to the door of Pop Tate's Chock'lit shoppe.
Unfortunately, for the citizens of Riverdale it did not stop there. Two days later, Pop Tate received a phone call late in the night at his Chock'lit shoppe. It was a call from the Black Hood. The town had failed his test. Everyone was a sinner and the reckoning was amongst them.
Not even a day later, not only did a picture emerge but also a jacket. A Southside Serpent's jacket. In that picture, lying, bloodied, unconscious and gagged was the Southside's own Sapphire Maria Stone.
A promise in a note came with the photograph and the jacket. The fate of Riverdale and the livelihood of Sapphire had fallen into their hands. They had failed and now, there was one last test. A chance to be redeemed. The only way to do that was to confess. Confess their sins and Sapphire would be spared. And with her life, so shall Riverdale.
The note had read: To save her from her end, go back to where it all began.
"What the fuck," Fangs growled as he read through the newspaper. "What does this even mean?"
He didn't receive an answer as Toni and Jughead and Jones' girlfriend were furiously bent over notes regarding Sapphire trying to figure out everything. Fangs was pretty sure he saw Sapphire's birth certificate in their piles of paper.
Joaquin sat beside him stressing and worrying about his sister. He was pale and shivering and his hair wasn't even combed backwards, but he kept his eyes trained onto the stack of papers in in front of their friends.
Sweet Pea had pulled a chair up to the table, but he hadn't stopped staring at the picture of Sapphire lying lifeless on the ground. He took in her appearance his eyes raking over every bruise that was visible and the blood running down her face. He didn't know what to think, but all he could really do was blame himself.
To save her from her end, go back to where it all began.
To save her from her end, go back to where it all began.
To save her from her end, go back to where it all began.
To save her from her end, go back to where it all began.
To save her from her end, go back to where it all began.
To save her from her end, go back to where it all began.
To save her from her end, go back to where it all began.
"Fuck," Sweet Pea growled as he smashed his fist into the table. He was so confused and frustrated. He needed to do something. Anything to save Sapphire.
Anything to get rid of the gloominess across the town. Anything to get rid of the stress and weariness in his mother's and grandmother's face. Anything to get rid of the nightmares tormenting his younger brothers.
"The beginning," Joaquin whispered as if he just had a revelation. "The Black Hood started his attacks here, but where did it really begin? Where did everything start that Sapphire would really know about…"
Toni looked up at Joaquin with her eyes widening in realization. Jughead and the blonde turned to look at her, but she cut her eyes to Sweet Pea and Fangs. The two boys felt their heart stops as the realization came to them. Joaquin nodded his head when the three of them turned back to him.
"Sweetwater River," they all breathed out. It was as if the temperature dropped. It was as if darkness itself was welcoming them.
Jughead looked between them confused, "The river what? What are you guys talking about?"
Toni turned towards Jughead and Betty, "Everything changed in Riverdale when Jason Blossom died and it all started at the river. We all knew what happened to Jason that. Sapphire knew what happened to Jason."
Four out of five of the Serpents looked at each other before Toni and Joaquin were stuffing the papers into their bags and trying to rush out of Pop's at the same time. Jughead and Betty looked at each other before they too were following behind the serpents. Betty and Jughead sent out a group messages to get everyone down to the river and to bring their parents.
The ride to the river was a quiet one. It was filled with anticipation and dread as they drove through the roads with ease. They barely waited ten minutes before everyone else was pulling up behind them.
To save her from her end, go back to where it all began.
"Betty, what is the meaning of this," Alice Cooper demanded as she walked closer to her daughter glaring at the Serpents near her. Though before the girl could reply to her mother, a loud gasp was heard, and all eyes turned towards Toni who was staring up at one of the cliffs on the other side of the lake.
Standing there was the Black Hood in all his glory. His head was still covered with that idiotic ski mask, but in his hands blindfolded, bloodied, and gagged was Sapphire Stone. Even from a distance everyone could see how her shirt stuck to her and how pale her skin was making the dried blood on her even more visible.
"Let her go," Joaquin yelled as he walked forward. His eyes never straying from his sister.
His heart stopped the second the Black Hood aimed a gun to her head and held up a device to his lips.
