Betty awoke the next morning to the sounds of the beeping heart monitor and soft snoring. She could feel Jughead's warm breath in her ear, his strong arms wrapped firmly around her waist holding her against him. She smiled to herself, grateful that she was able to wake up to the love of her life every morning. Today she was especially thankful for how her night ended.
She understood that if Sweet Pea hadn't found her, things would have been much different for all of them right now. Adam and Ethel were hell-bent on hurting her - and Jughead by proxy - and there was really no way to know precisely what those two had planned for her. All she knew was that Adam wanted her completely destroyed and humiliated, wanted her last moments on earth to be filled with terror and pain...
She shivered briefly before pushing those thoughts from her mind, gently rolling over to watch Jughead as he slept beside her. She peered over his shoulder to see Sweet Pea and Fangs huddled together in the rollaway bed that the nurses had brought in the night before. The sight made her happy and she was relieved that they'd all worked their issues out the night before.
"Morning Betts," Jughead mumbled, his voice still thick with sleep.
Betty looked back to watch as Jughead rubbed his eyes, grinning at just how young he seemed this way. He smiled back at her sweetly before stretching his arms above his head, showing off the patch of dark hair that disappeared underneath his waistband.
Betty chewed her lip, thoughts of the two of them engaged in other activities together suddenly filling her mind. Desire burned through her and she subconsciously reached her hand out to trace along his exposed skin. Even here in the hospital, after all the trauma and stress of the previous night, all she could think about was how being with him made her feel truly alive.
The sound of a throat clearing broke Betty from her lustful thoughts, a fine blush covering her cheeks as her eyes met his, realizing that she'd been caught leering at her boyfriend. His smirk only grew wider as he put his arm around her, pulling her to his chest while he pressed his prominent erection against her thigh.
"Like what you see, Cooper?" Jughead teased, his voice thick and gravelly. He brushed the hair from her forehead, staring at her with intensity.
"Obviously, you do too," Betty replied, staring up at him doe-eyed and chewing her lip innocently.
Jughead nodded and leaned down, moaning as their lips met. She returned the kiss with enthusiasm, his tongue brushing along the seam and begging for entrance. Just as Betty opened her mouth and the kiss began to deepen, the sound of annoyed grunts caught them off guard and they pulled apart suddenly.
"Christ on a cracker, can you two just not? It's entirely too early to watch you guys try to eat each other's faces. Don't make me get a bucket of water," Sweet Pea grumbled, hugging Fangs to him. "I swear, you two are like fucking bunny rabbits."
"Shut the hell up, Samuel," Jughead tossed over his shoulder, flipping him off before leaning down to give Betty another hungry kiss, making Sweet Pea's sigh. Jughead pulled away after a moment, staring at her longingly as he spoke, "How are you doing this morning, babe? Is your head feeling any better?"
"Yeah, Juggie, I'm okay— don't give that look, Jones. I'm perfectly fine, really. I mean, this isn't even the worst he's done to me..." Betty chuckled darkly, wincing when she realized what she said. She looked down, watching Jughead's fists clench, and murmured, "Sorry. I didn't mean to upset you, Jug."
Betty went to pull away from him, but he held her in place, shaking his head. He hovered over her, cupping her cheek in his palm, "Hey, baby, no. Please don't apologize. I know you were just trying to make light of what happened. I just hate that I wasn't there to protect you... again. It kills me to think about everything you have been through - everything you've had to survive."
She leaned into his touch, once again thankful that he was here with her this time around. She knew that as long as he was beside her, she could get through anything. Her fingers traced his jawline, loving the way his stubble scratched her skin.
"I know, but I did get through it and I'm here with you now, Jug. I'm safe and we're together. That's all that matters to me... Well, that and getting the hell outta here as soon as possible. I fucking hate hospitals. I just want to go home," she replied, trembling slightly. Hospitals tended to bring back bad memories for her - while also putting her in a bad headspace - so the least amount of time she spent in one, the better for everyone.
"How about I go talk to the nurses and find out when we can get you discharged? Would that be okay?" Jughead asked, kissing the tip of her nose gently.
Betty agreed but was still hesitant as she watched him get up to leave, even after Sweet Pea assured them that he would keep Betty safe until Jug got back. It was truly odd to her that, after all the drama and fighting, they were able to sit down and talk everything out like adults.
She knew how much Sweet Pea meant to Jughead and she wanted to make sure he knew that she was okay with how everything worked out. Sweet Pea was still somewhat worried that Betty might have an issue with knowing that the two friends fooled around. However, she explained that if she and Cheryl could be fine knowing that they'd both had sex with Sabrina, who was basically Cheryl's wife, then this was nothing.
