"No!" I scream, eyes fixated on the knife as it sinks into Betty's chest, right into her heart. Her mouth opens in a silent cry of agony, and for a horrifying second she's still standing, held up by the blade gripped in Venom's red-stained fingers.
Her beautiful eyes lock onto mine, and I can't breathe. The love she usually looks at me with is gone, replaced by anger and hatred. I'm just standing there, feet stuck in place, just helplessly watching this all happen.
"This is all your fault, Jug," she gasps out, blood dripping from her lips, before she slumps to the ground. Unmoving. A pool of red surrounding her limp body, staining her blonde hair.
"No -" I'm hyperventilating, the world swimming around me as I let out another wordless scream. "Betty -"
My eyes open suddenly, instantly squinting against the harsh light from the uncovered bulb above me. I can't focus on anything. I can't breathe.
"Betty -" I peer around the room through the tears, trying to find her. I have to tell her I'm sorry, that I love her - I have to hold her -
But I'm alone.
"Betty!" My choked cry echoes in the small room as I strain my neck to check behind my chair.
She's not here.
The only blood on the ground is my own, dark and dried on the cement floor. I'm in the same spot I was before - tied to this damn chair in the middle of the room.
It was a dream. It wasn't real.
The realization should bring more relief than it does, but my heart is still hammering in my chest. My sweaty skin sticks to the metal chair. Everything was so vivid, but it wasn't real. It wasn't real. Betty is okay.
No, she's not okay. The voice in my head reminds me harshly. And it's my fault.
Betty is locked in another room, hurt and scared and alone. They violated her, all because of me, and I couldn't do anything to stop them. No. I could have done something. I could have taken the pain and let Venom stab me to death. It would have been better than letting them hurt Betty.
Another sob rises in my throat, racking my exhausted body.
I'm broken. I have been ever since they brought Betty here. Before that I held on to a foolish hope that I'd get out of here. That hope died the moment I saw her in this hell-hole.
But Betty...No, I won't let myself believe they've broken her. That feels wrong; disrespectful. They abused her, but she's not broken. Betty is stronger than that - stronger than me. She always has been.
I hope I get to see her one last time before they kill me, so I can tell her I'm sorry. I love her and I'm so, so sorry.
The door opens then, and I have to force myself not to let out another desperate sob, sucking in a deep breath to cover it. I'm so damn tired, but I won't let them see how much they've broken me. I'll die with some amount of dignity. I'll make my dad proud for once.
Venom enters with headphones in, attached to a phone in his hand. I suck in a deep breath, trying to steal myself for the pain I know is coming.
"You know, FP, I think you should hear from Jughead how he's doing. Why take my word for it, right?" He says causally to the person on the other end of the call, smirking as my shoulders tense. "Who said I'm going to hurt him? We're just having a nice conversation, aren't we?"
My mouth is dry as I watch the man walk further into the room. Cruncher follows close behind, letting the door slam shut behind him.
If dad called, it must be because he saw the video. The thought makes my stomach curl, shame making my chest feel tight. He saw how weak I am and heard how I failed Betty.
"Say hi, Jughead," Venom sneers, angling the phone towards me. I hesitate, although I'm not really sure why. What am I supposed to say? My eyes flick uncertainty from the phone to the gang leader, who lets out a low chuckle. "Suddenly shy, huh?'
I don't have time to react before the man's hand is harshly yanking my head backwards, forced to look up at him as he towers above me.
Venom chuckles again, seemingly at something being said on the other end of the call. I can't hear anything dad is saying with those damn headphones in. My fingers twitch from where they are still bound behind me, wishing I could yank them out and hear my dad's voice.
"I want to talk to my dad," I finally say, voice raspy from days of screaming and lack of water.
"You are," Venom replies cooly. "He can hear you. Can't you, FP?"
"You know what I mean, you son of a bitch," I growl, glaring up at him.
The harsh slap to the face stings even if it was anticipated. "I'd be very careful how you talk to me, boy."
"What do you want from me?" I snap, anger making me feel bolder than I probably should. "What the hell do you expect me to say?"
"I don't want anything from you, kid," Venom sneers, shaking his head as if it were obvious. "It's your father who we are impatiently waiting on."
"You told me he already confessed -"
"That's not enough," Venom cuts me off, clearly irritated by my outburst. "The boss wants names of every Serpent involved in Jason Blossom's murder. We made that very clear from the beginning. We said that you'd pay the price if FP refused, and yet he's still been stalling. Haven't you, FP?" I furrow my brows as dad says something on the other end, whatever it is clearly agitating Venom further. "That video we sent wasn't enough for you to rat out your men, even for your own kid? That's cold, even for a deadbeat father like yourself."
A knot forms in my throat. I honestly hadn't even thought about it that way. Turning in Serpents was one of the demands from the beginning, and while dad did confess for himself, has he really not given one name to the police?
It feels selfish and wrong to want Serpents sent to prison for a murder they didn't commit...But I know some of them are actual felons, and I'm just a kid. The worst I've ever done is some shoplifting and fights at school. He would protect known criminals over his own son?
A sudden feeling of horrified betrayal washes over me, and it must be visible because Venom and Cruncher let out harsh barks of laughter.
"You should see his face," Venom sneers down at me. "He just now realized you left him here to die."
I look away quickly, blinking in an attempt to set my head straight. My dad wouldn't do that. He wouldn't give up on me like that.
