Author's Note: Hey everybody! I'm back, and I know I've been gone for a long time but I've been taking sometime to write a few chapters. If you want to find out my plan and when I'm going to upload, please continue to read to the end. Thank you!

~Sofi

*DISCLAIMER*

I DO NOT OWN RIVERDALE I AM JUST BORROWING THE CHARACTERS

Chapter 5 Part 1: According to Plan

Hiram Lodge.

His name struck fear into the hearts of the youth of Riverdale, but that was the way he liked it. He didn't want to save Riverdale; he wanted to control it.

Hiram wanted power, and he got it. The residents of Riverdale bowed down to him, worshipped him like a god.

Lurking in the dark, though, sinister secrets were being dug up, secrets Hiram would rather keep buried.

Betty Cooper's ponytail swung from side to side behind her head. Her mother had phoned her, not too unusual for the controlling and overprotective mother that Alice Cooper presented herself as. She slipped out from the Blue & Gold office into the hallway, phone up to her ear and ready to greet her mother on the other end. "Hello, mom? Is everything alright?"

"I'm not sure," Her mother's shaky voice came through, worrying the girl next door.

"Mom? Are you ok?"

"Well… FP just sent me a message, apparently Toni should've sent you the same," Alice spoke, voice easing slightly.

"Umm… ok, I'll check," Betty scrolled through the names in her list, few and far between. Before long, Her wandering finger had found Toni's contact and, low and behold, a message sent from her. Betty pressed the Serpent's name and eyed the information meant for her to see. As she read, Betty's eyes widened. "Holy shit," She muttered, it was quite possibly the first time she had said such an "ungodly" and "inappropriate" phrase in her whole teenage experience. "Mom, who sent FP and Toni all of this evidence?"

"Veronica gave it to them, apparently she wants Hiram to fall more than anybody," Alice undoubtedly smirked from behind the glassy screen: Betty could tell by her voice. She continued to look through the photos, a bubbly feeling growing evermore in her gut.

Jughead checked the time. 4:29 P.M.. Betty had been on the phone for nearly twenty minutes. Jughead peered through the smudged glass window into the hallway beyond the door. He studied Betty's face carefully, taking in each and every feature. He glandered at her eyes, her emerald green spheres opened wide towards the screen of her phone. Jughead then eyed her lips. Her mouth was agape before her teeth bit down upon it. Jughead took in her entire face, an unreadable expression reflecting towards him. It was almost as if she intrigued, but there was something else there. It was an expression Betty held when she was investigating, reporting, when she had that 'spark' as she put it. Though Jughead, who had been contemplating asking her, couldn't tell if what Betty knew was good or bad.

Jughead opened the door, heart longing for the relief of rest as it raced inside his chest. Just as he exited into the hallway, Betty hung up the phone, grabbed Jughead's hand, and led him back into the Blue & Gold office. "Hey, what's the rush, everything alright?" Jughead questioned as Betty locked the door behind them.

"Check your phone, now," Betty started, going through multiple papers and news articles scattered about the desk. "You should've gotten a message from Toni,"

Jughead raised an eyebrow and unlocked his phone. Sure enough, Toni had sent 3 images to Jughead, nothing more. Jughead tapped each photo, his aspect growing ever so serious as Betty arranged a few things across their bulletin board.

"Where…" Jughead started, still analyzing the photos.

"Veronica handed over some stuff to Toni and Cheryl, every dirty deed Hiram has committed in order to control Riverdale," Betty grabbed a handful of push pin from a small cardboard box. "Veronica said if she said anything about him, that Hermione would take the fall."

"Well that's not unexpected," Jughead joined Betty at the board. "After the Black Hood attack at town hall, I'm pretty sure Hiram would do about anything to get what he wants."

"Juggie, tomorrow, I say we get everyone, all the people who know about this, together, here in the Blue & Gold to plan out what our next move is," Betty said, looking up towards Jughead.

"Sounds brilliant," Jughead pecked Betty's forehead, sending a smile onto her lips. Her mouth curled up, greeting Jughead with a giggle that sent butterflies flying furiously through his stomach.

From this angle, the light seemed to hit Jughead's face perfectly. His complexion was flawless; the skin free from all blemishes. The soft hue of the sun low in the afternoon complimented every single one of his aspects. The yellow radiance danced like miniature tongues of fire in the base of his eyes, turning them to hazel rather than a deep umber. The shadow cast by the star fell exquisitely against his cheek. A small smile graced his lips, strengthening the sight. Betty couldn't help but take it all in with indebtedness. She pressed a soft, yet passionate kiss onto his lips, only releasing once that satisfaction was enough. Finally, pulling herself away from the incredible sight, Betty retrieved her coat and grasping Jughead's hand. "Walk me home?"