The guys all spent the rest of the night getting to know this version of Betty Cooper– the one she became after she left her pastel princess persona in the dust. She told them about her businesses with Cheryl and some of the experiences she went through with Adam, but not many. Jughead still had a hard time listening to the things that had happened while they were apart without his guilt eating him alive.
By the end of her tales though, both Fangs and Sweet Pea looked like they were as ready to kill him just as much as her boyfriend was, so she turned the subject to JJ and told them all about him. What it was like raising him alone, how much he was like his father without ever interacting with him before now. These stories left Jughead grinning, pride filling his chest when she talked about their son and his Jones' traits.
"Wait, wait, wait. So you're telling me that this was a regular thing that the kid did?" Sweet Pea snorted, his shoulders shaking with laughter. Fangs
"Yes! Any time I turned my back for more than a few seconds I'd find him sitting in the middle of my kitchen floor eating anything within his reach. A pack of hotdogs, an entire bag of green grapes, sandwich meat, cheese - you name it! One time I caught him with a freaking tub of butter!"
All three men fell into a fit of laughter, holding their sides as they pictured it. Betty rolled her eyes, huffing as she crossed her arms over her chest. Jughead put his arm over her shoulder and pulled her into his side, kissing her cheek.
"Seriously, guys! It's funny now but at the time, not so much! I had to buy one of those fancy fridge locks just to try and deter the kid somewhat just for him to figure out how to open it in about three seconds. What normal two-year-old knows how to break into a refrigerator?" Betty sighed, throwing her hands up in exasperation.
"Betts, our kid is not normal, he's a Jones. Mom said I tried to gum a steak when I was eight months old!" Jughead laughed, nudging her shoulder lightly, "Even Jellybean has the Jones gene. Why the hell do you think we call her Jellybean? She couldn't even sit up yet and she cried for three hours straight 'cause I wouldn't share my jellybeans Mary put in my Easter basket!"
"Yeah, well this kid is most definitely yours, Jug. That's clear," Sweet Pea laughed, his smile dropping and his face becoming sullen.
"Sweets?" Jughead asked, his brows furrowed. Sweet Pea's eyes flickered between Betty and Jughead, his shoulders slumping a bit.
"Uh, guys? I'm really sorry for what I said that day. I was completely out of line and I deserved to have Blondie knock me on my ass," he said solemnly.
"It's okay, man – " Jughead started but Sweet Pea shook his head.
"It's really not, J. I shouldn't have said that about anyone's kid, let alone my best friend's. I was being an asshole because I was jealous and took it out on Betty and your kid. I have done a lot of shitty things in my life, but I think that takes the cake," he said regretfully. "That kid looks just like you, anyone with half a brain can see that."
"We accept your apology, Sweets. It's all water under the bridge," Betty said with a smile.
Betty's lips quirked up briefly at the memory of their discussion of her son the night before. She couldn't wait for this mess to be over so that she could see him again. She missed him more each day and having only limited contact with him was rough on her. She had never been separated from her son before and it wasn't something she ever wanted to do again.
Betty smiled as she remembered their last call and how excited he was to be on 'vacation' with his Aunts. Her only real solace was that JJ was too young to grasp how much danger they were all in at the moment. All he knew was that his Auntie's were taking him on an adventure and he would see his Mommy and Daddy soon. That was enough to give her some relief.
Betty was pulled from her thoughts when the door opened and Jughead walked back in, her doctor just a few steps behind him. He agreed to discharge Betty but asked her to return if she started feeling signs that her minor concussion was getting worse.
She readily agreed and waited impatiently for Alice to bring her some clothes. Once her mother and FP finally arrived, they explained to them that FP and Charles had searched all around the secret bunker and hotel room but there was no trace of the murderous trio.
"Did you at least find anything that could be of use to us?" Jughead lamented, frustrated that Betty's captors were in the wind and could be anywhere by now.
"Yes and no, son. We don't know where they are going, but between all the shit they left behind and Betty's statement, we have a good idea of their plans and where they have been. Charles has guys sitting on Doiley's bunker and his apartment. I also have guys watching Ethel's place in case she shows up there. We also tapped the landlines to intercept any calls they make. It's not much but at least it's a start," FP explained, pausing for a moment, "But, I think maybe it's best if you guys hole up at the Wyrm for now."
