Chapter 3~ Repercussions
Entering in the school was traumatizing for Betty. She hated the feeling she got as soon as she walked into those doors, she felt the instant amount of pressure on her shoulders, flashbacks of blood burned into her brain. Jughead saw Betty freeze up as she spotted a paper of remembrance of Midge. Her picture was in every floor of her school. It only had been two or three days since the play. Betty couldn't get herself to say the actual word out loud. Every time she tried it got caught in her throat. As they walked farther down the hall, she spotted a bunch of reforcement officers guiding students to class. She heard from Kevin his father, Sheriff Keller decided for the time being to have extra security, just in case the Black Hood or something else strikes. They would at least be more prepared if that would happen.
When Cheryl arrived, She couldn't stop the gulit she was having in her heart. If she would of been Carrie, Midge wouldn't of died. But on the other hand she would be the one in her place. She couldn't believe that this was happening again. She just got back from the sisters nunnery and this happens. She was just happy her mother actually signed the papers. She was officially emancipated and free from her mother's wrath. She saw Toni from the corner of her eyes. She walked closer and reached for Toni's hand.
"Cher, are you okay? I mean being here?" Toni said calmly as she and Cheryl walked to class. Cheryl stopped moving, dropping her head and sighed. She didn't feel okay. Okay wasn't even the word she would use to describe herself.
"What's to be okay with TT? One of my vixens was brutally murdered and knifed to the stage wall like the Carrie's mother in the movie! So how tell me how I'm supposed to be okay?!" She snapped, feeling the undeniable gulit within her. She didn't mean to snap, she was just still shaken for the scene she saw. Toni's eyes widened, she also knew Cheryl didn't mean to sound like that. She was very out of place now.
"Cheryl, I know it's hard being here. But you can't blame yourself for her death." She stated as she brushed her arm with her hand gently. Cheryl felt the gulit started to disappear as Toni's hand brushed her arm.
"I know. I just feel like it is my fault." She said as she looked down at the ground, frowning. Toni's eyes soften again, she lifted Cheryl's chin and looked her lovingly in the eyes.
"It's not your fault, Cher. How were you suppose to know the Black Hood was going to do that? You wouldn't been able to stop it either way, Cheryl. Just try focusing on something else, Okay?" She reassured the best she could as she leaned in and kissed her gently on her crimson red lips.
An hour later, Fp knocks on her door. He spent the whole ride there, con-plating how he was going to be there. He knew it was a risk. He hears the door open and shocked Alice appears from behind the door. She couldn't believe he was here. At her door holding chocolates in his arms and not flowers. It's sad that Hal brought her peonies and she's allergic to them. How could he forget after years of marriage? Sometimes she wonders why she married him in the first place. Maybe it was cause she was once drawn to him or he was her only ticket out of the southside. He watched as her eyes were instantly drawn to the chocolates in his arms.
"Fp? What are you doing here?" She asked with a fixed face of confusion on her face. He breathed shortly before opening his mouth to speak.
"Betty called me asking to check on you. She said you were sick and you were refusing to rest." He explained as a grin formed on his lips. She felt her face flush up. Why did Betty have to be so unpredictable? She told her she was fine and she does this.
"I told her, I was fine. So you can go on home." She stood her ground with her hands on her hips, feeling bubbles in her stomach. Damn he looked great in just a black hoodie, she thought as she tried not to bite her lips. He didn't seem convinced. He knew her like a book. He could read her body language and could tell exactly how turned on she was by his black hoodie.
"Well you should try to be more convincing. Your shaking and I just heard you sneeze before you answered the door." He said as his hand pushed the door wide open. She rolled her eyes hard as he walked in. He turned back to her. "Alice you even look adorable when your sick." He winked as he tipped the bottle upside down and a few pills fell into his palm. Her face blushed four different shades of bright pink.
"Fp, you don't have to be here. I can take care of myself you know." She grumbled as she took the pills he had given her to reduce her fever. He stole a glance in her direction while she was still distracted. His heart swelled at her cute little smile as she laughed.
