Hello all! This is a companion piece to my Sweet Pea x Betty zombie story called 'Playlist for the Apocalypse'. If that couple isn't your thing, you do not have to read that story to read this story. They CAN be read separately, but it's more fun if you do because there will be hints/easter eggs in this story that come from that story. So if you were going to read it, read that one first (it's still being updated), and then come and read this one.

If you still don't want to, like I said, totally fine. What you need to know then is that this story is set in the 'Walking Dead' universe (but don't think too much about the timeline, but hey, this is Riverdale. We don't worry about timelines anyway). What that means is that the characters don't know what zombies are and the rules of that universe are at play here. Because of my obsession with The Walking Dead and AUs, I started this story at the same time I started a 100! AU that I've never posted. However, you may see a character or two from The 100 pop up here!

If you read PFTA you know that each chapter title of that story is a name of a song that could be on an apocalypse playlist. This story is similar in that the name of the story and all the chapter titles come from one sorta apocalyptic song that I just loved so much it had to have an entire story of its own. That song is 'I Know the End' by Pheobe Bridges. Go take a listen if you haven't.

Other than that, this takes place at the end of Season 2 after Archie has been arrested. Everything else will be revealed in due time. Read on and enjoy!

May 11th, 2018

"Do you want me to talk about me - distract- or do you want to talk about you?" Betty asked, and from her tone, Veronica can tell it was the second time she's asked.

"Console, you mean," Veronica whispered, sitting rigidly on the bed, facing forward, trying to unravel a riddle with no answer.

"Yeah."

Veronica didn't answer. She didn't know. She didn't think she would until Betty starts.

"Well," Betty inhaled, "Jughead asked me to be his Serpent Queen."

Veronica turned back toward her best friend. She watched how Betty bit her lip, holding in something like excitement, and how Betty's eyes shined. A very, very, very long time from this moment here, Veronica will stand and remember this moment. But they are eons away from that moment; from when they'll be different people, entirely changed by a world too cruel for either of them, yet, they've still survived it.

"And that means…?" Veronica asked, at that moment in time. Veronica has tried to stay clear of much of the Serpents. She knew that Jughead had fallen into them, and brought many new faces with him. She knew that Betty had integrated herself as part of the community, but frankly, the specifics are fuzzy on what this question is. Is it akin to a promise ring, but one that comes with thugs, drugs, and violence?

"I think it means…" Betty trailed off. Veronica tried not to let the twinge of a smile appear. Yeah, even Betty wasn't sure, "Jughead just really opened up, though. It's a big step."

Veronica didn't doubt that.

At that moment, she knew what she needed.

Betty did too. She reached forward for tissues even before it began. Veronica's eyes filled with tears as she thought about all the amazing things she thought she'd be doing with Archie this summer. Just like that, poof, it seemed those were all gone.

It has only been a few hours, but Veronica missed Archie. And is she is already mourning.

"Oh, god, V…" Betty shook her head, "I'm so stupid."

"No, no," Veronica reached for her tissue box. She hated how much her hand was trembling, "I thought I was okay."

Betty's jaw clenched. She knew this wasn't true and Veronica knew it too. She wouldn't have asked Betty to stay here with her tonight if not. Veronica knew that Jughead was setting himself up outside the Police Station, or attempting to. Keller says that Archie can't see anyone until he's been processed, which won't be until tomorrow morning. Veronica would be screaming outside the police station too if she thought it would help. She knows it won't.

Veronica clambered for the remote. Just to turn something on in the background, anything, as white noise while she tries to make sense of this.

"What can I do?" Betty asked.

"Go downstairs and get food. I can't bear to see my mom or dad right now," Veronica choked out. She was not hungry, but she knew she should eat.

Betty leaped up, nearly tripping over the blankets to fulfill Veronica's request.

The TV in the background was on a news station.

"And there have been strange reports of unwell people taking to the streets in New York City; acting very strange. Hospitals are overwhelmed with cases of biting, strange fevers, and-,"

Veronica heard none of it.

She will argue later that, to her, there seemed like much more pressing things. Like her boyfriend being accused of murder.

But even if she had been watching the national news, or if anyone in Riverdale hadn't been glued to their TVs to hear news about the Golden-Boy-Turned-Murderer, would it have made a difference?

The timing, though.

Veronica wonders about the timing often.

By the time Betty reappeared with some sandwiches it's clear Betty had made them herself and not with any of her parent's help, the news station was talking about a drug trial for something or other. Betty made a face and clicked through the channels until she found The Office.

"Much better, huh?" She nudged Veronica, "Eat." She said, refusing to take a bite until Veronica took her few bites. It tasted like cardboard.

"We will figure this out. We have to."

Veronica knew that Betty was already likely making lists in her head of who to contact, what laws to double-check, how to motivate the students at Riverdale High to protest for their once-future student body president…and usually, Veronica would be right there with her.

But tonight, Veronica wanted to go and shake the bars of the jail and scream at the top of her lungs.