"I was already thinking the same thing. Can you have all of our–"
"Investigation stuff moved to the apartment? Yeah, Charles and Kevin already took care of that for you. Also, we've sent Archie and Veronica to a cabin upstate, just in case he tries to use them against you in any way."
"Thanks, FP. How are they?" Betty asked while zipping her knee-high converse, "I'm sure V wasn't too happy with the situation."
"She wasn't, but it was less of the fact that she needed to hide for her own protection and more because she didn't want to leave you alone," FP explained.
"Sounds like Ronnie. Even a little thing like being days away from delivering a human life isn't gonna stop her from protecting her family," Jughead chuckled. He grabbed the bag with Betty's soiled clothes and grabbed her hand, "Come on, Betts. Let's get you home."
"Cheryl! For the love of all that is holy, calm down would ya? I swear, I'm fine . It's just some bumps and bruises, nothing I haven't dealt with before. It's–"
"Elizabeth Cooper! If you say that you're 'fine' one more time, I'm coming back to Riverdale to kick your ass myself! None of this is fine and you know it's killing me not being there to help you this time. Don't ever do that to me again! Do I make myself clear?" Cheryl growled, giving Betty a sharp stare. Betty began to roll her eyes but stopped when she heard Cheryl clicking her tongue. "I mean it, Cousin. You and JJ are the only family I have left and I will not let that psycho and his minions take you away from me! Either of you..."
Betty's eyes softened when she noticed Cheryl starting to get choked up, her emotions taking over the fierce mask she normally wore. This was not how she wanted their video chat to go when she first texted her about leaving the hospital and their new discoveries about Adam, Ethel, and their diabolical plan. She sighed, nodding her head in understanding as she watched Cheryl let out a haggard breath.
"Okay Cher, I promise I'll stop saying I'm fine. And I'm sorry for worrying you, I know this isn't easy for you either. I swear, we are making sure he can't get close to me again," she assured her.
"Good, because I'd hate to have to dump Forsythe's body into Sweetwater River for not keeping you safe," Cheryl stated matter-of-factly. Betty chuckled at her cousin's hopefully baseless threat. Cheryl flipped her hair and huffed, rolling her eyes at Betty. "Now, other than the obvious horror, how are things in Murdertown USA going?"
"Honestly? It's pretty goddamn horrible. FP and Jug had to send Archie and V off somewhere to protect them since Adam's a threat to them too. Fuck, Cheryl– this shouldn't have come down on all of you guys like this. This was my fight and I brought this clusterfuck on everyone else by coming back here..." Betty sighed, burying her face in her hands, her shoulders slumping forward in exhaustion. "I'm just so tired of all of this, Cher."
"B, listen to me. This is a fight we all would have gladly taken on for you, regardless of anything else. You understand that, don't you?" she paused, letting the words sink in, "And I know this is taking a toll on you but we'll catch him soon, Cousin. I have no doubt in my mind that with you and Jughead on this, Adam doesn't stand a chance. But right now, you just need to relax and take care of yourself. Why don't you go take a nice long shower and I'll have JJ call you tonight after his bath? Does that sound good?"
"Yeah, you're right, as always," Betty teased, flashing a small smile. "Thanks, Cher. Give J kisses from me and Jug. I love you."
"Love you too, B. Just please, be careful and take care of yourself, okay?" Cheryl replied, her tone somewhat pleading.
Betty nodded and said her goodbyes, gathering her clothes and a towel to take a nice long shower. The stress she was under was beginning to get to her and she didn't know how much more she could take. She undressed leisurely, minding her injuries and aches, before setting the water to the perfect temperature.
Once it was warmed up, Betty stood under the showerhead, letting the hot water cascade down her back, her mind trying to process everything that had happened over the past week. Her abduction had not only taken a toll on her body, but her mind as well, and she was ready for this nightmare to be over.
Not just for her sake but for everyone else's as well.
She was completely preoccupied - trying to piece all the clues they had together - when she felt Jughead's toned arms circling around her waist, dragging her back against his body. Sighing happily, she felt completely safe in his hold, knowing that he would never let any harm come to her if he could help it.
He'd been hovering over her ever since they'd gotten back to his apartment from the hospital that morning, but she understood why. He was terrified that something worse would happen and he wouldn't be there to stop it, just like so many times before. It didn't matter how much she assured him that she was okay and that nothing was going to hurt her again, the fear was obviously still there.
Even she was trying to be realistic about the situation they were in. Adam was out there somewhere, with his cohorts, and there was a real chance that they may not check them anytime soon. Or worse, Adam would get to them first and then– well, she didn't want to think about those possibilities at the moment. All she wanted to think about was Jughead's touch and the way he was making her feel.