"I know. It's just your daughter scares me." He confessed, earning her attention. He was scared of her daughter. She couldn't help but not to laugh. He was a grown ass man and her daughter scared him.
"Your scared of my daughter?" She laughed as she poured herself something to drink. He didn't blame her for laughing either.
"Yeah, yeah. A grown man is scared of a teenager. But teens are vicious and know how to bring s grown man down." He groaned, he slapped his face. Her giggles grew stronger as he talked.
"I guess she reminds you of me at her age. I was very vicious myself." She stated as she got his full attention.
"Yes, you were. I remember having to bail you out several times when we were together. You loved to get into trouble and start shit with people." He stated while laughing. The words were together strung deep within his heart. He hated feeling like this was it for them. Just the memories to live by.
"Yeah I did." She sighed as she stared at the ground. He wanted so badly to kiss her. He hated having her so close to his face and not being able to kiss her.
"Let's get you to bed now." He said as he picked her up in his arms, lifting her over his shoulders like a sack. She squealed as he picked her up and threw her in her bed. She grabbed onto him, pulling her back and he fell right next to her face inches away from her lips. It took every bit of his energy not to kiss her. She felt his hot breath on her lips, she missed him so much. She was still technically married. It would be wrong. She pulled her head away, even though she wanted to smash her lips into his. She had to have self control.
Jughead found himself suspicious about Chic. He was at the play. Something just seemed off with Chic. He found Betty standing outside the Blue and Gold room, staring at her phone. He could tell she didn't sleep well or hadn't been sleeping for a couple days.
"Betts, you haven't slept have you?" He asked as he massaged her shoulder soothingly. Betty looked up causally from her phone. She was scared every time her phone rang. The stupid lollipop song played in her brain every time her phone rang. She knew that it won't be too much longer before the haunting jiggle will be burned into her head again and again until they find the real Black hood and this time she prayed it wasn't a trick.
"No not really, Juggie. I'm scared to shut my eyes. All I see is that haunting heinous writing in Midge's blood." Her voice was cracking even before she said Midge's name. This was her fault. The Black Hood was going after sinners or what he calls them since the jubilee, her words influenced this sick monster. "My words started all this Juggie. I killed everyone." She cried as she started shaking. Jughead pulled her into his arms and wrapped her close.
"Betts, shh, it's okay. It's not your fault. The Black hood just misinterpreted your words for his own success. Even if it's twisted, heinous, gruesome actions, it's not your fault. It will never be." He spoke as he held her close, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Jug can you just take me home?" She whispered into his chest. She wasn't sure if he heard her or not. He heard her words and nodded. He knew this day was hard for her.
"Yeah, I will bring you on my bike. I know your mom will be angry for you leaving. But I saw Cheryl and Toni. Cheryl was so upset too. She feels the guilty too." He said as he took her hand into his and they walked out the school doors.
Alice woke up in her bed, she turned her head hoping her stayed. But he didn't. She couldn't help but feel disappointment. She really needed him, even though she said she didn't. She crawled out of her bed, feeling a little better. As she stood up, she noticed a little white paper on the bed stand. She lowered her hands and reached for it, unfolding the folds.
"Hey, Alice. I'm sorry I couldn't stay up when you woke up. Pop called telling me he needed me. I left some chicken noodle soup in the fridge, in case your hungry. ~ Fp.
She smiled at the words. He didn't want to leave her. She set the paper back down and proceeded to get ready for the day she had left. She stepped downstairs, leaving a strange feeling in her stomach. She heard a door slam shut, her blood froze, body went stiff.
"Hello?" She called as she neared the bottom of the steps. She turned the corner still not getting answer, in the inside was freaking out. She grabbed the railing tightly in her hands. She saw her son, Chic. She placed her hands over her chest, still breathing heavy. "Chic.." she breathed out. "You scared the crap out of me." She confessed still catching her breath.
"Sorry, Mom. I got your message. I know your sorry." He stated standing still. Alice felt something strange, she couldn't place it.
"So you came to the play. Why didn't you say hi to me?" She asked trying to understand why he ignored her. She watched his stance, he was leaning over the counter.