Which would help no one.

She remembered a quick glimpse of her father as they hauled Archie away. A ghost that was not supposed to be there. A self-satisfied smirk.

That smirk was on replay in her head.

On her vanity is a perfume bottle her father gave her for her 11th birthday. Very expensive and rare.

Veronica stood up suddenly and before Betty could make a squawk of surprise, Veronica hurled it at the wall.

"Fuck you!" She shouted. She hoped her father would hear.

Now that she's found her outlet, she couldn't stop. Betty watched, startled like a deer in headlights, as Veronica threw half of her room at the walls and just screamed.

Maybe Betty thought it was therapeutic. It did make Veronica feel better, but only for a second.

As she came down from her explosion of emotion, she felt an emptiness, the loneliness of Archie being gone that was stronger than ever before. And anger; white-hot anger towards her family. There was also a small tingling of frustration at the pile of shattered goods on her floor. Someone will have to clean that up. Many of those things were close to priceless. It would have been a bigger middle finger to her father to donate them to some very poor people, or to Archie's lawyer fees. Shattered necklaces and half-empty perfume bottles have no value.

"It's my father, I just know it. I just know it and I feel so helpless," Veronica felt her legs collapse out from under her and she slumped like a puddle to the floor. She looked up to see Betty's face frantic; something about Veronica's attitude was freaking Betty out, but she did not have the energy to figure out why.

Veronica crawled over to where the pile of items are, unsure what she was trying to grab. Whatever it is, she did not manage and just cut herself in the process. Veronica stared at the welling blood, sniffling, feeling so young and helpless. She knew you were supposed to feel helpless at this age, but you're also not supposed to be dealing with shit like this.

"Veronica, Vee…" Betty's voice was soft. "Hey, leave it for now. Mayor McCoy is going to do all she can for him, right? And his mom is coming down tomorrow, so there's that. He can't go through this. There's nothing, okay?"

Veronica crawled onto the bed. She had never liked people touching her, but when Betty pulled her next to her and started petting her hair, Veronica let her. Her shoulders were shaking and she just couldn't stop. It's like the fear has chilled her heart and it threatens to never let it go. She knew the certainty in Betty's voice is manufactured, but she closed her eyes and pretended it was real.

"Let's go to bed; in the morning, it will all be better."

Betty clicked off the light and pulled the blanket over the both of them.

Impossibly to Veronica, Betty fell asleep.

Veronica did not.

Veronica stayed awake for what she was sure was the entire night.

May 12th, 2018

Morning came through the blinds and spilled light onto the carpet and the end of the bed. Veronica was sure she hadn't slept more than a few moments here and there. It wasn't her choice; whenever she closed her eyes, she saw the fear on Archie's face as he was led out of the gym. She was sure he wasn't sleeping right now, scared to death in that jail cell, so hell, what right does Veronica have to sleep?

If Veronica wanted to see Archie, she should go now. Before her father stops her.

Veronica considered waking Betty. Betty would be upset that she wasn't invited to go too; she loves Archie just as dearly but in an entirely platonic way.

She doesn't not invite Betty out of unkindness. Rather, Veronica felt like she has undergone a transformation. As of today, Veronica is an adult. She is no longer a child.

She knew the moment Betty woke up to this world, a world where friends were arrested and you realized that your choices and ability to help were slim, she too would be an adult.

Veronica, kindly, didn't want to force that upon her early.

Everyone in Riverdale will grow up too fast today, of circumstances that no one saw coming. But she is not to that point yet.

It was maybe 6 am, perhaps earlier. Veronica stared at her ashen face in the mirror, at her ratty hair, at her makeup making dried riverbeds on her face, and the bags that lived under her eyes. She considered doing her make-up, to show Archie that she had not broken, but her hand rattled so much that she oped to just clean her face until she looked somewhat well-rested.

She chose dark colors, not dissimilar to what she might wear if he died. It was pair of black jeans and a black tee-shirt. She cannot summon the usual thrill that fashion brought her before, feeling ill as she tugged her clothes on.

The last thing she does is jot Betty a quick note and post it on her mirror hanging on her bedroom door, sure that Betty would awaken and find her in a few hours.

B, gone to the prison! Join me when you wake up. Have faith; we'll survive this. Love, V.

Veronica wondered if her little encouragement at the end was a bit too much. She also had a feeling Betty will realize it was more for Veronica's sake, to convince herself than it is for Betty.

The entire house was silent as she crept away.

She walked all the way there. The town had not yet yawned and lifted itself from sleep. Only the cafe is starting to open its doors, but in such a small town, even the coffee shops didn't open for another hour.

Except for the jail; crime never sleeps, isn't that the expression? Someone was always there, at the police station, because it seemed Riverdale has added quite the collection of evil-doers since Veronica arrived here. Betty talked about it once; saying how once, there were so few people being arrested in Riverdale that the jail cells were borrowed out as livestock pens.

It sounded like a town urban legend, but then again, she felt as soon as her father touched his hand on the town, evil began to seep everywhere, infect everything.

