Jughead's P.O.V.

Jughead's fist clenched by his side as he wondered where Betty was. He hadn't seen his girlfriend in months – five, long, arduous months – and he was hitting his wall. He needed to know where she was because she had already endured the actual traumatic part for five months too long. It should have never happened to her in the first place; it should never have happened to anyone but especially her. He was livid. Jughead was simply having his insides lit with fire at the thought of Betty not being where she was supposed to be; where she was safe.

Sweet Pea walked up to him just then, garnering his attention, and Jughead looked at him. He had sent him on a sweep of Sweetwater River while Jughead stayed behind to see if anymore deliveries would be made to him. "Anything?"

"Found her charm bracelet," Sweet Pea muttered, dropping the bracelet itself into Jughead's outstretched, waiting hand.

His breath caught in the back of his throat and he snarled. "The crown has blood on it." His voice was nothing more than a vehement his because he was so goddamned tired of the fact that whoever this creep was, he was always one step ahead of Jughead. Jughead just wanted Betty back, safe and sound, and finally able to start the healing process. Jughead didn't know who had her or what they wanted but he would make damn fucking sure he would find out. And then when he did, he would pulverize whoever it was.

"I know," Sweet Pea sighed. "But it doesn't look fresh so I don't think this is from the last day or so."

"That doesn't matter, Sweet Pea," Jughead hissed. "Its still her blood. We know Betty is being hurt regularly with this guy and I want his fucking head on a stick, understand?"

"Understand, boss," came the reply and Jughead nodded. There was work to be done.

XXX

Jughead called his dad, who had been busy holding a meeting at the Wyrm for some of the older Serpents. The high schoolers weren't needed for that and that was honestly a relief for Jughead. He didn't have time to be sitting in on meetings; not when Betty was still out there somewhere, hurt and needing him. He'd be damned before he let her down. Again.

FP answered the phone. "Hey, Jug."

"I'm doing a search of the woods down by Sweetwater River," he said, no greeting. "Sweet Pea has already been down there and he found a bracelet that I gave Betty last year. It had blood on it and I'm not telling Alice."

FP heaved a sigh. "Shit. Whoever the hell this prick is, he'll pay."

Jughead knew his father meant every word; that FP cherished his son's girlfriend because she was already so much like a daughter to him. Jughead appreciated the words he spoke. "Thanks, dad. I don't want to tell Alice because I don't think she can handle it."

"I'll take care of Alice," FP said, and Jughead knew his dad meant it.

"Thanks," he sighed in relief. Just then, there was a knock at his trailer door. "Someone is here, dad. I'll talk to you later." They got off the phone and Jughead made his way to his trailer door, opening it the next moment and frowning. No one was there but when he stepped a little further outside to take a look around, his foot came into contact with something and he looked down. There was a manila envelope sitting on his step and he stared back around him, trying to see if anyone was lurking in the shadows. Whoever delivered it must have ran off the next moment and he was feeling queasy.

Going to pick up the envelope, he felt the contents and deduced it felt like a video of some sort. He walked into his trailer, called Sweet Pea and Joaquin, who both promised to be there soon, with Sweet Pea saying he'd call Toni, and then he waited. Within minutes, he was answering the door for a second time when there was another knock. Toni walked into his trailer; eyebrows frowned in concern. "What the fuck are we dealing with, Jughead?"

Jughead shook his head because he didn't know and that gutted him. "I'm not sure, T. Someone has Betty – has had her for the past five months – and is fucking with me by sending pictures of her, tied and beaten."

Toni nodded her head. "I'm assuming we don't know who the dick is?"

"If we did, he'd be dead by now," Sweet Pea intoned flatly.

Jughead nodded his head. "He's going to be dead one way or the other. I'm making damn fucking sure of it."

"I know you are, Jug," Joaquin said, and then he sat down, crossing his legs as a look of deep contemplation took over his features. "We need to figure out wherever this dickwad is keeping Betty. We need to search more thoroughly."

"I'm doing a search of Sweetwater River today and I want you all to come with me," Jughead said firmly.

"We'll be there," Sweet Pea said, speaking for all of them but everyone else hummed their agreements. Jughead was pleased his men and woman were taking this seriously. He needed to get Betty back sooner rather than later.

XXX

Betty's P.O.V.

Betty Cooper struggled against her bonds. She was tired, sore, and pissed off. She wasn't scared – the guy hadn't killed her yet – but she was pissed off. She had been sitting, tied to this fucking chair, for the past five months. Sure, the man had moved her each time but she didn't know where she was moved to – and he always made sure to tie her back into the same chair. She was tired and she was pretty certain she had a broken ankle; he had kicked it, hard, the night before and she thought she felt it shatter.

He was violent. And she didn't know who he was and or what he wanted with her. It was too much to bear at times and she was tired. Just then, he walked back into the room she was tied in and looked at her. "I know you must be wondering who I am by now."

"The question has crossed my mind a time or two before," she commented dryly.

He snickered. "You may call me the Black Hood."

She froze in her seat, staring at him with as much contempt as she could muster with one eye sealed closed, thanks to his fist connection with it a couple of days ago. "You're the man who was stalking me? The man who stalked our town?"

The man nodded. "I've been keeping a very close eye on the town as of late and its time to pure it of its sinners."

"What does that mean?" Betty asked carefully. The Black Hood had already tried to pure the town of its sinners, leading Betty on a wild goose chase and people had died. Ms. Grundy and Mr. Svenson both had been murdered and Archie's dad, Fred, had been shot. There was too much pain and bloodshed at the hands of this man and Betty wouldn't stand for it.

"It means I have work to go and do," he said calmly, tone altered by his modulator. "I'll tell Jughead and the rest of the Serpents you say hello." Then he taped her mouth shut again and left the room, leaving Betty to her fears.

Author's note: I didn't even know people still wanted to see this story. I am sorry for the overdue post! Enjoy and thoughts lovely per usual! Xx