Jughead's hands moved deliberately, tracing her wet skin with purpose, caressing whatever skin he could reach. Betty could sense the anguish in his touch and realized just how desperately she needed him at that moment. She wanted to show him that she wasn't going to disappear again, that he wasn't going to lose her so easily. She pressed herself back against him, moaning deeply as he brushed her wet hair aside to kiss the column of her throat.
"Juggie..." she keened, winding her arms behind her to tug at his hair. Betty dropped her head back onto his shoulder as she felt Jughead squeezing her breasts, tugging roughly on her nipples every so often. Wetness pooled at her center and he growled at the sounds of her whimpers, biting down on her neck while pressing his shaft against her ass.
Just as he was about to inch his hands lower, he suddenly stopped, his breaths choppy as he laid his head into the crook of her neck. Betty could sense that he was struggling with something so she stroked his wet curls and gave him time to gather his thoughts without interruption. When he finally met her eyes, her heart ached at the broken look painting his features.
"I'm sorry, baby. I know you're hurt and now probably isn't the best time, it's just– God, I almost lost you today, Betty. Again . I can't stop thinking about how you looked in that bed when we found you... I just– I need to feel you right now..." he pleaded, his voice cracking in desperation.
"Shh baby, I know... It's okay, I need to feel you too... I need you to touch me, Juggie... Please..." Betty begged in return, rubbing her slick body against him. Jughead wasted no time before he slipped his hand down between her thighs, his fingers finding her swollen clit, causing her to shiver.
"Fuck Juggie... Give me more, please..." she pleaded, grinding down on his fingers.
Jughead pressed down harder, rubbing her sweet spot with one hand as he sunk three fingers from the other into her fiery heat. Betty panted heavily, pulling his hair as she rode his lengthy digits, her stomach fluttering when she felt them curl inside her. Even after all these years, Jughead knew exactly how to touch her to get her to come quickly.
"Jug– I'm so close–" she whimpered, her legs beginning to tremble. She knew it wouldn't take much, she just needed a little more to push her over the edge...
"Come for me, Betts. Be a good girl and soak my fingers. Then, I promise I'll fuck you. That's what you want, right babygirl? You want me to fuck you 'til you can't think straight? Until all you know is how good I make you feel," he growled into her ear.
The animalistic need in his voice mixed with the way he bit down onto her shoulder was enough to make her splinter into pieces. She cried out his name over and over, gasping for air while struggling to stay upright when her legs turned to jelly.
Jughead continued to work her through her orgasm, placing wet kisses to her neck and jaw. She sighed blissfully as he praised her: telling her how beautiful she was, how good she was for him, how much he loved her.
She smiled peacefully until, without warning, there was a shift in the air surrounding them. Betty felt him pull her against him tighter as he buried his face into her neck. His breathing was labored and he choked on a sob as he held her.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there, Betty," she heard his voice crack and turned her face in time to see the tears roll down his cheeks.
Her heart squeezed as she gazed into his eyes, the pain he was holding onto clouding them. Betty already knew that he tore himself apart for what happened to her, for not making her wait or going with her to Black Betty's, but this wasn't his fault.
"Oh, Juggie..." Betty whispered softly, turning her body around to embrace him fully, holding him close. She didn't want him to do this again, taking all of the blame and torturing himself over things he could not change or control.
She leaned back and forced him to look at her, caressing his face as she reassured him, "I'm safe, baby. This wasn't your fault, this was Adam's fault. You couldn't have known that he had so many people working with him... and... I'm safe, Jug. We know better now and we'll stick together, no matter what tricks he tries to pull."
Betty kissed his cheeks tenderly, the saltiness from his tears lingering on her lips as she moved down along his jawline. She continued to press tender kisses all over his face for a few minutes until finally pulling him into an all-consuming, ravenous kiss.
Jughead responded in kind, eagerly pushing her body up against the tiles of the shower, devouring her as his hands sunk into her wet curls. Betty gasped into his mouth as he rocked his hips, his thickness sliding through her wet folds and grazing her still pulsating clit.
"I need you, Betts... Please..." he begged, pressing his tip against her entrance.
Betty clung to his shoulders, his desperate pleas echoing off the walls, before moving her hands into his wet hair to scratch his scalp. Jughead's eyes fell closed as he moaned into her neck, dragging his tongue along her soft skin to taste her.
