Light In The Dark - Riverdale AU

Chapter 39; The Purgatorial Ruse.

The endless dark void suddenly filled with light as there was hope of escape from TBK's grasp. The danger still wasn't at dismiss and maybe it wasn't the light of freedom at all. The golden light rays of the sun sent streaks throughout the shaft possibly illuminating danger on the horizon. Archie, Betty and Polly were still in the belly of the beast and Reggie had just impersonated his boss, which could very easily create havoc if the truth is revealed.

TBK nodded. "We're clear."

Reggie looked over at Archie, Betty and Polly waiting for them to be freed.

TBK handed the keys to Reggie who then threw them over to Betty. Once the three of them were freed, Archie woke up.

"Arch!" Betty shouted with relief as Archie's eyes opened.

Archie exhaled with relief. "Betty!" He shouted pulling her into a tight hug. As he glanced over her shoulder he noticed TBK.

Archie and Betty helped each other up. "What the hell is this?" Archie yelled angrily, not understanding the dangers of TBK. "Reg-"

Betty rested a hand on Archie's shoulder to ensure she had his attention. "Mr Lodge found us. We're getting out of here." She interrupted softly leaning into Archie's ear."Say nothing." She whispered.

"Move it! Now please!" Reggie shouted, guiding them to the exit.

A strange echo filled the shaft, almost the sound of an old burner phone, until finally someone picked it up. "I told you, we're only meeting in person from now on." Hiram shouted through the phone.

Reggie twisted around. "Leave a message at the tone?" He blurted out.

Reggie looked around at everyone. "Run!"

The mineshaft was almost like a maze, twists and turns of fate. One way could make you meet your untimely demise, and another way possibly guiding you to the surface. The sound of a chainsaw motor starting up followed behind them as their paces became slower and more fatigued, while TBK's became more quicker and faster. Betty's breathing become increasingly unsteady, underlining out of sync with her rapid heart beats. She was re-living a horrible memory that she'd buried a long time ago. There was no time to stop, slow down. The chainsaw roared around every corner as the four sprinted along the tracks. Until finally, a ladder appeared before them tracing rays of sunlight along their faces.

Reggie sped up the ladder followed by Archie, Betty, then Polly. Just as Betty began to reach the surface once again, she reached out for Polly's hands to pull her up. They both flashed a quick smile at eachother knowing that everything was going to be okay. Just for a second the chainsaw sounds grew louder as they sliced through something, until nothing. The world grew silent and grey. Still partially inside the mine shaft, Polly's expressions turned pale, unexpressive. It was like she was already gone.

"Polly? What's wrong!? We've got to keep moving!" Betty screamed exhaustively from the surface, yanking with her grip to pull her up as Archie joined. Betty felt her strength become overcome by another force as the life gently drained from Polly's eyes. Betty could see the truth before her, but refused to believe the sight. Everything fell into slow motion and all sounds around Betty were deafened.

Betty grew into a fit of rage, almost as if she blacked out releasing Polly's disfigured body from her grasp. She took a few short steps back before TBK was at eye level with her. Betty could feel Archie tugging at her sleeve forcing her to move away. Betty shoved herself away and emerged closer cocking her gun. "I'm not afraid of you!" Betty shouted as all the heat rose to her cheeks. "You killed my sister!" She shuttered, agitatively moving her around. "Now it's your turn to pay."