ghosts // riverdale

[14]

The cold winter air bustled high in the cotton candy sky as the scent of freshly cut Christmas trees swirled throughout town. Excited children scurried through the aisles of the local toy store as their parents nervously ravaged through their savings in an attempt to give their children a good Christmas. The local animal shelter gave out puppies and kittens, each adorned with a large red bow around their neck. The fire department held toy drives to ensure that each child in Riverdale would wake up on Christmas morning with gifts to unwrap.

While many found the joy of Christmas wrapped neatly beneath their trees, others found the joy of Christmas in finding answers. Fred Andrews' hospital bill had been paid in full and the gang of meddling kids wasn't convinced that it was Kris Kringle. While those meddling kids continued trying to uncover this very giving stranger, one positive holiday note was floating throughout Riverdale: The Black Hood was dead. Little did they know, he was not the only villain that they had to be concerned about. In fact, just above the Black Hood's name on Santa's Naughty List was one particular name, a name that was written in permanent black marker.

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"Jonathan?" Hiram mutters under his breath as he holds his cell phone tightly against his ear, "yes, of course I did. Everything is going perfectly as planned." Hiram's new office overlooks downtown Riverdale as the bustling crowds wander down main street beneath his office windows. He buries his left hand into the pocket of his silky pants as he presses his thin lips together. He nearly rolls his eyes as he listens to Jonathan Harlow carefully on the other end of the line.

"You have nothing to worry about," he ensures with a quick nod of his head. He hears the quiet creak of his door as he spins on his heel to confront an interested Veronica. She stands in his doorway, arms crossed tightly against her chest. Her lips are drawn in a straight line as her dark eyes glare back at him. "Jonathan," Hiram begins, "I'm going to have to give you a call back. Veronica just stepped into my office."

Veronica takes a few steps towards her father's desk as she rests her hands on the back of one of the chairs facing his desk. "Yes sir," Hiram grins, "later today." Hiram quickly clicks out of his phone call with Jonathan as he stares over at his teenage daughter. "Veronica," he says quietly, "I'm surprised that you're here."

Veronica raises an eyebrow before responding. "I'm honestly surprised that I'm here too," she mutters. Hiram nods his head once before pointing towards the chair that she rests her palms on. "Please," Hiram whispers, "take a seat." Veronica clutches her eyes shut for a second. "Daddy," she whispers, "this isn't a business meeting."

"Of course not," Hiram responds as he unbuttons one of his buttons to his sports coat before sitting in his leather office chair. He leans back comfortably before pointing towards the chair once more. "Veronica," he says in a near beg, "please." Veronica takes in a deep breath of air before agreeing, sliding into the cold leather chair across from him.

"What do you want to know?" Hiram asks, his voice full of anxiety and uncertainty. Hiram had always been good with confrontation, until he stepped foot back into Riverdale. "Everything," Veronica sighs, "daddy, I'm tired of being in the dark with my own family." Hiram nods once before taking a large gulp. He presses his palms together and rests them in his lap.

"Veronica," Hiram begins, "your mother and I haven't been in a good place for years. Honestly, it's been so long that I can't even remember exactly when we lost each other anymore." Veronica relaxes slightly as she prepares herself for more. "Baby, I don't want you to ever think that all of this is your fault because it's not. It's mine and it's your mothers."

"And Brookes?" Veronica bites back. She can't help but use fighting words. She's mad. She's angry. She's confused. Hiram presses his lips together tightly before attempting to find the correct response. "Things were bad before Brooke even came into the picture, Veronica," Hiram whispers as he looks straight towards his daughter.