Hiram's p.o.v.

I'm smiling like a champion as I stride through Pop's. My plan worked well, better than I expected. The boy will go to prison, where, thanks to my friendship with the warden will be tortured and beaten along with the other prisoners. Not only that, my niece is destroyed, emotionally and mentally.

I stop outside of Annabelle's booth.

I see an untouched plate of chicken strips and fries near her and a half-empty chocolate milkshake.

"Well, well, if it isn't my beautiful niece. You look like someone who just lost her love." I taunt her with a low chuckle.

She looks up at me, her cheeks stained with tears, eyes swollen from crying. She glares at me, which only widens my sadistic grin. "What do you want, uncle?" she snaps tearfully. "Come to gloat?"

I slide into the booth across from her.

"I just came by to tell you Archie's on his way to Juvie right now," I inform, and Annabelle sniffles. I love watching my pathetic niece squirm.

I go on, "I also want to let you know that I'm good friends with the warden there, who assured me that he and the guards will take good care of him," I add with a hint of malice.

The girl shivers as she asks, "What do you mean?"

I chuckle darkly. "Let's just say Archie's in for a rude awakening." I describe the terrible fate that awaits Archie at Juvie in horrific detail.

"Well, since you asked, first, the guards will beat him till he's hardly recognizable as the boy you love before Warden Norton offers him a chance to defend himself by becoming his fighting champion in his underground boxing ring. If he refuses, he'll be sent to solitary confinement with no food or water for weeks on end until he either complies or starves to death, whichever comes first." When he does eventually agree, they'll force him to fight every night until he's about to collapse from pure and utter exhaustion."

As I'm talking, I can picture the guards beating Archie to a bloody pulp as he lies on the cold, hard floor, his ragged, hoarse voice crying out, begging them to stop as they rain down punches and kicks to his crumpled, bruised body. Blood drips from his broken nose and split lips; both his eyes swell shut, and crimson mats and stains on his short, red hair.

Annabelle begins to cry, "No, please! Don't touch him!" She starts to quiver with fear.

"After that, they'll force him to clean every inch of the arena until his hands bleed from scrubbing the floors and walls."

"Please! Don't do this, uncle!" my niece sobs uncontrollably.

I shrug indifferently, "Too late." Annabelle slams her hands on the table loudly, the noise echoing throughout the diner. "Please, I'm begging you! Archie didn't do anything wrong!" she begs, hysterical. I lean in close to her.

"I told you to go home," I sneer, "but you didn't listen. Your boyfriend will pay the price." A wolfish grin etches on my face as I add, "Oh, but don't worry, princess. I'm sure he'll be alive just long enough for you two to say your final goodbye."

I say in a dark tone.

"Why are you doing this, uncle? Is this because you failed to kill me in the fire?" she asks.

I only shrug. "Maybe."

My niece slumps in her booth in tears, hands over her face; she shakes her head, "No, please, don't do this!" I raise an eyebrow, a plan forming in my mind, "However," I start to say, "there is a way to save your lover."

Annabelle uncovers her face and looks up at me, intrigued, "How?" A low chuckle erupts from my throat.

"Join me," is all I say.

"W-What?" she chokes out.

"If you become my apprentice, betray your friends and beloved Archie, I'd be inclined to ensure his safety. If not, well..." I reply smoothly.

"No. I'll never join you. I vowed to protect this town and its citizens and intend to keep it." Annabelle states defiantly.

"Then his precious, innocent blood will be on you, my dear. I'll ask Veronica to lend you something to wear to your boyfriend's memorial service."

With that, I get up from the booth and leave Pop's. Before I go, I lean into my niece's ear and whisper, "If you even think about visiting Archie in that Juvie, he'll be as good as dead already. I' 'll personally make sure of that."

I walk out of Pop's with a broad smile.