"I don't know maybe I'm still angry." His tone got harsher as he looked her dead in her eyes. Why was he so angry? He put them in danger once again. She tried to reason with him.
"Chic, I know. But you really crossed the line." She stated calmly reaching for his hand. He drew his hand back, avoiding her eyes.
"I will just go to my room." He said walking off. Alice didn't know what it was. But something wasn't right. He was really off.
Betty and Jughead decided to spend the rest of the day finding answers. When she found out her brother wasn't her brother. She didn't know what to think. When she got home from school after such a dragging day. She had such hard time balancing everything going around her. Jughead came home with her. He was worried for her safety. He was furious with Chic he wasn't who he said he was. She heard her mom's voice and a similar voice she had heard before. She felt her hair standing up on her arms, as shivers were sent down her spine. She turned into the kitchen meeting her mother's eyes and no other Chic's. What was he doing here?
"Uh mom, what's Chic doing here?" She asked with a raised eyebrow. Alice turned around quickly raising her eyebrows at her daughter. The tone her daughter used it was chilling.
"I let him move back in." She said softly as she chopped the veggies. Betty's eyes bugged out. Jughead couldn't believe her mother.
"You did what!" Betty shouted, glaring her eyes at the imposter. She appalled by this guy. He pretended for months to be one of them.
"He said he was sorry." Alice said as she looked up. Betty looked at Chic, who was grinning evilly. She rolled her eyes.
"Mom his not who he says he is!" She snapped, draw back all her angry she was holding. Alice raised her eyebrows again, looking between Her daughter and Jughead.
"What? That can't be." She said with confusion as her eyes widened. "No, no. That's not true. Right Chic?" She asked feeling her stomach bubble. For the first time her son, looked almost like he was going to explode.
"Oh look who figured out. Your daughter Betty. It took you long enough." He laughed evilly as he grabbed the knife from the counter and started attacking. Betty's eyes burned with anger. She grabbed a pan and slammed it over his head. Jughead looked over at Alice's bloody forearm, he felt remorse. Why didn't he stop this a long time ago.
They carried his unconscious body in their arms down the stairs and into the basement. Alice had tears from the blood gushing from her arm. She couldn't believe she was played. Where was her reason son? And how was she suppose to tell Fp that he has a son? But Chic isn't the real Chic she had. Her mind was so drained. Ten minutes later, Chic opened his eyes, absorbing the room, he was tried to the chair.
"What's going on?" He tried to play dumb as he woke up tried to the chair. Betty stood next to Jughead as he stared Chic in the eyes. Alice tried to stay calm. A part of her wanted to ask questions and the other part wanted to kill this imposter. "Mom, why are you?" He started saying before he was interrupted by Betty's quiet order.
"Stop. No more play acting. It's just time for answers now." She says quietly as she drew in a breath. Jughead was still trying to keep his cool.
"You can start by telling us your real name." Jughead butted in. Chic rolls his eyes and huffs.
"I am Chic!" He exclaimed. But nobody was buying into his little tricks anymore. "Mom untie me please, I'm scared." He fake cries. Alice stares at him with all the anger in the world.
"You must of know him. My brother." Betty returned the questioned to her. "When my mom and I went to the hostel and asked for Charles smith, they sent us to your room. So why were you impersonating him." She raised her voice a little higher, failing to control her anger.
"I never said I was Charles Smith! I said I was Chic." He snapped, still tried to the chair. Alice's eyes felt the more fury.
"Then where's Charles? How did you know him?!" She snapped, trying to keep the tears from her eyes. Chic still stuck to his story.
"We met out on the streets and moved into that flophouse. He told me about you guys. The coopers, this perfect family in Riverdale, who gave him up for adoption, who didn't want him. Never even looked for him. One day he knocked and you answered Alice, You practically slammed the door in his face. You said we're not interested, you remember it, don't you. Charles went on a bender that night. He OD on jingle jangle." He explained as she had tears running down her face.
