Always and Forever

Chapter 20: Tales from the Darkside

I now sat in the student lounge reading the newspaper, it was about a letter taped to the door of Pops shop. It was from the Black Hood and it was chilling. It read:

People of Riverdale, I have rid this town of drug-dealing child-killer and others like him. Now you must choose your fate. The next 48 hours will be a test. And I will be watching very closely. Show me you are pure of heart, and my work ends. Continue to sin and I will take up the sword again.

I put my newspaper down, everyone wore the same frightened look on their face.

"Dani?" Kevin asked as he sat next to me.

"Hm," I sounded looking at him.

"I can teach you how to fight a little bit better," Kevin advised. "But manly just moves I know from the wrestling team."

"You would?" I asked.

"I'm guessing you no longer want to be a badass Cinderella, you want to be more like a badass Merida, but with brown hair," Kevin stated.

"Exactly, I'm glad somebody gets it," I smiled. "But this needs to be kept a secret, the Serpents don't want me learning how to fight better."

"Just meet me in the gym after school," Kevin told me.

"Thanks, Kev," I thanked him. Later that night I was in the gym waiting on Kevin. As I waited I heard the door open, I looked up to see the janitor.

"Hello Mr. Svenson," I greeted.

"Practicing for cheer?" Mr. Svenson asked.

"A little," I answered. "I am also working out with Kevin."

"Well don't work too hard," Mr. Svenson wished me before leaving. Kevin soon came in and set up a punching bag.

"Okay, you need to use your whole body," Kevin advised. "Keep tension in your hips." After an hour or so, we were both extremely sweaty, I check to see that it was late.

"Thank you, Kevin," I asked as we left the gym.

"No word about this to anyone right?" Kevin asked.

"Especially the Serpents," I confirmed. "Especially Sweet Pea, I don't want to face his wrath. If he ever finds out I did this behind his back."

"Not a word out of my mouth," Kevin promised me. "Oh, I know you hear this a lot, but be careful with the Serpents. I dated one and you shouldn't risk going through the same thing."

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The next day I walked to my locker feeling a little sore.

"How are you feeling today?" Kevin asked walking up to me.

"A little sore," I admitted. "But I think the training from last night will pay off."

"Couple more meetups and you should be able to punch a guy to the floor," Kevin laughed.

"Shh," I shushed him.

"The Serpent as all at Southside High, they won't be able to hear a thing," Kevin pointed out.

"Can you meet up tonight?" I asked.

"We are going to take it slow," Kevin advised. "Otherwise the Serpents will see that you are learning how to fight better."

"You are not wrong," I agreed.

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Later that night I was preparing to go check out that house the Jughead wanted me to check out. The house in Fox Forest from the story that the farm guy told me. I heard a knock on my window, I immediately walked over and knocked on it.