"Take me, Juggie... Take everything you need, baby. I'm yours..." she whimpered, canting her hips towards him.
Jughead didn't waste any time, plunging deep into her aching cunt, only pausing once he was completely buried inside her. Betty moaned salaciously into his ear, her warm breath sending pulses straight down his spine.
Without warning, something in him snapped, driving him into a frenzy. He growled as he held her slick body in his arms, pressing her into the shower tiles and fucking her like it was the last time he'd ever get to be this close to her.
"Oh, G— Jug, I... Harder! Fuck me, I'm so close..." Betty shouted, her nails digging into his shoulders blades as her arms clung to him.
"That's it... Let go, baby. Come for me..."
His husky words sent Betty shattering with a silent scream, her breath coming in labored pants as she felt herself convulsing in pleasure. Jughead kept up his brutal pace, surging into her like a wild animal, growling as he bit into the soft flesh of her chest.
Betty's head spun and her heart raced. She could feel her walls fluttering once again and she knew she was getting close to coming for the third time. The coil in her belly was tightening and threatening to snap with each thrust.
She breathed his name like a prayer, her eyes squeezing shut as she felt herself explode around him again, this time dragging Jughead over the edge with her. He let out a strangled roar as he climaxed, painting her walls and filling her up.
Before his legs could give out on him, Jughead gently lowered them both to the tub floor - arms and limbs wrapped together while he pressed soft kisses to her hair.
Betty could feel his emotional turmoil but she dared not speak, knowing that right now all he needed was to hold her. If she couldn't do anything else to ease his pain, at least she could give him that.
"I think we should call Kev and Charlie to see if they want to go over all the stuff we have again. Maybe since we know who his real accomplices are we can finally get somewhere," Jughead whispered as they cuddled in their bed, his fingertips gliding across the nude curve of her hip. Betty smiled at him softly, nodding in agreement.
"Get Sweets and Fangs here too. We need all the eyes we can get to see all the angles. Mom can help too. They didn't call her 'Bloodhound Alice' back in the day for nothing. We both know she can dig up just about anything when she puts her mind to it... How are you feeling now, Juggie?" she asked quietly. Jughead leaned down and placed a soft kiss to her lips before brushing a few hairs behind her ear.
"I'm better. Not completely okay but I'm getting there. I just don't know what I'd do if I lost you again, Betts," he admitted with a heavy sigh.
"Jug... You aren't going to lose me ever again, I promise you. But," she paused, forcing him to meet her eyes, "I'm not going to sit back and let Adam continue to keep me living in fear. One way or another, this ends now."
Betty knew if it came down to it, and it was her life or Adam's, she would do whatever it took to survive. Even if that meant she would have to take him out herself. She shook her head, freeing her mind of those thoughts, and smiled at Jughead.
"Come on, Jug. Let's get dressed and eat some lunch before we get everyone here. It's going to be a long night."
~~Later That Night~~
After several hours of pouring over the evidence they'd already collected, Charles and Kevin decided to head back to the station with FP in order to check the archives for anything they may have missed from the files there. Alice went down to the Register to do her part and search for all the old articles in the backlog. Sweet Pea and Fangs decided to grab some dinner and check on Jughead's other properties on the Southside which meant Betty and Jughead were left alone once again, knee-deep in evidence and witness testimonies.
Betty pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling her eyes begin to cross as she read the same paragraph for the fifteenth time. She felt like they were just spinning in circles, not getting any closer to figuring out what Adam's next move was going to be...
Or how the Black Hood murders fit into all of this...
Or why Svenson's murder was so brutal and deliberate...
"What are we missing here? How are they all linked?" she whispered to herself, grumbling as she stood up and stretched out her back. She popped her neck swiftly before she stumbled to the kitchenette for another cup of coffee. Jughead's eyes followed her, concern filling him when he saw how exhausted she looked.
"Okay, Betts. How about you put that coffee down and we just call it a night? We aren't getting anywhere and we're both burnt out at this point. I think it will be better to just get a fresh start in the morning, don't you think?" Jughead asked as he followed her, leaning against the large island.
"Yeah, maybe you're right," she sighed, setting the carafe back down. "I just can't help but feel like there's something big that we're missing. I can feel it just within my grasp but it keeps skating just out of reach. It's so frustrating."
Jughead grinned, loving the way her face wrinkled up in annoyance at not being able to solve this mystery. He could still remember how she would make the same faces back when they first started to investigate Jason Blossom's. She enchanted him, right from the start. Her drive, her tenacity, the way she strived to get the truth out no matter what.