Alice ran up the stairs so quickly, almost tripping. She couldn't believe her son came to her and she just told him no. She got into her car as fast as she could. Hoping, praying Fp was home. She had to tell him. Why didn't she say anything months ago? No years ago. She wished she would of. She pulls into Sunnyside gripping the wheel in anger, sadness. She got out of her car, breathing heavily and pushes his door open, not caring. Fp noticed the door opened. His shift ended at Pop's thirty minutes ago.
"Alice?" He says as he gets up from the couch. He sees her breathing heavily and instantly feels panicked. "What's wrong?" He tried to ask causally. Alice stands in the doorway, tears still going down her face. She starts walking closer, meeting his concerned face.
"No more Secrets. No more lies. I should have told you sooner. Maybe something would have been different." She stuttered as she walks closer to him. She takes a breath, feeling all her energy disappear at that moment. " I had - had your baby." She confessed as she watches his eyes widen. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. But before he could even open his mouth, she started rambling again. "His name. I named him Charles. I need to give him up for adoption." She was caught off by his calming voice.
"Ah, ah, Slow down, slow down." He calmly reinforced her. She was now breaking down. She couldn't keep together.
"He came to see me and I- turned him down." She stuttered as tears cascaded down her face. "And now he's dead because of me. I killed our son." She nearly shouted. He blinked back in confusion. What was she saying? Chic he's not dead. " Do you remember, Fp high school?" She asked in a whisper as tears still were racing down her cheeks. He quickly interrupts her, still holding in the shock, he had a son and now he's dead.
"Yeah, I remember Alice, But—" He was interrupted again. She just kept saying She was sorry.
"I'm sorry." She whimpered out. " I made a mistake." Her voice was cracking. She started shaking her head, turning away. Fp stopped her by grabbing her gently.
"No, no. Alice, alice. Hey, listen to me. Talk to me. You talking about Chic?" He questioned her trying to get her to listen.
"No, Chic. Chic is someone else. Chic is- you don't understand, what I've done Fp, you don't understand what I was-" She was caught off by him wrapping his arms strongly around her. He was trying to calm her down. There was someone bad, sick trying to take her down. "Responsible for." She cried into his shoulder. He keeps her close and whispers.
"It's okay, It's okay, it's okay." He whispers over and over to reassuring he understands. His mind was still trying to comprehend the news and then the devastating aftershock. He had a son. Not just a son. It was him and Alice's son. He never got to know and apparently never will.
Betty was standing in her kitchen after her mom left. Her phone is lying on the kitchen counter and the haunting ringtone starts playing. She hesitantly grabs her phone, bringing it up to her. "Lollipop, lollipop Lolly, Lollipop Lollipop." Ringtones sings as she stays frozen with her hands holding the sides of her sink tightly. She looks around to make sure she's alone and reaches for it. She brings it up to her ear.
"Hello Betty, you miss me." The voice rang through the phone. She had tears forming in her eyes as the haunting voice spoke to her. "Admit, Betty very deep down you knew it wasn't over." The Black Hood's voice rang again.
"You killed Midge." She says as she starts walking around her kitchen and to her white board.
"Of course." His deep voice confessed, no remorse in his tone. She continued to question him as she wrote down he killed Midge.
"And you set up Mr spencen?" She asked as she quickly wrote what he was saying.
"Very, very good, Betty. From all I have taught you. You've been making amateur mistakes. Living in enemies, a sinner into your house." He states the reasons.
"Your talking about Chic?" She questioned yet again.
"Yes a man who lived in the dentist sinners, who kills as easily as he did in your house. That man has murdered before." He says before he hangs up.
After, a little while Alice feels his arms unwrap from her.
She started to feel her emotions being buried. Fp still didn't know how to hold in the news. He is a father. No he was. His son's dead. Tonight was going to be a long night. He couldn't help thinking about Jughead. His son was holding that imposter hostage, this could turn bad. They get in the car, it's now dark. The warm sky was now darker than night.
At the Coopers, Betty and Jughead just returned after going to the hostel. Hearing from the sweet women about her brother carrying her food in and warmed her heart. Unfortunately that didn't last long. He murdered her brother. She wanted him to pay, suffer just like one of the Black Hood victims. She knew it was insane but letting him go would just bring him more leverage. She stomped down the creaky old staircase in the basement. Jughead flowed close behind, inching as she went down the stairs.
