Chapter 15- Battle in The Red
Veronica's phone was buzzing across her room. It was only four hours since she got out of school. School had official ended for the summer. It was long day of constant stares as they walked through the halls. She picked her legs off the side of the bed, swiftly drags her feet across her room over to her makeup desk. Her phone was lit up with urgent messages. She had one from Mary, Archie's mom and the other was from Fred, Archie's Dad. She clicked on the message from Mary first. "Have you seen Archie?" That was weird, Veronica thought as she swiped to the next message. "Veronica is Archie with you? He's not at the house and I called Jug's and he's not there either. Fp said he hasn't seen him since he dropped Jug off for school." Her heart was pounding. He wasn't here with her. She sent him home hours ago. Where could he be?
Betty was in her room when Veronica bursted into her room in panic, blood shot eyes and more panic. She set down the book she was reading on the other side of her. Her eyes met with her frantic best friend's eyes. She could of sworn she saw her heart break. Break right into two. Slicing right down the middle.
"V, what's wrong?" Sobs escaped the Latina's throat as her arms were thrown around her. "V, shh just breathe." Soft words were drowned out by the sobs shaking the girl's body.
Her sobs start to fray, words became coherent to ears. Veronica sniffled as she rubbed her eyes to keep the tears held back. She didn't want to cry. She had to find Archie. That was her top propriety.
"I don't know where Archie is. Nobody has seen him. I'm freaking out here, B!" She cried as she latched onto her best friend as she choked on her sobs.
Little did she know, Archie Andrews was fighting for his righteousness. His best friend was almost taken from him. He wasn't letting the Ghoulies get away with hurting his best friend. It was time for them to pay. There was no one who was going to stop him from getting his vengeance. He wanted blood for what they did to Jughead.
"Ready Andrews? No turning back after we cross the line. That's it. No outs."
He nodded his head at the order and they hopped the fence.
It was dark. It might have been one of darkest nights Archie had ever seen in his life. The fence shook as he hopped over. He handle the switchblade tight in his hand. In a almost death grip. His phone kept buzzing. He took a glance. Many were from his father and mother. He knew there was a chance. More like a probably he wouldn't make it out alive. He was okay with that fact. He had been living by that statement since his father was shot by his childhood neighbor. His best friend was almost taken from him.
"Oh red. This is going to be fun." The leader of the Ghoulies said as he pulled out his blade.
Archie turned to Fangs and Toni. "Tell my dad I loved him and he was a great father." Toni nodded. She found this plan foolish.
She decided it was time to alert the big gun. Fp Jones. He needed to know. Her hand shook as she dialed the number. Her lips her trembling. "Hello?" She heard him answer. She was scared. How would he react.
"Jones we have a problem."
Fp was sitting in his trailer with Jughead on the phone. His phone rang. He recognized the number. When he answered he heard Toni's voice. It sounded like she was in danger. And when she said they had a problem. His mind was racing.
"What kind?" He didn't know what kind. But it sounded bad from the sound of Toni's voice.
"Archie he's fighting for us. Sweet Pea recruited him like the idiot he is. You need to get here now! He told me to tell his dad he loved him and that he was a great dad. Jones I'm afraid." His heart was pounding. He can't believe this was happening again. Right underneath his nose. He knew that Archie wanted blood for Jughead. But this. It was pure stupidity.
He hung up the phone, to only find Jughead staring at him. Jughead was confused by the tone is father was using. What was going on? "Dad what is it?" His father's face stayed dark.
"Jug, Archie he went fighting for you." He stopped in his tracks. Archie was going to die for him. He had to stop this.
"No he can't do that. He will die." He was panicking. "Where is he?!" He snapped. He didn't mean to. It was just that Archie meant so much to him. He was his best friend for god sake.
Cheryl was halfway to Betty's when she heard the news. She didn't think Archie would actually pull through with the plan. Archie Andrews could die. Why didn't she say anything? Maybe she was a coward?
She opened her cousin's door, to find Veronica sobbing into Betty's arms. Guilt filled her heart. She felt stupid. Archie saved her when she tried to hurt herself in Sweetwater. He broke his hand to save her life.
"Cheryl? Toni called Fp. He told us. Archie went to battle for Jug." Betty interrupted her thoughts as she pulled Veronica in for a hug. Cheryl stood still. She felt guilty. She walked closer to Veronica, slowly raising her hand out, soothing motion on her back as the tears wouldn't stop.
It wasn't long before all of Archie's enemies surrounding his every way. He could feel the blades started to get razor sharp at the ends as the glided against his skin. He was shaking with chills racing down spine and had hot droplets on his face. He knew it was the normal response to freight and terror. He kept thinking why did I get myself into this position. "So red tell me why you sufficed for your scared lamb of a friend?" Penny shouted through her clenched teeth. Archie could see the true rage behind her eyes. It was almost like someone set up camp and took over the real human capability she once had. He could feel his teeth chattering in the freezing blaze of the night as he tries to open his jaw even a little inch to make enough move to utter an word.