Even when he was giving up on his Dad, giving up on staying at Riverdale High, she was always the one to push him to hang on. She truly made his existence better, even before they dated or while they were fighting and he was pulling away. She never gave up on him and he loved her dearly for it. He walked around the island, turning her to face him before he wrapped her in his arms.
"I know it's frustrating, Betts, but we'll get it. It just might not be tonight, is all. Why don't we head over to Pop's for a nice late-night dinner and then come back home to get some sleep? We just need a clear head, maybe get a change of scenery, and we will figure out how all this fits together. But, for tonight, we should both just relax. Maybe after we leave Pop's, we could swing by Blue Velvet Video and rent a copy of Twin Peaks on blu-ray? I know how much you loved that show and I've heard they have a ton of behind the scenes features we haven't seen yet," Jughead said with a lopsided grin, leaning down to capture her lips in a tender kiss. Betty's hands came to rest on his cheeks as she deepened the kiss until she pulled back in a gasp.
"That's it, Juggie!" Betty exclaimed.
"Every time..." Jughead teased, giving her a smirk.
"I'm sorry but, Jug– you're a freaking genius!" Betty pecked him on the lips quickly and ran back to her files, digging through a pile on the kitchen table. Jughead was super confused but chuckled at her sudden epiphany.
Why does this always seem to happen when we are in the middle of a moment?
"I am really glad you think so -and I do appreciate the compliment- but I need to know exactly what I did?"
"You and your love of cult classics gave me an idea!"
"Okay?"
"The tapes, Jug! The ones that Adam has been leaving for us to find... They're a huge clue that I hadn't even picked up on until now."
"Well, do you want to share with the group Miss Marple, 'cause I'm not following you... What ya got?"
"There is no way these tapes were in his plan before, Adam absolutely hates David Lynch. Says his work is nothing more than hot garbage disguised as art–" Jughead huffed and rolled his eyes but Betty continued on, "My point is, he never would have used something so Lynchian as to leave those tapes because he never would have watched a movie like Lost Highway . Which means–"
"Which means, he got the idea from someone else," Jughead finished her thought, stepping behind her to look over her shoulder at the file in her hand. Thinking back on what he could recall about his time with the AV Club at Riverdale High, he suddenly remembered a conversation he had back in his sophomore year.
"Well, that's easy, it had to be Ethel's idea. I remember that I played several of his movies at the drive-in and we talked about them in AV. She seemed to be obsessed with them, asking my opinion on everything he ever made."
"Probably because she wanted to impress you. So now the question is, if Ethel is the mastermind behind them, what message is she trying to send us? We need to watch the tapes again, there has to be something there. I can almost guarantee that Ethel was the one to edit the video so there is something we are overlooking."
Before they had a chance to start the first video, a sharp rapping at the door caught them by surprise. Jughead held his finger up to his lip and grabbed his switchblade, motioning for Betty to stand behind him. He cracked the door, shoulders sagging in relief to see his bartender, Dee, staring at him nervously.
"Hey Dee, uh, now's not the best time," he said, closing his knife and handing it off to Betty.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, Jug. I know you said no disturbances, but someone left this on the bar. I didn't see who, but it's addressed to you and Blondie so I figured you'd want to see it," Dee explained.
She handed him a large manilla envelope, their names scratched on the front in black ink. He thanked her and closed the door, locking it behind him– just in case. He and Betty sat back down at the table, his hand shaking as he opened the envelope, spilling the contents out. Another videotape glared back at them but this time there was also a black ski mask with a note pinned to it with the words ' Catch Me If You Can ' scrawled across it in permanent marker.
"Fuck..." Betty whispered, her hands gripping the edge of the table tightly. Jughead pushed the new tape into the player, afraid of what they might see.
At first, the tapes seemed the exact same. Beginning with footage of the Cooper home, the house in Greendale, and the bar - intermixed with images of various blondes being brutalized or killed.
"So, just more random house shots combined with b-horror footage? Hold on, is that– Oh my god, Jug! Is that footage of the Black Hood?" Betty gasped, a shaky finger pointing at the screen.
"Maybe it's another copycat?" he stated, willing himself to be right but knowing deep down that this was the real deal.
"It has to be a message, Jug. Does this mean that Ethel was filming the Black Hood's crimes?"
On the screen were shots of the Black Hood's crimes: a hidden pov of Fred Andrews being shot at Pop's, someone hiding in Fox Forest while filming Moose and Midge's attack, and footage through the window of Miss Grundy's Greendale home as the Hood stood strangling her to death. Suddenly, another shot of a house filled the screen, and Betty felt ice filling her veins, taking her breath away.