"Of course," The duo ventured out into the cool breeze of dusk, hand in hand, nothing but them against the world.

. . .

"Mom!" Betty's voice echoed throughout the house. "I'm home!" She hung the scratchy brown coat on the coat hanger beside the door before removing her shoes quickly.

"Betty, we need to talk quickly," Alice sat at the dining room table, a glass of wine in hand; the bottle wasn't too far away. A golden light backlit Mrs. Cooper. With the light, many thin, pale yellow strands of hair stood out from the ends of her bed-head hair.

Betty entered the room, some unfamiliar feeling swell in the back of her mind. She took a seat next to her mother. "What is it?"

"Polly, uh, spoke to me earlier," Alice shifted in the chair. "You know how I've had a pretty tough time dealing with… your father and, uh, long story short, I'm going to the farm with her for a bit."

"Wait… why? What's there that'll help?" Betty countered. She didn't know why, but she felt disappointed, and, believe it or not, a little bit angry. It was hard to describe, it wasn't total anger, but more of a mixture. She noticed that, lately, she had been having trouble reading her own emotions. Betty Cooper always knew how she felt, but not now.

"She wants me to see a sort of… counselor," Alice began, slowly tipping the glass containing the intoxicating liquid towards her lips. She took a good, long sip as Betty looked on. "One that helped her when she felt down about Jason."

"Mom? I don't get why you need this! We'll be fine, we just have to get over it," Betty grasped her mother's hand, but released as Alice flinched.

Alice stared into Betty's eyes. "Honey, I can't keep going on like this, you know that. Besides, it won't be forever, only about a month. I know you can take care of the house while I'm away."

A harsh, golden light beamed through the window on the wall. The hue hit the glass that sat upon the dining room table, sending brilliant shades of crimsons and cerulean cascading throughout the room. A uniquely luminous amethyst reflected onto Betty's face, toning her skin to math itself. The glow hung over her left eye, darkening the emerald spheres. A flash of pure, deep purple stained the underlying area of her iris, fading up into the newly olive color of her eye. The radiant beam stung the girl; tears formed at the brim of her eye. She quickly moved herself from the light, returning her focus to her mother. She took in a deep breath, thinking about what her mother was saying, and saved every single wisp of air and sending it to her lungs. "Ok… I support your decision."

Alice smiled lightly. "Thank you," She took her daughter's hand in hers. If it was possible to feel others' emotions, the whole neighborhood would explode from how happy and grateful Mrs. Cooper was at this very moment.

Betty returned the grin. "Of course mom." Betty slowly got up and grabbed her bag from upon the dining room table and made her way upstairs. Once she entered her room, flopped onto her back on her bed. She observed her room: the decorations, the pictures, everything. The walls were a dull shade of turquoise half way up, the rest of the being occupied by very busy floral wallpaper. Her furnisher was starch white, ornate detail present on every piece, even around the silver mirror against her wall. Girly, pink things lay atop dressers and nightstands. Pastel posters were adorned upon the complex pattern of wallpaper. She pictured her room, her perfect little family, sitting in a dollhouse exactly like her house. Of course, her dad was there, but instead of a psychotic serial killer, he was a kind, loving father. It made her irritated, annoyed. When had I stopped liking my room?

She picked up her phone from beside her looked through the pictures Toni had sent her. She began to contact everyone, organizing a very important meeting for the next morning. My my my… Hiram is really in for it now.

A message fell from the top her screen. It was from Jughead. She surveyed the message reading each word with interested.

Hey there Juliet, whatcha up to? She loved it when he called her Juliet.

Nothing much, how bout you Jones?

Same. Actually Betts, I had a question.

I'm listening

How about after we save Arch from the evil clutches of Hiram we get you that Serpent jacket? I'm going with Toni and Cheryl for Cheryl's tattoo, maybe you can get yours too.

Betty's heart skipped a beat, well, a couple. Finally, she could actually be an official Serpent. I would love that, Forsythe. 3

What did I say about calling me by my full name?!

Betty giggled at this. You still call me Elizabeth on a daily basis!

Fine, can't argue with that. Goodnight, my love.

She laughed a little more. As to you, Forsythe Pendleton Jones III, I love you.

I love you more.

With that, Betty pulled the device to her chest, right up to her heart, as if it were Jughead. Her heartbeat slowed. She imagined it aligning with Jughead's, their hearts intertwining, in sync forever. Their affection, ever growing.

