Chapter 4
Suddenly the three Black Hoods stopped moving. What were they waiting for?
Betty felt that this was the moment to run away. But fear paralyzed her feet, paralyzed her mind. She couldn't move. She just stared at these faceless creatures around her. Waiting for something to happen.
Then she heard a voice. It came from far away. But still she could understand it. It was calling her name. Betty! Was this the voice that would wake her up from this nightmare? „Please, make me wake up!", she pleaded quietly. But everything seemed so real. And nothing changed. She was still in the middle of this horrible situation.
Betty! The voice became louder.
„Yes! I am here! Come and take me away from here!", Betty answered, still too softly to be heard.
Betty!
Suddenly she noticed that the three black men were moving again. But they didn't move in her direction. No. They were leaving.
Betty!
Then she realized the caller's voice. It was Jughead.
„Jughead! I am here!", she shouted. Now she was hopeful that she would be heard.
„Betty!" The voice became more excited. A moment later she saw her ex-boyfriend running towards her. But he was not alone. She recognized Sweet Pea. Next to him was Joaquin. Jughead had brought his friends from the Southside-Serpents gang to rescue her. She felt incredibly relieved and happy.
„Jughead!"
The girl ran into his arms, which held her close to their owner.
„Oh Betty. I'm so glad that I've found you."
„Not as happy as I am about it", Betty said and kissed him passionately. He returned her caresses. She wished that time could stand still at that moment. But she also knew that in the long run reality couldn't be wiped away. So she stopped the kissing to tell him what had happened.
„You were surrounded by three Black Hoods?", Jughead asked doubtingly. „Then I conclude that we arrived just in time."
„You absolutely did."
„Do you know who these people were, Betty?"
„No. It was too dark. And they didn't say a word. So I can't say anything about them, I'm afraid."
„Don't worry, Betty. We will get them."
The next day everybody assembled in the auditorium of the Riverdale High School. Betty was sitting next to Archie, who beckoned his friend Veronica, who had just entered.
„Veronica! We're here!"
While Betty saw Veronica approaching them, she smiled contentedly because this was a special day. A day that would put an end to the Black Hood Story.
„Hi Archie! Hi Betty!", Veronica greeted her friends. „Do you have an idea why there is this assembly today?"
„Yes", Betty answered. „Jughead wants to tell something important to everybody at this school."
„Could you be more precise, please?", Veronica asked her.
„I could, but I prefer telling you to wait and see."
„Archie?", Veronica said appealingly.
„No, sorry", the boy answered.
„Okay." Veronica sat down and scowled while Betty enjoyed looking at the audience. She saw Mr. Weaterbee who was standing next to some of his teachers. They seemed to have a heated discussion. Then she turned around to see Dilton Doiley. He was sitting next to the other scouts. When their eyes met, she could see his nervousness. Obviously he had a bad conscience.
Finally Jughead appeared. Slowly he went up to the rostrum. Everybody in the huge room became silent because his speech was about to begin. You could feel the tension in the air and almost see all the unanswered questions in the faces of the people. What was he going to say? Would he really talk about Black Hood?
„Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! I'm sure that you wonder why I am here today. Me, the outsider, the serpent. What could I offer you? I will tell you what that is. It's the truth. The truth about Black Hood."
There was a murmur in the auditorium. Jughead waited until it stopped. Then he continued.
„A lot of you doubt that Mr Svenson was the true Black Hood. But today I'm gonna tell you: You're wrong. Mr. Svenson lived and died as Black Hood and nobody else did. You don't have to be afraid that this monster will ever come back. Thank you for your attention."
Then he left the stage and joined his gang. Together they left the auditorium.
Betty stayed seated remembering what had happened that day. Suddenly she saw Dilton standing right in front of her.
„Hey, Betty. I just wanted to repeat how sorry I am for what I did to you. I was really cruel to you. My scouts shouldn't have frightened you so much. Please take into account that everything I did was done out of love."
„I'll try", Betty answered.
„Fine", Dilton said.
Then Betty got up and said. „And now excuse me, Dilton! Jughead is waiting for me."
The end.