"The fate of Riverdale and the livelihood of this whore rest in your hands. You failed me once before and now, I am giving you one last chance at redemption. The only way to do that is to confess. Confess to your sins and Sapphire would be spared. And with her life, so shall Riverdale," he called out. His voice unfamiliar and garbled in a way that suggest he was using a modifier. "The confessing will begin with Archie Andrews."
Archie stepped forward a little nervously to have all eyes on him, but the desperate look in the Serpents' eyes made him pause. The desperate and pleading look in Jughead's eyes steeled his resolve. And, not wanting to be the cause of her death.
"Confess to your sins. For each lie told," he pulled out the dagger that Fangs' gave her. "she will suffer the consequences."
Archie gulped, "I was sleeping with Ms. Grundy before she left Riverdale. I used a fake ID card to buy a gun. Um, I have underage sex? I did jingle jangle. I lied to Sheriff Keller, Principal Wetherbee, and my dad about being on the Southside and waving the gun around. I've lied to my friends on occasions because my pride was too strong. I felt murderous and revengeful when my dad was shot going to extreme measures to avenge him. I- "
"That is enough," the Black Hood stated calmly. "Archie Andrews, your sins have been forgiven. Antonia Topaz, step forward and confess to your sins."
Toni stepped forward nervously, but she kept her eyes trained on Sapphire, "I joined the Southside Serpents which most would consider a gang. I fought people, stolen things, and threatened more people. I'm bisexual and in most people's eye that is a sin. My camera contains pictures that I could use for blackmail. I have underage sex. I kissed Jughead and made out with Sapphire even when I knew neither were over their exes. I've lied to people. I- "
"That is enough," the Black Hood stated calmly. "Toni Topaz, your sins have been forgiven. Veronica Lodge, step forward and confess to your sins."
Veronica stepped forward slowly and took a deep breath. Her mother and father both reached out to grab a hold of her, but ended up standing beside her in a show of comfort.
"I've manipulated people for the sake of my amusement. I once kissed Betty and risked our friendship by kissing Archie once. I've lied to my parents before. I've done drugs and had underage sex. I broke into Ms. Grundy's car with Betty and helped her seduce Chuck to get him to admit what he had done to me. I helped Betty stalk- "
"That is enough," the Black Hood stated calmly. "Since you have been in Riverdale, you have redeemed yourself of the sins you committed before. Veronica Lodge, your sins have been forgiven. Alice Cooper, step forward and confess to your sins."
Alice Cooper stepped forward with her head held high. She kept her eyes trained on the Black Hood not paying attention to the girl on the ground. "What do you want to know?"
"You can start with your children," the Black Hood stated and Alice nearly faltered. She cleared her throat even as her eyes narrowed.
"I had a child out of wedlock with FP Jones in high school. Instead of having an abortion like Hal had wanted, I gave him up for adoption. P-"
"That is enough," the Black Hood stated calmly. "Alice Cooper, your sin has been forgiven. Hal Cooper, step forward and confess to your sins."
Hal stepped to his wife's side and she held onto his hand for support. "I'm actually a Blossom by blood and I've been lying about it. I tried to convince Alice to get an abortion, and I tried to do the same for my daughter, Polly. I sent her away to keep her and Jason Blossom from being together. I broke into Sheriff's Keller house and took his papers and all of the evidence so that he wouldn't make the connection between the Coopers and Blossoms. I-"
"That is enough," the Black Hood stated calmly. "Hal Cooper, your sins have been forgiven. Sierra McCoy, step forward and confess to your sins."
Mayor McCoy stepped forward with her head held high. She didn't particularly want to confess but the only thing she could see as she gazed upon the beautiful and scarred brown skinned teenager in the hands of the Black Hood was Josie. Her precious baby girl.
"I lied to Josie about the extent of the death threats that I had been receiving. I allowed Hermione Lodge to pay me anonymously to make way for the closing and destruction of the Twilight Drive-In. I had the students at Southside High arrested without a warrant from the judge. I-I-I'm having an affair with Tom Keller."
Gasps of shock and outrage came from both of their children at the news and they both looked to their respective parent. The heartbreak and disbelief were clear on their faces as they took in that fact.
"That is enough," the Black Hood stated calmly. "Sierra McCoy, your sins have been forgiven. Fangs Forgarty, step forward and confess to your sins."