"Oh my God... Jug, I know that house," she choked out in terror.
"I think I have seen it before, but where? That place doesn't even look like it's in Riverdale."
"Technically, it's not... At least not anymore. But I know for a fact that we've both seen this house before," she explained, clutching his hand.
Recognition dawned on him as he shouted, "That's the house where the Riverdale Reaper murders happened! The one that creepy old guy told me about!"
"The very same house where Mr. Svenson's family was murdered. And the exact same one that the Black Hood sent me to that night..." Betty replied.
"Goddamnit, you know what this means, don't you Betts?"
"I'll go get my keys," she sighed.
The pair was uncharacteristically silent on the drive over to the Conway's dilapidated house at the edge of Fox Forest. Both of them too engrossed in their thoughts to make idle chit-chat.
Betty looked up and shivered as the headlights illuminated the entrance to the clearing that led to the Conway farmhouse. She tried to stay calm as memories of that horrible night coming rushing back to her.
Betty sat on her window seat hugging her knees to her chest, tears burning her eyes. She cursed the Black Hood for what he was doing to her loved ones, her heart continuing to rip into pieces knowing what she had to do.
Breaking Jughead's heart was the absolute last thing she wanted to do but she couldn't be the reason he was hurt - or worse. She only hoped and prayed that he was safe and that he would understand when this was all over. The sudden ringing of her phone shocked her back into the now, that stupid song sending chills up her spine.
Oh, lolli-lolli-lolli
Lollipop, lollipop
Oh, lolli-lolli-lolli, lollipop
With shaky hands, she picked her phone up from the nightstand, her heart racing as she answered. She took a deep breath and calmed herself the best she could, waiting on edge for the Hood to speak.
"Is it done?"
Betty trembled, a sob threatening to burst out of her but she held her composure. She wouldn't give the psychopath the satisfaction of knowing just how much this was affecting her.
"Yes," she answered.
"Ask me your question."
"There's only one I care about now," Betty replied, her voice breaking with emotion.
"You wanna know who I am? Well, there's an abandoned house on the edge of Fox Forest, at the end of the service road. You'll find your answer there..."
For a moment, Betty stared down at her phone in confusion as the line went dead but then she jumped up, quickly changing into some warmer clothing and sneaking downstairs. She was thankful that her mother had passed out after too much wine at dinner so she wouldn't be able to question why Betty needed to borrow her car so late at night.
By the time she reached the end of the service road, her knuckles were white from gripping the steering wheel too tightly. She could see a clearing up ahead and she chewed her lip anxiously until she was sure that she'd break the skin. She grabbed her mace and a flashlight, knowing that she'd need something to protect herself.
There's a serial killer on the loose, Elizabeth!
Betty got out and hurried down the last of the road, making her way up the hill with her head on a swivel, trying to keep aware of her surroundings. All she could hear was the crunching of the gravel driveway under her feet and the eerie noises from the forest that encompassed the run-down home.
The worn, rickety steps creaked as she rushed up them, adrenaline coursing through her and forcing her to continue. She paused at the front of the door, her hand on the knob, completely unsure of what to expect on the other side. She took a deep breath and pushed it open, shining her flashlight around the decaying living room.
Betty kept her eyes open for clues as she made her way through the house, trying to understand why the Black Hood had sent her here and how it pointed to who he was.
Suddenly, her phone began to ring, startling her and making her jump. She reached into her back pocket for her phone, trying and failing to even out her breaths before answering the call.
"I'm here," she whispered, gripped with fear and anxiety.
"Do you see it?"
Betty looked around briefly before her flashlight landed on a pristinely wrapped gift in the middle of the floor in the next room.
"Yes," she said, walking slowly towards the gift. She moved gingerly, as if the box were going to explode at any moment.
"It's the answer to your question."
The sleek mahogany box was closed with a crimson ribbon, taunting her as she moved closer. She knelt down and placed her flashlight beside the unwanted gift, quickly untying the ribbon and flinging it away.
With a trembling breath, she reached out to slowly lift the lid before she pulled out what was held inside: a black hood with eye holes cut into it. Her gut clenched as she stood, tears streaming down her face and bile rising in her throat as she realized what she was holding in her hand.
"Put it on."
"Why?" she pleaded in a watery voice. She didn't even attempt to keep the tears at bay anymore. This was too much, she couldn't handle all of the horrible emotions she was feeling. She was terrified and completely alone now - the Black Hood made sure of that when he had her blow up all her relationships.
