Chapter 3

Betty studied Dilton's slender body critically looking for answers. She stopped at his glasses. If he had wanted to wear a mask, he would have had to take them off. But could he have seen at all without them? Could he have acted like a criminal without them? No, this boy definitely didn't fit the description of Black Hood.

But what if he had help? What if he had some assistants who did his dirty work? Okay, he wasn't as powerful as Mr. Weatherbee, but possibly he was clever enough to make some people work for him. Maybe he blackmailed someone to act as Black Hood while Dilton himself was only Black Hood's brain and distorted voice.

But if Dilton was really Black Hood, what was his plan? He could have done anything he wanted with her. But apparently he didn't. So it couldn't be his plan to harm her. So what was it? Or didn't he have any plan at all? In any case, wandering around in a forest didn't really look like a plan. Nevertheless, Betty somehow felt that it was better to quit him. Everything seemed at least a little bit creepy. And the memory of his advances didn't make her feel better.

„What's the matter, Betty? Why are you so quiet?", Dilton asked.

„Nothing. I'm just thinking about a way to get home."

„Then you better think fast because it's getting dark."

„Yes, I see. But we shouldn't act rashly. We should make a plan."

„Okay."

„Hmm. How about climbing a tree? On top of it we would have a much better view. Maybe we will be able to spot the lake."

Betty was very pleased with her idea because while Dilton was climbing a tree, she could easily leave him. She wouldn't have to worry about any kind of resistance or fight.

„Well. I'm not sure", Dilton answered. Obviously he didn't share Betty's enthusiasm for her idea.

„Why, Dilton? Are you afraid of heights? Do you want ME to climb the tree?"

Or was climbing a tree not a part of his mysterious plan?

„No, of course not. I will do the climbing and you wait here."

„Yes, my hero." Betty tried to sound as sincerely as possible. At the same time she hoped that Dilton wouldn't regard her smile as mockery.

Dilton looked for a tree that seemed suitable. Betty enjoyed his search and his agony of choice. After almost a minute Betty thought it was time to help him. „Why don't you take that one over there?"

The tree that she pointed to wasn't very tall. But it seemed relatively easy to climb because its branches started quite low. And since height wasn't top priority, she was quite content with her choice. She hoped that Dilton would agree.

„Okay, Betty. I'll climb that tree", Dilton said and paused for a moment as if he expected a drum roll. Then he seized the first branch and pulled himself higher. After some groaning and moaning he stood on the branch. With pride in his eyes he looked down on Betty and declared: „That was easy."

„Fine. Because there are quite a few more branches to come."

„No problem."

But it was. His determination, however, was so huge that he slowly but surely took one step after the other until he was more than five meters high. Betty decided that it was high enough. So she started her escape.

„Bye, Dilton!", she said quietly.

It took the boy quite a while to realize what Betty was doing. From a distance she could hear his faint complaints, which made her smile. This boy could never compete with Jughead or Archie.

After some minutes Betty began to lose her good mood. She was still in the forest while it was getting darker and darker. She thought about climbing a tree herself, but soon abandoned this thought. That wouldn't help her. Nobody would help her. She started to regret having left Dilton behind. After all, he didn't treat her badly. And what was so evil about an attempted kiss?

One hour passed by and Betty was still in the forest, which now had become a dark forest, a scary forest. She couldn't see anymore what was further away than 20 meters. Instead she could only hear. She had to hear. There was no escape from hearing all the sounds around her. And these sounds were away from being pleasant. She imagined animals that were creeping around her. Wild animals. Beasts. But it turned out to be even worse.

„Hello? Who's there?", she asked fearfully into the dark.

No answer.

The sounds came closer. Then she saw a silhouette. It belonged to a man.

„Hello? Please say something!"

No answer.

Suddenly she spotted another silhouette. Another silent silhouette.

„Please! Stop terrifying me!"

No answer.

A third silhouette appeared. Now Betty was surrounded by three scary figures who slowly and silently walked towards her. They encircled her as if she was their prey. Did they carry sticks in their hands?

„Ah!", Betty suddenly cried. Her heart almost stopped beating. „No, this can't be true! This must be a nightmare!" But there was denying it: All these figures wore black hoods.