𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙚𝙧 | 𝐉𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐉𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 |

Mercy

Chapter thirty-one: Mercy

"What the hell?" Jughead said as him and Drea stood outside of Pop's chock'lit shop. Written on the wall of the diner were the words 'Death Diner.'

The diner used to be seen as a safe place where people would go to hang out and get away from their problems, but everything seemed to change so quick.

Drea and Jughead quickly walked into the diner, where they saw Pop leaning against the counter.

"Pop?"

"Did you see what they wrote on my chocolate shop?" Pop put his head in his hand.

Drea stared at the man with sad eyes.

"It's another win for the bad guys. No one was there. His entire staff quit." Jughead stared as him, Drea, Betty, Archie, and Veronica sat at a table outside.

"He says he's not sure how long he'll be able to keep the doors open. Maybe not even a week." Drea continued for Jug.

"It's because of what happened with my dad. People are freaking out. Now I gotta be honest, guys. I don't see myself going back anytime soon." Archie spoke up.

Drea only let out a sigh.

"Wait, I'm sorry. Am I hearing acceptance? I'm not letting one psychopath with a gun dictate what happens to our place." Betty spoke, Drea nodded in agreement.

"Jug, you went crazy trying to save the drive in."

"I can't take on any more social issues right now. My hands are full." Jughead told her.

"With your dad, of course, and he should be your priority. I'll take point on helping Pop Tate." Betty offered.

"I'll help too, Betty. Hey, anything to get me away from my parents I'm in." Veronica told her.

Drea smiled slightly. "Another B and V team up." She said.

"Should really make a video game about you guys. I gotta jet. I'm off to meet my dad court appointed joke of a lawyer at the sheriff station." Jughead said as he packed up his things.

"I'm gonna come with you, Jug. I gotta drop some flyers off for Sheriff Keller." Archie said as they both stood up. Veroncia gave him a kiss goodbye.

Drea gave a smile and wave to Jughead, who gave a playful wink in return.

"How cute." Veronica smirked at Drea. Drea blushed, glancing at Betty, who was smiling but shifted uncomfortably.

"Who would have thought. Our towns mystery people becoming a couple." Veronica smiled brightly.

Drea only shook her head with a smile before getting up and heading away from her two girl friends.

That same evening, Drea had visited her mother at the hospital to give her some lunch.

"You are an ángel mi vida." Isabel had told her daughter.

The next day, Drea sat in class when principal Weatherbee entered and stood in front of the students.

"May I have everyone's attention?" Weatherbee spoke.

"I have some...tragic news to share. Ms. Grundy, who was a teacher here last semester, was foundmurdered in her Greendale home last night."

Drea's eyes widened as the class looked at each other shocked.

"I know some of you were students of hers...and that this news will be difficult to process."

That was when Archie collected his books and bag, stood up, and walked out of the classroom.

"Mr. Andrews."

Drea couldn't lie. The news shocked her, but she didn't feel an ounce of pity. What really had her attention was the fact that after Fred Andrews was almost murdered someone else got the same fate but wasn't lucky enough to survive.

To think it took place just on the other side of Sweetwater River, too. There was something strange here. Maybe she was reading too much into it, but first it was Fred and now Mrs. Grundy. She didn't think that this was just a coincidence. Those two people were victims of the hooded killer.

Later that day, Jughead and Drea sat in Drea's room. "So all we have to do is get Cheryl and her mother to forgive your father...oh boy." Drea spoke before sighing.

"Come on, we gotta at least try." Jughead pulled Drea off the bed. She pushed her hands through her black leather jacket that was laid on her bed.

"Fine."

The two made their way out of Drea's house. They rode on Jugheads bike. As they drove, the street lights turned on as the day turned to night.

Drea held on tightly to Jughead until they got to where Cheryl and her mother would be residing. The home was covered with vines and leaves. 

"It's not exactly downsizing, is it?" Jughead said as they walked up to the door.

Jughead knocked. A moment after the door was opened. Cheryl stood on the other side.

"Hobo."

"Bride of hobo." She greeted.

"Welcome to Thistlehouse. Mother's in the conservatory. Follow me." Cheryl motioned for Jughead and Drea to enter.

She then led them into the said conservatory where Penelope sat. The mother had bandages wrapped around her burned face. Drea and Jughead took a seat beside each other while Cheryl and her mum sat at opposite sides of the table.

"Thank you for sitting down with us."

"Of course, Drea. You're my friend." Cheryl spoke sincerely.

"Ok. The reason we're here -" Jughead paused, looking at Drea.

"FP's lawyer thinks that if the family of the victim shows mercy -"

This time, Drea was cut off by Penelope.

"Mercy." She repeated, stirring her tea.

"That's why you're here."

"Well, it's an appeal for leniency from you to reduce my dad's sentence."

Drea placed a hand on Jughead's. She knew this wasn't going to be easy. After what happened to Jason, she knew it would take a miracle to get them to agree to show some mercy to FP.

"Where was your father's mercy when I spent those countless nights walking the halls of Thornhilll in agony, obsessing over what was happening to J.J., imagining the worst."

Drea looked down at her lap.

"Where was it when I slept under the same roof as a cold-blooded killer night after night."

Drea leaned forward. "Cheryl. FP did not kill Jason. Okay? I know it's hard, but you know it was your dad. You saw the video." Drea spoke calmly.

"If it were up to me, I'd watch FP fry in the electric chair." Penelope spoke, causing Drea to let out a scoff. "Well, it's not up to you, is it?" Drea snapped. Jughead placed a hand on her shoulder, gripping it tightly. He was tense, she could tell. She held a cold glare on Penelope.

"We need this sordid chapter closed forever, and FP is the last loose end to tie up. I will not have a living breathing reminder of the darkest chapter of my life walking the streets of Riverdale." Cheryl snapped.

With that, Drea and Jughead were escorted out.

"What do we do now. Cheryl's gone completely, Poison Ivy. I mean, look at the house." Drea motioned behind the two as they walked.

"Blackmail. Extorsion. If they weren't literally an orphan and a widow, I would do it."

Drea nodded. This was just gonna get worse.