Fangs took a deep breath before he stepped closer and kept his eyes trained on Sapphire. "I joined the Southside Serpents which most would consider a gang. I fought people, stolen things, and threatened more people. I've lied to my friends on occasion and I have underage sex. I had sex with Sapphire even though I knew she wasn't over Sweet Pea."
"That is enough," the Black Hood stated calmly. "Fangs Forgarty, your sins have been forgiven. Cheryl Blossom, step forward and confess to your sins."
Her mother whipped her hand out and stopped her daughter from moving, "She doesn't have to do anything."
The Black Hood said nothing as he slashed the knife across Sapphire's back which brought her into consciousness with a muffled scream.
"Cheryl Blossom, step forward and confess to your sins."
Though Penelope wasn't letting her daughter take another step, and in revenge, the Black Hood swiped at Sapphire again before removing the gag. "I will continue this until you confess."
To emphasize his point, he slashed her back again and this time everyone could hear her scream of pain. Everyone winced as they could hear the agony in her shriek.
Sweet Pea turned towards Cheryl with a look of complete desperation, "Flower, please. If you don't do this, she'll die."
"Good riddance," her mother sneered, but Cheryl straightened her spine and walked around her mother.
"I lied about Jay-Jay drowning in the river to cover up the fact that he wanted to run away. I manipulated my way into Sapphire's friend circle to take away her happiness because I was jealous. I've blackmailed people to do my bidding and to make sure I had control over them. I stole Nana Blossom's ring from my parents and told them that I flushed it down the drain. I took drugs. I burned down our mansion in order to cleanse my family of the hellish nightmare that I had been living. I've lied under-"
"That is enough," the Black Hood stated calmly. "Cheryl Blossom, your sins have been forgiven. Betty Cooper, step forward and confess to your sins."
"…I drugged Chuck and handcuffed him to a rail, then pushed his head into boiling water with my heel and poured maple syrup on his face. I disrespected the dead by using going to Jason Blossom's memorial as cover story to break into his room. I pretended to be Polly to Nana Blossom even though she has Alzheimer's….
"…I went against Jughead's trust in me and disrespected his wishes by having a surprise part for him. Blackmail. I kept a cover of Clifford Blossom murdering Jason and used it to blackmail Cheryl. I betrayed Kevin and Archie's trust. I disrespected Archie's wishes to stay out of his business by pretending to have an interview with Ms. Grundy which was really a way for her to get Grundy to admit to her relationship with Archie…"
"…Which was not only disrespectful to our friendship, but also an abuse of power since I lied about using it for the school's newspaper. I broke into Ms. Grundy's car. And even though Kevin told me to not worry about his late night jogging around Fox Forest, I still went behind his back and told his dad. I lied to my parents and Sheriff Keller about the letter you sent me…"
"…I broke into Sheriff Keller's house and went through his things and I coerced Veronica to help me stalk him and I found out that he-"
"That is enough," the Black Hood stated calmly. "I told you that we were alike, Betty. Your sins have been forgiven. Sweet Pea, step forward and confess to your sins."
Sapphire jerked back against her bonds. She didn't want to hear his sins. She hadn't want to hear any of their sins. Except well Mayor McCoy's because fuck, that would've been some good blackmail.
"It seem our resident Kate Keepon wants to share her sins," the Black Hood stated.
Who the fuck is Kate Keepon?
"He's calling her a whore," Jughead stated. "Kate Keepon was a whore in one of Shakespeare's plays."
"Go ahead, Sapphire. Confess to your sins," the Black Hood continued. He took the blindfold off her face and they watched as her dark brown eyes finally came into view. Her right eye was swollen, but that didn't stop fierce snarl that over took her features.
When she didn't answer immediately, the Black Hood sliced her back once again and she screamed out in agony.
"You son of a bitch," she growled and just for that answer, he made a long swipe from an unmarked part of her back to her stomach. Sapphire cried out loudly and gasped as black spots started to appear in her vision.
"Sapphire Stone, you have pledge guilty to your sins. It is time to face punishment."
Everyone watched with wide eyes and baited breath as the Black Hood pushed Sapphire off the cliff. The only sound that could be heard was her panic filled screams and the chorus of "Sapphire!" coming from all the Serpents in the area. They were all running forward towards the river right as she hit the water with a loud splash.