Right?
Venom's face twists in anger at something my dad is saying - my best guess is that it's some kind of threat - and before I can react his hand is wrapped around my neck, squeezing harshly and cutting off my air. I strain against the ropes in an attempt to break free, but there's no give.
"I am not a patient man," Venom growls into the phone, fingers digging tighter into my throat until a choked gagging sound escapes. "We've given you plenty of time and too many chances. Penelope said to give you one more day. Honestly I think that's being too generous, so you should be grateful."
My vision goes fully black just as he lets go. Air rushes back into my abused lungs, sending me into a violent coughing fit, clogging my throat so much that I can't breathe again. The realization only heightens the panic I was already feeling. My mind can't focus as I attempt to heave air in - Venom is saying something, but his voice feels distant.
I can't form a clear thought - all I know is I can't breathe and I think I'm dying.
Venom is snapping his fingers in my face, but I just shake my head, letting out a sound mixed between a cough and a sob. Every time I try to breathe, it's like it gets stuck in my chest. A wave of lightheadedness washes over me.
"Snap out of it, kid!" Venom shouts, landing a harsh slap against my cheek. "Unless you want us to go visit Betty, instead?"
The threat cuts through the growing haze, a stuttering breath finally escaping my mouth. I force myself to take another one, clenching my eyes shut as I manage another, this time through my nose. A couple painful coughs follow, but I tamp down the panic this time, taking three more shallow breaths.
"Cool it!" Venom snaps, and I'm idly aware that he's talking to my dad, now. I keep my eyes closed, not ready to look at anyone yet. I have to get myself under control - for Betty's sake. "He's fine. Aren't you, Jughead?"
My whole body trembles with the effort of my next breath, this one deeper. My heart still pounds in my chest, but a bit slower than it was a second ago. Venom slaps me again, and something like a growl mixes with my next hitched breath. Finally opening my eyes, I glower up at him.
"Just peachy."
Venom pauses to listen to dad say something, his mouth pulling up in a sneer. "I don't believe you for a moment. What's changed now, huh?" The look of disgust shifts to a sinister smile as he stares down at me. "No, you clearly need more convincing," the man continues, suddenly turning and walking towards the door.
"W - Hey!" I call after him, straining against my bonds, heart hammering wildly in my chest. "Where are you going? This is between us, alright? Leave Betty alone - She doesn't deserve this - You can get your point across with me, ok? You can...You can hit me all you want,, stab me, I don't care - I'll do whatever you want, ok? Just...Just don't hurt Betty."
A long moment of silence passes, Venom's back still facing me from his spot stopped in front of the door.
"You hear that?" The sick man speaks smugly into the phone. "He'll let me do whatever we want to him. 'Just don't hurt Betty'..." My lip curls in disgust as he lets out a harsh chuckle. "It's funny, isn't it? You left him here, and all he cares about is a selfish, insolent little bitch."
I don't know what dad says back, and don't even get to hear what else Venom might be saying, as the man leaves the room, letting the heavy door slam behind him.
"What's he doing?" I ask frantically, twisting in my seat to look to Cruncher, who is leaning casually against the wall. "Where is he going?"
The burly man shrugs casually, although the look on his face is gleeful. "How am I supposed to know? Probably visiting your little slut down the hall."
"No -" My heart thuds ten times harder at the comment, an idle part of my mind wondering if I'm about to have a heart attack. "Bring him back! Cruncher -" I falter, feeling so, so stupid for thinking this man, of all people here, might ever actually help me. "Please."
The Scorpion barks out a laugh at my plea, crossing to stand in front of the chair. "No more snide remarks now, huh kid?" He chuckles, looking down at me like I'm a bug he'd like to step on. I don't meet his eyes. "I thought you said you were going to kill me. Where'd that stupid courage go? Look at you now. Pathetic." I flinch slightly as specks of spit land on my face from the insult. "You want me to go tell him not to hurt your girlfriend?"
I glance up at him quickly, a tiny bit of hope bubbling in my chest. "Yes."
"Beg."
Indignant anger rises in my chest, and I know it must be clearly written on my face. Cruncher shrugs nonchalantly, although there's a gleeful twinkle in his eye. "Have it your way. Guess I'll go see how Venom is doing. Maybe he'll let me have a turn with her when he's done, eh?"
"Please," I grind out, pushing my pride down as I look up at him imploringly. "Please, I'll do anything." The man seems unimpressed by my begging, and I continue on before he can turn away. Desperation claws at my chest as my voice rises. "What else am I supposed to say? How am I supposed to get more pathetic than I already am?!"
The door opens again before Cruncher can respond, and a huge wave of relief washes over me as Venom walks in. There's no way he could have done anything to Betty in the short time he was gone, right? He must have been bluffing to rile me up.
He's carrying something new this time, but my view of the object is blocked by Cruncher, whose face stretches out into the widest, sickest grin yet.
"You wanted to know how you could get more pathetic, kid - this is it."
Agh guys I don't know why the writer's block hit me so hard with this chapter! I really had plans to update this sooner but just could not pin-point exactly how I wanted to handle this chapter. And it's soo hard for me to resist leaving off on a cliffhanger. I think it's a problem at this point LOL sorry (or am I?)
As always, would love to hear what you all are thinking of this chapter and this story going forward! What do you think Venom has planned for Jughead now? Thank you all for the lovely support 3