Riverdale: A Ghost Town (Male Reader Insert)

Part 1

Fear, it's the most basic, and most human emotion. As kids, we're afraid of everything. The dark....

We're show an flashback of Polly and Betty as little children, Betty looks clearly uneasy in her own bed. "Will you stay in my room tonight, Polly? Please?" Kid Betty begs her sister.

The Boogeyman...

"Mom won't let me, Betty." Potty tells her with a regretful voice. "But I'll turn the nightlight on, okay?" She offers, causing Betty to let out a tiny smile.

And we pray for morning. For the monsters to go away. Though they never do, not really.

We then cut to present day, we see Y/N emotionlessly staring at a picture of the old Thornhill orphanage. Those were better times, times with Y/N and a girl....

Now they're gone.

Another fun fact about fear, sometimes it grows up with you.

Archie currently in his room, searching through his chest. He then accidently pulls out a werewolf mask, one that brings up embarrassing memories. He just tosses it aside and keeps looking.

Eventually though, he finds what he was looking for, the guitar strap. He then connects it his instrument and stands in front of his mirror, very anxiously.

Or it curls up inside of you, tightens around your guts.

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"Archie Andrews?" 

A voice snaps Archie out of his trance. He looks back at Kevin, as well as the others staring at him amongst the small crowd, including Veronica, Y/N, and most of the bulldogs. He adjusts the mic as if pretending he wasn't frozen or anything.

Each Fall, Riverdale High hosts a Variety Show. But this event is no mere student frolic. 

"And what will you be auditioning with?" Kevin queries, Archie wonders if that was the second time he asked him.

"Uh, an original song that I wrote called, 'I'll Try.'" Archie stutters, feeling the sweat go down his forehead.

"Try harder!" Reggie mockingly yells from the crowd, apparently making it their job to make it as difficult as possible for Archie. "Maybe try not sucking so much." 

"Asshole..." Y/N mutters as he records Archie's audition with his camcorder. " 'Gee, I wonder why people don't like jocks.' " He then mocks a macho man accent."

Archie blinks, and for a second, they're all wearing werewolf masks. The fear comes back again. He tries to ignore it an prepare himself to play the guitar, but his hands keep shaking, his body can't stay still. 

"Take your time, Archie, though we do have people waiting." Kevin comfortingly tells him. Archie tries to move the mic to his mouth, but his shaking fingers causes it to creak as he does. Y/N and Veronica both notice how nervous he is. 

"Oh my gosh, what's happening?" Veronica asks with worriment as Y/N puts down his camcorder. It looks worse than they thought.

"He's choking." Josie whispers, and the two can see it more clearly as Archie then freezes again.

"Archie? Clock's ticking." Kevin says, snapping him out of it again. Archie sweats, he can't do this, it's too much.....

"Excuse me, sorry, I gotta go." The redhead shakingly says before hastily making a retreat. Everyone watches him leave while the jocks laugh and clap. 

That was..... awkward. 

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"When I was up there, looking out...." Archie grabs his head as he explains to Valerie what he was feeling during the audition. "I don't know, I just froze."