AFTERLIFE :: Riverdale

XI: Serpents Vs. Zombies

We trudged back inside the Whyte Wyrm, myself nearly being left behind by Archie leading Veronica like a knight in shining armor. I grimaced jealously, staring ahead at them with a bloodlust towards Veronica. If I could rewind time, I would've lunged for her when Archie wasn't looking. Perhaps Ethel's fate would've done her well.

Inside, the Serpents eyed us with caution. Not that they were scared of us, it's just that they were scared for us. Veronica's outburst might have lost us some brownie points with my father.

We descended down to the pool area together where my father was actually playing for once. Though, to be fair, he was completely alone besides Alice who was also playing. I'd never even seen him directing another Serpent where to shoot. It was refreshing. I was actually glad that he seemed to be happy.

He smiled up at me once he noticed I was back. "Did you calm your girl down, Jug?" he asked with a broad grin and a wink.

I smirked at him and then Veronica. "Oh, us? We're not a thing."

"Archie did good, then. Proud of you, son." my father nodded at Archie who had his arms crossed. He was shocked to get pointed out.

"Actually, FP, I'm single. I'm still trying to get over someone." Veronica crinkled her nose, appearing ready to cry again.

I glared at her. How could she say that? Weren't we all? She didn't have to break it off with Archie just because she was finally coming clear about her feelings for Betty.

"So where is my daughter, then?" Alice asked with her hands on her hips. She didn't seem the type able to be lied to.

Veronica took a deep breath and sighed at the floor. "Mrs. Cooper, Betty is d—"

Archie yanked Veronica nearly across the room. She stumbled into his arms with wide-eyes. "Can I talk to you for a second? Upstairs?" he asked rhetorically. Usually, he'd be fine with "no" for an answer, but different times called for different measures.

"Oh, don't count me out." I groaned, following after them.

We went upstairs only to be greeted by other Serpents. I managed to shoo them all back down to where my father was even though he clearly wanted to be alone with Alice.

"Ronnie, there is no good way to tell Alice Cooper and Forsythe Pendleton Jones II that their daughter is dead." Archie scolded Veronica with a hushed voice, but his eyes were blazing.

"Betty isn't my dad's daughter." I laughed coldly. I really didn't want to think of us being related. It just screamed "Blossom's", and they were the last people I wanted think about.

"Well, Jughead, if he's on the arm of Alice, right now, I think he would treat her like one." Archie argued. He pointed at Veronica. "And that includes protecting her. If you even think for a second that FP wouldn't have every Serpent on you in less than a minute for killing Betty, I don't know what to tell you."

"So what do we do?" Veronica asked, panicked.

"Kill you ourselves." I answered as soon as the thought entered my mind. "Gang violence hurts. Just one shot, and it's over, isn't that right? Or would seven do it for you? Is that what it takes, Veronica?" I shoved my hands in my coat pockets, grimacing when I remembered the exact situation Veronica put Betty in. Mindlessly, I fidgeted with the lighter in my pocket as I awaited a response. I ended up dropping it, cursing as I did so.

"You know, Jughead, we should actually get along. Our dads have both been in jail, we're both spoiled brats, and we've both killed Betty Cooper—mentally and physically." Veronica listed our "similarities" on her fingers.