"Put it on and you'll see."
Her hands shook as she moved the phone away from her ear, slowly pulling the mask over her head. She sobbed as she brought the phone back up to speak in a quivering voice, "It's on."
"Now turn around," the voice instructed. Betty's chest heaved as she sluggishly turned around, fearing what might be waiting for her. Her heart sank into her feet, however, as her eyes caught sight of the wall behind her.
"Why are you doing this to me?" she cried, seeing nothing but her own reflection staring back at her.
"To show you that we're the same..."
"Betts?"
Betty broke out of the memory, turning to see a worried look in Jughead's eyes.
"Sorry, Jug. Um, what did you say?" she asked quietly, her eyes flickering back to the end of the road.
"I asked if you were sure about this?" Jughead repeated, "Dad and Charlie are on their way here, we could wait until they get here. Kev would have no problem staying here with you while the rest of us check it out. That way you don't have to relive that shit again."
Jughead grabbed her hands, hoping to keep her from old habits. Betty smiled weakly but shook her head. She wasn't about to let her fear keep her from seeing this through. There was no way in hell that she was going to sit back while her family was putting themselves in harm's way for her.
"I have to do this, Juggie. I need to face all my fears, including this one. We need to figure out who the Black Hood was -or is- and how he's connected to Adam and Ethel and all the bullshit that is happening right now," Betty paused, chuckling to herself before shaking her head. "I mean, what's the worst that could happen? Find out my Dad really took off and left my Mom because he was an obsessed serial killer who wanted all of my attention or something?"
Jughead laughed darkly, "That would make for good tv but in reality, it's highly unlikely. I've met your Dad, Betts. He doesn't have the stomach or the backbone to be a serial killer."
They climbed out of the car, meeting around the front to make their way up the road leading to one of the places in this town that haunted Betty's dreams. The house looked almost exactly how she remembered it, giving her pause and making her steps falter. Jughead noticed and grabbed her elbow, squeezing to give her as much comfort as possible.
Jughead peeked inside the windows, checking to see if anyone was inside while keeping one step ahead of Betty, just in case. He stopped to place his head against the door to listen before pushing it open, checking that the room was all clear before they both stepped inside.
One thing that Betty noticed right away was that it looked as if someone had actually been living in the house recently. They found trash and take-out containers strewn all around the room, a dingy mattress resting in the middle of the dining room floor, and a stained sheet hanging on the opposite wall of the filthy living area.
"What's that for?" Betty asked quietly, not entirely certain that she wanted the answer.
"Looks like a makeshift screen," Jughead replied, taking in the room. He turned and caught sight of an old-school movie projector that was set up on a small table facing the screen. "This projector reminds me of the ones we used to have at the drive-in. There's no film in it though."
Betty walked around for a second before she headed to the room where she had found her 'gift' from the Black Hood all those years before. As she walked through the threshold, she swallowed thickly at what was found in its place. A desk had been set up with a small tube television and top loader VCR that was queued up and ready to go.
"Jug," she called out, getting his attention.
Jughead turned and followed her inside the room, his heart pounding against his sternum. He held his breath as she fed the tape into the player and turned on the television. As the glow from the screen filled the room, they clicked off their flashlights and watched in horror at the scene that played out before their eyes.
Got a secret
Can you keep it?
Swear, this one you'll save
Better lock it in your pocket
Takin' this one to the grave
An eerie song began to play as the scene was set for them. In the center of this very same room was a man (wearing a black mask with a sign that read 'Black Hood' around his neck) who was tied to a chair and struggling against his bonds.
Next, a singular familiar figure stepped into the frame, stalking closer to the man while carrying an extremely large hunting knife. The figure proceeded to rip the mask off of the man's head before laughing hysterically and plunging the blade into the man's abdomen.
If I show you, then I know you
Won't tell what I said
'Cause two can keep a secret
If one of them is dead
"Oh my God, is that–?"
"Yeah Betts, I think it is. Which means..." Jughead trailed off, grimacing at the gore that continued to play out.
"Which means that we were right all along. The Black Hood did have an accomplice, and that's what got him killed," Betty whispered, her hand shaking as she stared at the grotesque scene. The image of Ethel Muggs - covered in splatters of blood, wearing a sinister grin while gutting Mr. Svenson - would be something they would never forget as long as either of them lived.
Yes, two can keep a secret
If one of them is dead
Yes, two can keep a secret
If one of us is dead