Thinking 'Bout You- SP 3 ✔️

Chapter 41- Manhunter Pt1

Were sat in class while sheriff Minetta is going on about how Archie is dangerous
"Archie is a murderer" i scoff earring a glare of the sheriff "we know he didn't escape alone. He had help. Hiding a convict or withholding information from the law is a felony offence. So, whoever's aided and abetted Archie Andrews is just as much as a criminals he is" sherif Minetta walks over to me first "and since your his twin you should know where he is, or did you aid in his disappearance?"
"First off I have no idea where my brother is and second I didn't help him, I was on a date with my boyfriend Sweet Pea. We were at Sweetwater having a pic nic" he then walks over to Reggie
"I was busy all day sheriff. You can check my browser history if you know what I mean"
"Eww" i scrunch my nose at Reggie, why did that have to be his alibi?
"I don't even know this Archie person and on Mondays I host a group for teen farmies. We are still accepting members" the new girl Evelyn tells us
"What about you Miss McCoy" oh god here we go, please be good at lying please be good at lying
"Don't look at me sir. I, uh...." shit "I... I was in the music room practicing"
"Alone? I'll be looking into all of your alibis and if I find out later that someone was involved, well you can say goodbye to this school" I look at Josie who looks freaked out. He leans down on her desk "your hopes, your dreams, your music, your entire future. All of it goes away, just like that" he then looks at me "so again to be clear if you know anything nows the time to tell me
"Sheriff Minetta back off" Cheryl runs over to Josie who is having a seizer at her desk. When it's over Cheryl catches her as she falls
"What just happened?" Fangs says wide eyed
"Cher is she alright?" I asks frowning
"I, I think so"

"Minettas trashing ten city, looking for Archie" Sweet Pea nervously says pacing around in Jugs trailer after school
"We're not giving my brother to him" I say while sitting down on the couch
"That's not what I was saying Rory"
"Alright. I propose a man hunt if our own. Every Serpent searching for Joaquin. I don't want a stone left unturned"
"Serpents don't just shiv other Serpents. What the hell do you think got into him" Sweet Pea angrily says
"Well according to Archie, Joaquin did it for Warden Norton. And when the warden confronted Betty, he called Archie the Red Paladin. Plus the warden poisoned himself  with cyanide and blueberry fresh aid. And he worked for riverdale high before the detention centre"
"What so he could be the murderer not one of our parents?" I frown looking at Jughead
"Maybe, but the question is, was he playing G&G with someone or for someone"
"And since he's dead, Joaquin is the only one who might know" Pea crosses his arms
"Right"
"What if Joaquin isn't alone though?" I question "like what if there's a group of people that we don't know about who are also playing this game?" I stand up, Pea pulls me into him
"That's true. Kevin said he might be rolling with a new gang"
"Those gargoyle creeps you saw?" Fangs now asks
"Exactly and if the gang is working for the king, then they're gonna take us right to him" Jug plans out loud. Fangs and Pea look at each other then me
"Whatever you want me to do I'm in"

The following day Fangs, Pea and I find Joaquin. He's now tied up thanks to the boys
"Get up" Pea tells him holding him by the collar as Jug walks towards us
"Look what we found on him" I get up and give him a gargoyle mask
"So you jump ship for the gargoyle gang?" Jug asks "you've got a lot of explaining to do" Jug crouches down in front of Joaquin "so I'm going to start with why the hell did you shive Archie instead of protecting him like you were supposed to do?"
"The warden said I had no other choice. You have no idea what it's like in there Jug, you would do anything to survive. For me it was being the wardens pawn. A chess piece. In some ways he was a pawn too" I frown looking between all the boys
"What does that mean?" I ask
"I saw him with these game cards that told him what to do. Whoever sent them wants Archie dead. From the moment he was locked up he was already marked" I look at Jug who gets out a pen and draws on his hand
"Marked with what? This symbol?" Jug shows Joaquin "the one warden branded on his hip. What does it mean?"
"No no"
"Pick him up" Jug stands up quickly.
"No no no" Joaquin says grunting as Fangs and Pea pull him onto his feet
"Hey just, just stop" Fangs whispers
"Sacrifice. It means that.... it meant that Archie had to die"
"Oh god" i shakily place my hand over my mouth
"Look I'm sorry I know he's your pal I..."
"Pal? he's my twin Joaquin" I shout while frowning
"Oh also Archie alive" Jug tells Joaquin who looks surprised
"Then he won't be for much longer"
"What do you mean?"
"Who's giving Warden Norton his orders?" Jug asks
"No" he says shaking his head
"Ok" Jug gets out his knife "I dont think you understand Joaquin. I can't let you go until you talk"
"I saw them meet. Once. But you know him Jones the man in the black suit"
"Hiram Lodge?" I look at Jughead who shares the same look as me
"Let him go" Jug tells Fangs and Pea who do as they've been told
"Ok, your going to go now, your not going to tell anyone that you've spoken to us or that you know Archie's alive. Got it?"
"Yeah, yeah" with that Joaquin runs off
"What now?" Fangs sighs watching at Joaquin leaves
"I'm going to go and pay our friend a visit. You three go back to tent city"