The Only Beanie - Book 4 (Riverdale Season 4/5)

Hereditary - Part 2

Music played all around El Royale as the teens mingled, playing the games and eating the catering from Pop's.

"I swear, the amount you eat is disgusting," Aminity said as she watched Sweet Pea go through another burger as she worked on her fries.

"Hey, it's nothing close to what your brother eats." She could only shrug, smiling as Archie came over and put a hand on her shoulder.

"Archie, Archie," Reggie called urgently as he pushed through the teens. "There's some guy named Dodger outside who wants to see you." Archie looked at Veronica and then at Aminity.

"Alright, let me see what this clown wants. Reg, make sure everyone stays inside."

"I'm going with you."

"No," he told her.

"You're not going out there alone," Aminity continued to argue and he took in a large breath.

"Fine. But you stay behind me."

"Fine."

"Aminity," Sweet Pea caught her hand as she started to walk out.

"I'll be fine," she assured him, pulling her hand gently out of his and following Archie.

"What the hell did I tell you last time, Dodger?" Archie asked as they walked outside to see Dodger and some of his friends. "You're not welcome here."

"And you needed backup from a little girl to tell me that again?"

"She's a lot tougher than she looks."

He hummed. "You're costing me my workforce."

"They're kids."

"They're happy to work for me." He looked at the crowbar that hung loosely from his fingers. "Or they were. Until you showed up," he came closer. Archie glanced back at Aminity and she reached into her pocket, trying to grab her switchblade before coming up empty. She let out a grimace as she realized she had left it at home because of Archie's no weapons rule.

"Alright, what do you want? Huh?" Archie demanded. "You wanna fight me?"

"Sure. But don't you need to put your mask on first?"

He scoffed. "Wha- What are- What are you talking about?"

"See, I told you," he called back to his friends. "I told you he's that guy in the mask. The one making trouble for us. Aren't you?"

"I don't know what you're talking about?"

"I think you do," Dodger told him as he came closer. "I think you know exactly what I'm talking about." He laid the crowbar on Archie's shoulder and he pushed it off as Aminity stepped closer, Veronica, Reggie, Munroe, Sweet Pea, and the rest of the Bulldogs coming outside.

"Cops are on their way, asshat," Veronica told him. Dodger's friends came closer.

"No need for them to come," Dodger told her. "I got the confirmation I need." He whistles before they started to walk away. "I'll be seeing you friend."

***

"What was Dodger talking about?" Aminity asked as she and Archie cleaned up the gym, everyone else having gone home. "The guy in the mask?"

"I... I don't know."

"Yeah, well... I don't believe you." He looked up to find her already looking at him. "Archie, what's going on?"

He licked his lips before letting out a sigh. "I thought... I thought I could help the kids around here more."

"So you go out at night, with a mask, and try to defend the people? What are you, Batman?"

"No, I'm just trying to help."

"By putting yourself in danger?"

"Aminity-"

"Archie, I'm not gonna tell anyone, but I want you to stop. This," she motioned to the gym, "is dangerous enough. Being a vigilante-"

"I'm not a vigilante."

"You said the same thing about the Red Circle."

He sighed, sitting down and running a hand over his face. "I thought we had moved past that."

"We have. But you're falling into patterns, Archie. Dangerous patterns. I just don't want to see you hurt." She sighed. "I know I can tell you to stop and you won't. Just... be careful. Don't be stupid. And please... Please, stop."

***

"Look at this," Jughead smiled as he walked in, dropping the book on Aminity's desk and making her look up from her homework.

"What?"

"Just read it."

She sighed before skimming through the text. "This sounds like the author of the first Baxter Brothers book."

"And guess who wrote it."

"Frosty Pajamas?" she read, looking up at him.

"Which is..."

"Our grandpa," she realized. "It's close enough to Forsythe. Plus PJ's could be-"

"Pendleton Jones. And look at the date. It was written before the first Baxter Brothers book was published. It even uses the same character name. That enough proof for you?"

She nodded, leaning back in her seat. "You and your theories. Sometimes, I swear your psychic."

Next two chapters are going to very exciting!