A strange feeling caught her off guard and she felt the urge to look out her window. She looked through the smudged glass and down to the small grassy space in between her and Archie's house. A hooded figure, dressed in all black, locked eyes with her. Her heart rate picked up, faster and faster. Her mouth hung open, aghast with horror. The figure took off running, farther and farther until it was out of sight from her eyes. Betty stepped back, rubbing her eyes. Who was that? She spoke to herself. Who the hell was that?

. . .

The early hours of the morning crept up from dusk, the sun shining brightly through the small rectangular window far from the tiled floors. The radiant light blinded him as he awoke, the beam harshly greeting him. He slowly arose; back stiff and aching from the hard metal bunk he had been given for rest.

The room was cold and silent. After 4 days, the steel-barred block Archie had been contained him had become quite boring. 3 days. There was only 3 days left until his trial. The anxious feeling had grown in his stomach and it hadn't stopped. Archie felt that at any minute he would explode, just break down and confess so that this feeling would go away.

His father was on his way back from Chicago, nearly at Riverdale. What would he tell him? How could he explain what Hiram did? His life seemed to falling apart, piece-by-piece. Like he was a single pillar, the world crumbling around him. How was he going to get out of this one?

His thoughts carried him to Betty and Jughead; he hadn't heard from them in a while. What did that mean? Did they have a plan? Did they have nothing? Then he thought for a moment: he still didn't use his one phone call.

"Hey! Hey!" Archie shouted, sprinting to the bars. "Hey!"

After a couple seconds, the silver knob began to rattle. Archie looked up as the wooden door opened and an officer walked in, clearly annoyed. "What do you want?"

Archie stared for a second, gulping a wad of spit before speaking. "I want my phone call."

Archie, contained in handcuffs, was being led to a room. There, a small table with chairs on either side were set in the middle of the room, a phone hung on the wall to the right. A small window identical to the one from the cell room was to the left behind one of the chairs. The walls were cinder block, painted roughly in an off white color. Once in the room, Archie's handcuffs were removed and one officer guarded the door. He quickly dialed a number into the phone; a bit surprised he could remember it.

"Hello?"

"Hey Jug, it's Arch. Just had to see how you were doing with my one phone call," Archie replied. He glanced over at cop by the door. He seemed to be in a daze, daydreaming while staring at the mini window. "Have you got anything? When am I getting out? My trial is in 3 days!" He whispered quietly and quickly into the phone, peering at the cop once in a while.

"I know Arch, but we have something. We need 2 days at most; we are going to get you out. We have a plan that is definitely going to work just hold on."

"Ok, well I gotta go. Thank you, and hurry." Archie hung up the phone, bringing the officer back to reality. Archie was led back to his cell, this time it felt slightly warmer. Though he didn't know the slightest thing about what was going to happen, he felt hope in that it would work. It had to work.

. . .

"Mom, I'm home from school!" Veronica walked through the door of her apartment. She knew her dad was gone today; he was doing business on the south side. She left her shoes on the doormat beside the wall and entered her room.

She slumped down on the bed and closed her eyes. The mattress hugged he back perfectly, cushioning all her pressure points. Veronica's mind eased, leading farther and farther away from the stressing events of reality. She drifted closer and closer to slumber, wishing for sweet relief rest would bring her.

Startling her awake, Hermione pushed open the door. She looked worried, unsure. "Mom? Are you alright?"

She sat down next to Veronica, a small device held in her hands. "Mom?"

"Veronica, listen to this…" Hermione handed the recorder to Veronica. She studied it for a minute, unsure whether or not she wanted to listen. Hesitantly, she pressed play.

"I don't understand, what did you do?"

"Archie didn't, *hick*, kill that boy, Andre did. We framed 'em so they wouldn't, *hick*, rat me out."

"Are you absolutely sure?"

"Would bet my life on it, the truth."

The recorder clicked off. Veronica, wide-eyed, turned and looked at her mom. "I-"

Veronica's phone dinged. Glancing from her mother for only a second, she checked her phone. A message from Betty greeted her from the screen.

"Mom," She showed her mom the message. "This is crucial evidence. With this, we can get Archie out of jail!"

Hermione nodded. She stood and exited the room, leaving the recorder with Veronica.

To be continued, in part 2…

Author's note: I'm so sorry for the delay, once school starts I will have so much more time to write. This one is shorter because it's a two-part chapter. Thank you for reading; I hope you enjoyed!

~Sofi