"We know you murdered my brother." She stated still very furious and mad at herself for being pulled into this trickery. Chic was still tied to the chair, the same chair as he was when they found out he wasn't Chic.
"Come on, are you serious?" Chic said still playing the game. Betty's anger was starting to get out of control.
"Your neighbor heard you fight, she saw blood lots of it. Admit what you did, Chic!" She snapped feeling all the rage pour out all at once.
"I admit your brother was a junkie." He stated before receiving Jughead's fist to the face. Jughead couldn't help but feel more angry when Chic kept lying. "Go ahead hit me all you want, you won't kill me because you're scared. You won't let me go because your worried that I will rat about the shady guy." His voice goes deeper as blood drips down his chin. Betty was getting very fed up with his lies. She snaps, grabs his neck and starts choking him with all her strength.
"Tell us the truth, about my brother." She whispered in a raged tone. She relinquished her death grip on his neck and backed away with her hands by her sides.
"I already did Betty. But maybe I didn't. You'll never know." He mocks in a devil hoarse voice.
Betty goes back upstairs just before Fp stormed into her house. She was still furious, this Chic imposter was controlling everything. Fp knows his son will do something reckless. Alice stands there still very shaken, She told Fp everything.
"Where's Jughead?" Fp asks marching into the house. Betty was still startled by the tone he used.
"He's down-" but she was caught off by Fp opening the basement door. Jughead was still punching Chic. He was raging, he could go to jail for covering up this murders after jump. When Fp gets down the stairs, he sees Jughead beating the shit out of Chic.
"What the hell are you doing!" He shouted as he watches his son spilt his hand as he punched. Jughead just continues to beat the shit out of him. Blood splattering the room.
"Getting him to talk!" He defends his actions as he feels his dad forcefully tear him away.
"Hell you are!" Fp's voice shouts angrily through the house. He drags his son out of the basement. Alice and Betty come downstairs. Now Jughead is outside, dark night shutting off the day chaos and creating nighttime nightmares. "It's not your business, Boy!" He orders as they are now outside the house of the Coopers. Jughead couldn't believe the words coming from his dad's mouth. What the hell? Jughead was seeing red now.
"So we're just gonna leave Betty and Alice alone in a house of the potential murder!" He snapped as his dad continued to push him. Fp was still very heated from this situation. How did he end up in this situation again?
"You listen to me! You hear me!" He yells not even caring he'll wake the neighborhood up. He takes a deep breath before continuing. His breathing slowed, anger started relaxing within him. " Afer what I did to Jason Blossom. I can't. I won't. I won't have you near that, Jug." He confesses still breathing heavily, eyes narrowing toward the house. "It's not our house, it's not our place. They need to decide what they want to do, how to end this and then we will help." He stated before walking to his truck and hopping in.
After Betty handed Chic over to the Black hood, she returns home. Something just doesn't feel right. Alice was sitting on the steps downing a glass of wine to replenish this horrible day. She told Hal about everything, he was angry. She couldn't blame him. She put her and her daughter in danger.
"Where'd did you go Betty?" She asked as she downed the rest of her wine in the glass. Betty slowly approaches the staircase and sits down pulling her mom close.
"I took Chic away. He's gone. For good I think." She answers as she pulling her mom into her arms comforting her. She knew it had been an exhausting day for her and everyone.
"Where is he Betty? Where did you take Chic?" Alice asks as she lifted her head up looking her daughter in the eyes.
"I took him to the bus station and then..." Betty started as she looked upstairs. Alice was confused why Betty said and then.
"And what?" She whispers turning her head away. Betty notices her dad isn't home. That's weird. Where had he gone?
"Mom, Where's Dad?" She asked quietly still overcoming the shock of watching the Black Hood yet again ruin her life. Alice let's out a breath and sighs.
"He went looking for you. Why do you ask?" She asks as the silence was killing the room. Betty doesn't say anything. This was way over her head.
"Uh never mind. I'm going to bed. Maybe I will get a goodnight sleep." She says as she heads up the stairs.
