Autumn // Jughead Jones

Chapter 12

I hold the flashlight up trying to see where we all were going. Kevin, Juggie, Betty and I are all searching for something that could either help or hurt F.P.'s case. Kevin tells us what Joaquin, His boyfriend and another serpent, knew.

Jughead finds a book-bag and pulls it out of the bushes by the sign. He unzips the bag and pulls out Jason's Letterman jacket. We all share the same confused look before heading to Archie's house.

We stand in his garage around the Letterman jacket. "This is suppose to help F.P.?" Archie points.

"I don't know this just looks like more incriminating evidence."

"Why would F.P. see Jason's jacket as dangerous," I lean on a chair next to Jug. "What could that mean?"

"You could ask my father," Veronica walks in. "He would know considering from concrete proof he payed the serpents to kill Jason. Which probably means you dad pulled the trigger Jughead," She softens her voice.

I lay my hand on his shoulder, trying to make him feel better. His eyes fall with hurt. "No," I shake my head. "No," I say more confidently. "No, I'm not giving up yet," I recall my nightmares. I pick up the jacket and give it to Archie.

"Put that on," Betty joins in.

"Guys this is weird," Betty starts searching as I walk back to Jug. She pulls out a flash drive making us all jump up.

I see the video unfold before me, But I don't see Jason Blossom in the chair getting shot I see Jughead. I see Clifford blossom with a gun, my vision blurs. I get up and pace while the other watch the video. They gasp when they see the murder happen. I sit down across from them, shocked that my nightmare were right. My eyes begin to water.

"Oh my god," Ronnie shakes her head. They all look at me.

"Autumn are you ok?" Archie questions.

"My damn nightmares," I look around in disbelief.  I look up and see Jug's eyes widen as it clicks in his mind.

"You said Jason's dad was the one who fired the shot in your nightmares," I just nod. 

"Are you ok?" Archie repeats. I nod yes but I wasn't. I still have this image replying in my head, of Juggie getting shot. I get up and run towards a place I never thought I'd go. I run to Thornhill, where the Blossoms live. I arrive at the gate and turn around to see Jug behind me.

"Autumn we need to go, Betty's already informed Cheryl. The cops are coming." I turn back and see Clifford on his porch.

"Jug what if he gets away,"  He sees us and starts to run towards us. We both run towards the maple shed trying to hide but he was already at the doors,

"So you know huh?" He starts to walk towards us, and that's when I see a gun.

"Sir let us go please," I feel the tears running down my face. "We came to see if Cheryl was ok," I lie.

"She's fine. Now you too, I don't know about that." He waves the gun around. I feel Jugs hand intertwine with mine. I look over to him with worried eyes, he brings my hand up to his mouth and kisses it before mouthing 'I love you'. "A sappy couple," He laughs at his joke.

We hear the sirens which makes Clifford panic. He aims the gun towards me, making my hand squeeze Jugs a little tighter. ' I love you' I mouth back to the boy I love. I hear the gun go off, but I don't feel anything. I see Jughead fall to the floor with a gun shot wound to his stomach. 

"Oh my god," I start to cry. I hold my hands on the bullet wound glaring at Clifford.

"Leave you dick!" I yell at Clifford. He climbs and latter and makes a noose. I keep my focus on Jughead.

"Please don't you dare leave me," I keep pressure on his wound, but I lean my forehead on his. I hear a thud and look up to see Clifford's lifeless body hanging. I hold back a scream by looking back at Jughead who is no longer looking at me, his eyes are shut. "No you said you wouldn't leave. I love you," I cry. I see the barn doors open revealing sheriff Keller. "Help!" I yell with tears in my eyes. Keller picks up Jug and rushes us to the hospital. I see the passing cars, but they blur when I see the hurting boy in the back seat. It was suppose to be me. 

I sit in a empty doctor's room waiting for the doctor's to release me. Jughead has been in surgery and I haven't been able to leave until I get checked out. I see my dad walk through the doors making me shed a few more tears. 

"Is he ok?" I ask.

"He's stable. the doctor's said if you didn't apply pressure he would have died," I start to cry. "Are you ok bud?" He sits beside me.

"Dad it should have been me," His face hardens.

"What do you mean?"

"Clifford was going to shoot me, but he stepped into the line of fire," I look up.

"Autumn, it is not your fault. I saw him and talked to the doctors he will be fine," He hugs me.

"I Love him dad," I say in a muffle tone.

"I know you do bud. Now lets go see him," He stands up and I follow him into a hospital room. I see Jughead laying down asleep still from surgery. I mentally thank my dad for teaching me paramedic and fire stuff, like keeping pressure to bleeding wounds. I take a seat in the recliner beside his bed. I grab his hand and relax my head on the recliner, closing my eyes and falling asleep.