By the time Veronica arrived at the Police Station, she expected to be the first person there, sans maybe Jughead.

It took a moment to recognize the flop of black hair frantically pounding on the glass front of the station. It had been a year since she last saw this person, and she had never been very close to him from the start.

"Joaquin?" She squinted. She thought she recalled Kevin telling her that he'd hopped a bus out of town. Of course, people can hop back on buses, but it's still strange.

"Ver…oni…ica…" The name was drawn slowly out of Joaquin too, as he furrowed his brow and stared at her.

"What are you doing here at this hour?" She asked with her arms crossed, "Are you filling in for Jughead?"

Joaquin blinked, "What?" Then, he shook his head frantically, "No, no, I'm looking for Kevin! The world's gone mad. The world's gone." Veronica felt a shiver run down her spine at those words.

A second later, Sheriff Keller opened the door.

"Morning, Lodge. I should have known," He said with a weary sigh. His gaze slid to the other person, "Joaquin?" He sounded entirely shocked to see the other teen at the door front.

"Is Jughead around?" Veronica breezed inside, and she expected to see his hat-wearing head slouched in a chair somewhere, napping away.

"I sent him home around 3 A.M. That boy needed sleep. Threatened public loitering charges," Keller replied with a sad, almost knowing smile, "I'm sure he'll be back. Now you, son-,"

"Is Kevin here? He's not at home," Joaquin interrupted, "Sir, this is very important. It's the end of times. I came from Greendale and everyone there is dead and-,"

"What are you on, boy?" Keller demanded, his kind expression growing stern and furious.

"Nothing! I swear it!" Joaquin ground his teeth, fists in balls, "Where is Kevin? Sir, just turn on the radio, or the news, or-,"

Veronica slipped past the pair of arguing men, knowing where the jail cells were already.

"Archie."

Her heart leaped as Archie startled, looking like he'd gotten no more sleep than she had.

"Veronica, you're here," He whispered reverently. He came and laced his fingers in hers, and they just barely touched foreheads through the bar cells.

"I didn't-,"

"Shh," Veronica shook her head, "I don't care. I know, I know. It's my father, of course, it's him," Veronica whispered in a shaking breathe, "I'll get you out of here. Me, Betty, Jughead…none of us will rest, you know that right?"

"Oh, how moving."

Veronica snapped around to see Hal Cooper pacing in the other jail cell. In the swiftness of everything happening, she had forgotten it had only been a couple of days since apprehending Betty's father as a mass murderer. Archie reached, as though trying to shield Veronica from him, even from where he stood.

"Ignore him," Archie whispered, "He's been baiting me all night. No use, of course."

Joaquin came through the door and Keller followed a second after, not leaving much more time to talk.

"Veronica, you can't just-," Keller made an annoyed sound in the back of his throat, shaking his head, "There are rules to visitation."

"Let them out! They're coming, sir," Joaquin insisted vehemently, "They'll be sitting ducks in there!"

"Who? Who is coming?" Hal demanded, jumping on the opportunity.

"This boy here has an over-active imagination, it seems," Keller sent him a heated glare, "And we'll be booking him in a moment for illegal drug use."

"I'm not on anything!" Joaquin insisted again, jerking his arm away. Veronica felt like she was pretty good at reading people. When she looked at Joaquin, she saw true fear behind his eyes. Even if he was high, whatever he was seeing, he was genuinely afraid of it.

Something clanged about in the front of the station. Everyone froze, maybe a little freaked out by Joaquin's words, even if people like Keller didn't want to admit it.

It sounded like a bull shouldering through a china shop.

"Just one second," Keller said, his eyes narrowed into thin slits, "Probably some town trouble makers. Damn Ghoulies or something," He muttered under his breath, "I'll handle this. You; stay here," He pointed to Joaquin, "And you," He pointed to Veronica, "Once I return, we'll do this properly, ya'hear?"

Veronica nodded glumly, her fingers tightening in Archie's. She wanted to scream and defy Keller, but she had to do this right if any of them wanted a chance.

Keller crept out to the front of, hand on his holster.

His words were difficult to make out back here, but there was some yelling and sharp commands thrown, a confrontation with someone.

Then, everyone felt the hair rise on the back of their neck as Tom Keller screamed.

Tell me which characters you're most interested in finding out what happened to 'em! We'll cover quite a few in this story, but I want to ensure I'm not missing anyone.

I'm making references to Betty surviving because we know because of my other story that she does survive. She's not an 'I wonder if'. Betty and Sweet Pea survive the apocalypse.

Also! The PFTA is VERY long and this one is shorter. The PFTA covers more of the in-between, this one will eventually go over 'best hits', sometimes skipping months in the timeline for these survivors.

If you're here because you love PFTA, welcome!

If you're here just because you like Varchie, I hope I can do this justice.

I plan on updating every two weeks. The next update will come around May 26th- likely a bit early, because I will be enjoying Memorial Day weekend in the days following.