When he finally gets the energy and courage to open his jaw, feeling the sickness in his stomach, knowing your life could very likely come to end. Right there. Right then. No turning back. This was it. The dreadful end. He was hoping to have a future. A life beyond Riverdale. His childhood was long by frayed by the effects of Clifford and Hal, now known as the angel of death. Mostly Hal. He couldn't believe the wrath and horror he had caused him and this town. Over what? Sins? It didn't seem like the greatest achievement to be made forth. "Penny, you a great deal of pain." She cracked a evil smirk. "But not for long. They will know I'm doing this! You won't see the day." He heard a evil cackle escape her teeth.
"Oh boy!" She laughed as she coughed from laughing so hard. "I'm not scared of you, Ginger!" She got into his face, barring her sharp claws. Also know as her nails, crossed his chest and gave his neck a little squeeze. He could feel her nails sticking farther into his neck. Through a stifled moan, he drew a breath before smacking in the jaw with his head.
"Or maybe you should be!" He threatened as he signaled Sweet Pea and Fangs to tackle her down to the ground, slamming her knees down. He could hear a wail in pain as he tied her up.
"Good job, Red." Sweet Pea whispered proudly in his ear as they put her near the tree.
Soon the lot was filled with fatalities. Sweet Pea and Fangs called for Toni. Toni wasn't far behind and saw the whole thing. She was impressed by the outcome. She didn't think Archie Andrews had it in him. He didn't kill Penny. He tied her up. She was ready for Sheriff Keller to haul back to prison. Where she belongs.
She walked up to him, smiling and reaching out to congratulate him on his survival and also to smack him on the head for being so being so stupid in the first place. He wasn't any better then Jughead Jones. Jughead almost got himself killed. He was doing it. To protect the Serpents. But was it smart? She didn't think so. But that was far past them.
Not too far ahead of them was the gang. Veronica was the first exit Alice's car, brushing off the tears that were leaking off her eyes and onto her cheeks as she sprinted into her boyfriend's arms. She was terrified. She never thought she was going to see him again. Betty followed slowly behind her best friend. She watched as it moved in slow motion. Soon she felt hands on her shoulder keeping her from falling over. Cheryl was standing by her keeping her from falling. She knew that Betty had been having trouble dealing with her emotions. She could see the tears streaming down her face. Her face wasn't as nearly as broken as when she saw Jughead the way they did when he sacrificed himself days prior.
Exiting his father's truck, practically panting like a dog on a very extremely hot day as he pulled his best friend into his arms. Jughead never had seen such a mess in his life. Archie almost died for him. He never thought his best friend would do such a thing. Archie saw Jughead and Veronica sprinted to him. He knew he let them down. Veronica wanted to slap him for what he did. Betty just looked like she was going to cry even harder. Fp even had wetness in his eyes. Kevin followed his father to the sight. Archie wasn't tied up. It was the other way around. Never in his life. He would have thought Archie Andrews was capable of undermined a kidnapper.
At the Sheriff station, Archie was questioned by Tom Keller. He had recently got his post back after Hiram's plan went under the bridge. He was back to being the town Sheriff. But this time with more training. To deal with devil father's and mobsters. The interrogation didn't last long. But in Archie's head, it most have seemed like hours or even days. Maybe he was just exaggerating. After his interrogation was complete, he was free to go. Once he spotted his father, arms were engulfed around him. He knew it was his father. Pretty sure the one hug turned into several. He hoped his mom would come back for a visit. He knew he had scared them a lot. He didn't mean to scar them.
Jughead slapped his head with his hand. "You're such an idiot. You know." Archie nodded and rubbed his sore head with his hand gently.
"You did the same thing, Jug." He reminded him as he watched a sigh come from Jughead's mouth. He was going to protest. But he knew Archie was right.
"Whatever." He grumbled as he gave into another hug.
Veronica, Betty and Cheryl all were impressed by the foolish behavior. "Ugh Boys." They groaned. Then looked each other and laughed.
It had been a long night for the gang. They hoped that this long night would be the last conflict for awhile. They were beyond exhausted and desperately wanted sleep.
As soon as their head hit their beds. They were zonked out. Alice was in Fp's arms. Betty was snuggled up in Jughead's arms. To their surprise, nobody said anything about their sleeping arrangements. Maybe they didn't care. It had been a hectic night. Veronica was kept safe by Archie. It seemed like all the Riverdale couples kept each other safe through the night and into the morning.