"Okay, see you tomorrow, Betts. Try not to freak out. He's gone. And if your wondering I lied to you about Fp." Alice confessed as her eyes blinked back the tears. Betty was now turning back in the stairs and sat back down by her mom.
"I know. It's okay. I'm sorry about your son mom. I should have known that Chic wasn't Charles." She sighed as her eyes broke with tears. Alice hated that Betty was doubting herself. This wasn't her fault. If it was anybody's fault it was hers.
"Betty, it wasn't your fault. It was mine. Because I was afraid of the truth. Now my son's dead. I- I killed him, B-e-tty!" She was now crying so hard. She lost every chance with him. Betty hated seeing her mom fall apart, it was devastating.
"No you didn't make him die. Chic lied about him ODing. Chic murdered him. I-'m sorry mom." She cried as tears of guilt fell from her eyes. Alice was still speechless, she wasn't surprised. But the fact that imposter, con-artist killed him, her son was dead because of that Chic.
"Shh, Betty come here. We will get through this together, I promise. We will fight until this Black Hood is gone." She reassured her daughter pulling her into a strong hug as tears soaked their shirts.
Fp's truck pulled into the Sunnyside. He was able to convince Jughead to let them handle it. This was the last thing he wanted to expose his son to. He already felt like he failed him numerous times on end, his fails always end up tricking him. He didn't want Jughead getting into this trouble. Disposing Jason Blossom was a mistake. He should of just went straight to the authorities. But then Jughead would of been dead, he couldn't imagine losing his son. And now the gruesome clean up of Chic's after mess. He did for Alice. He would die for Alice, if he had too. How did he get into this fucked situation? Part of him wanted to race back to the house to make sure that Alice and Betty were alright. He felt like a dick for leaving, but he couldn't have his son going to prison. He sat down at the table, where his son was staring at his bloody fist. He got up from the table, opening the freezer and handed him a bag of frozen peas for his hand. Jughead took the bag, placing it on his left fist or right. He couldn't remember which one he punched Chic with.
"Dad, are you the father? I mean were you the father?" He corrected himself as he iced his hand. Fp felt like he was punched repeatedly in the stomach, leaving no air to breathe. Jughead noticed his dad's facial expressions. Before his dad could even open his mouth, he knew. "Dad, I'm sorry. I- I didn't mean to press. I was just wondering. I noticed you grab her hand that night and hold her in your arms the night of the play." His voice died after the mention of the play. He still had nightmares. Fp didn't know his son noticed him showing affection toward Alice. He thought he was being discrete about it.
"Jug... I didn't even know. I had no idea Alice's was pregnant with my baby. I was completely shocked when she came in crying. And when she told me he was dead. I just felt my heart stop." He confessed as his voice started to crack from the weakness. He was now falling apart. Jughead has never seen his dad so emotional, raw, broken in ever in his life. He set down his ice pack, standing up from his chair and walked over to his dad.
"Dad... I probably shouldn't tell you this. But... Chic murdered Charles." He confessed as he watched his dad's eyes burn with tears. Fp's blood was boiling, he felt betrayed, broken. He felt like everything he had ever done, every mistake, decision he had ever done was collapsing on him, leaving no more to move. Suffocating him, oxygen was disappearing within his lungs.
"That's why you were beating him, weren't you?" He asks, his son nods his head. Why did his life have to be unpredictable? Jughead knew this was a lot for everyone to take, he watched as his dad continued crying. Fp Jones, Serpent leader, badass was falling apart. And there was nothing he could do to help his dad.
"Dad... why don't we just go to bed. It's been a very stressful, high tense day. And to be honest we could sleep. Maybe we actually have a good night sleep." He suggested lightly as he helped his dad to his room, Fp laid down, feeling nothing but pain.
Unfortunately this wouldn't be the ending of devastation for The Cooper women neither would it be for the Jones men either. Nobody knew what was up head. Betty would soon learn the call wasn't far away. Cheryl would learn to she need be a better cousin, Archie will reinforce the bulldogs and the Serpents. It will obviously cause confrontation.