Autumn // Jughead Jones

Chapter 11

///Autumn///

I keep running until I see a room. The room is filled with junk, but I can vaguely see a chair with someone sitting in it.

"Hello?" I call out.

"Autumn, Help please!" I hear Jughead. I try to run toward the boy, but someone gets there first. I see the same man I've been seeing for many nights. He pulls out a gun and points it towards the boy I fell in love with.

"Stop!" But it's too late. I see Jughead's lifeless body. The murderer turns around and my eyes widen. I've had this same nightmare night after night, but I have never seen the face of the man who has haunted me in these nightmares until now.

I feel my body being moved, waking me up. I look over to the worried boy who was sleeping beside me. "Jug?" I don't even notice myself crying.

"Hey, it's ok, it was just a nightmare." He pulls me closer.

"Jug, you got shot. I-in my dream you got shot," my breath becomes uneasy.

"I'm ok Autumn."

"I saw a face this time," I shake my head knowing it's crazy. "Clifford Blossom shot you in my dream."

"Jason's dad?" Jug sits up with confusion.

"Yeah, I know it's just a nightmare, but it was...an awful feeling," I get closer to Juggie.

"Just get some sleep, I'm right here," he kisses the top of my head, calming me down.

///

I keep my head down while the group talks about Jughead's dad being guilty. Jughead is stuck in Sheriff Keller's office while we are at lunch piecing things together. I see him walk into the room passing all of us. Our eyes widen when we see him apologize to Cheryl Blossom for his father. I stand up and move closer to him when she gets close to him. She starts to hit Juggie making me rush over. I push her away as Archie pulls her away. Our Principal, Mr. Wetherbee, asks for Jughead to go with him. I turn to Archie and shake my head. I pick up the food I was going to eat and throw it into the trash walking away.

I wait outside of Wetherbee's office for Jug. He walks out with a pissed off look.

"My second interrogation of the day. I don't know who's more of a dick, Keller or Wetherbee." He starts to walk fast.

"Jug your dad is innocent we just need to prove it," I lay my hand on his shoulder, to get him to stop walking so fast.

"who killed him then? Autumn" His voice lowers. "Tell me, if it wasn't my dad then who killed Jason Blossom. He said he did it and you know what, I've been waiting my whole life for that man to do the right thing, and I'm done. You should be too," He points at me and starts to walk off again.

"Jug," I try to stop him, but he leaves the building.

///

I turn and see Betty at my door. "Hey bets, whats up?" I look at the blonde.

"You doing ok?" She sits on my bed.

"Yeah?"

"I'm just asking because I know you have been worried over Jughead," She states.

"Betty, I had the nightmare again, but this time I saw a face. I know I can't base my thoughts off of dreams but I dont think F.P. killed Jason," I pace around my room.

"Did you tell Jug that?"

"Yeah, but he wants me to drop it. After his dad confessed I think he lost all hope," I stop when I hear my phone ring.

"Jug?"

"Autumn, I saw my dad. You were right he's hiding something," I hear his voice over the phone.

"Hey we can talk about it more here, just come home," Is all I say.

"I'll be there soon." I hang up the phone and lay down beside Betty.

"Jug thinks his dad is hiding something. You want to figure stuff out with us here?"

"Sure, it beats cleaning my room," She laughs. I put on Netflix and wait for Juggie to get here.

I see the boy walk through the door getting our attention. "My dads been lying to me his whole life, but he's never been any good at it. I saw it in his eyes," He sits beside us.

"So then why lie?" Betty comments.

"The questions is who is he protecting," I add.

"Probably a serpent."

"Nah someone closer to him," I make eye contact with Juggie. I turn my focus to my door when I hear Alice Cooper in my house.

"The police found another dead body," our eyes widen. "A south side serpent, and Sheriff clueless is convinced he was working with your father," She points to jug. "He committed suicide by over dose and there was a bag of money on site, with the initials of Hiram lodge, Veronica's dad. Everything is tied into a tight little bow...too tight if you ask me." We all look at each other with confusion.

Betty's phone goes off, "Hey Kevin," We all look at her. "Ok we will meet you there tonight," She hangs up. "I'll text you guys," She nods to us and leaves with her mother.

"Hey I'm sorry for being angry back at school," He pulls me into a hug. "I just wish I knew what was going on."

"We will figure out." I look up at his dark eyes.

"I never thought I'd see the day Autumn Anderson would want to be involved with Jason's murder case." He brushes a piece of hair back.

"I'd do anything to help you out," I rest my head on his chest. my phone goes off.

I read the text Betty sent to me about meeting near the Maple syrup sign tonight. I inform Jug and get ready to find some new evidence,