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Nobody warned me about the south of Riverdale.
All the pamphlets I received when we moved here were all about the cozy diners, friendly neighbourhoods, serene forests and historic sites. I spent the whole day crossing all the hot spots of Riverdale. I started at the north, where I currently reside, and made my way through the centre and down by the south in the evening- where I was hoping to discover more about this time.
I did, but it's not what I expected.
There's pot-holed roads, trailer parks, railroad tracks and sketchy shacks lining up along the streets. Around every corner was a dark alleyway that seems like it was trying to lure in the next victim.
Within a couple blocks into the south, I turn back to be face-to-face with two men. Their plump and burly bodies are dressed in torn jeans and stained shirts. The smell of cigarettes and alcohol accumulates around them.
"Hello," I greet, not wanting to judge a book by its cover. For all I could know, they could be my new best friends.
They smirk and look at each other, then back to me.
"Northsider?" One of them asks with a glare matched with his glare.
"No, I'm Y/N," I take a step back as they take one forward, "I'm new to Riverdale."
They laugh as the other moves to my left, both blocking either side of me. They both dig their hands into their back pockets. My heart sinks down to my stomach. When they retract their hands, thin and sharp knives are stationed in their grips.
"That's not what we were askin'," the space around my closes in as they speak, "we don't care who you are."
They press me against the rusted, chain-link fence that surrounds an empty lot. The iron links dig into my back as he pushes his forearm against my throat. Air is barely slipping into my body. With his other hand, he skims the tip of the knife along my neck. His partner-in-crime hovers around us, always keeping his eyes on me.
"W-what...d'you...want," I choke. Tears spilling out of my eyes as my body freezes in numbness of shock.
He's calm, "money, credit card, phone and..."
They look at each other and chuckle, "...and...you."
His hand runs along my thigh and under my skirt. Before anything continues, a low rumble breaks the silence. They both pause and hold still, his hand still on my leg. Light breaks through the dimly lit street as a motorcycles steers over to us. Without a word, they sprint down the street and around a corner.
I slump onto the fence, my knees are too weak to carry the weight of my body. I cross my arms over my chest, trying to calm my trembling nerves. My throat hiccups on my tears.
The motorcycle stops in front of me, the low hum of the engine is killed. I look up and see a boy my age, I think. He's tall, but built with muscle on his bones. His black hair curls over his forehead as he looks down at me.
"Hey," he says quietly, "are you okay?"
I shake my head, trying to stop sobbing in front of him.
"Those guys aren't good, y'know," he kneels in front of me, "I mean no Southsider is considered 'good' in this town, but even for us, they're bad news. They owe us something and we've been trying to track 'em down."
"Oh," is all I can muster out.
"Thanks for getting them out of the shadows," he takes out his phone and starts to text as he continues talking, "we thought they'd be in Greendale or Centreville or somethin'. But now we know they're here."
He stands up and I follow him with my eyes. He reaches his hand down at me, his palm open.
"Somebody's already on their asses," he smiles, "can I at least get you outta here? It's not safe here, especially for someone like you. Wouldn't want your body to be found murdered next in Riverdale, would'ya?"
"What? Are you serious?"
"It's a long story," he shrugs and shakes his head, "family drama and shit."
He shakes his hand as I reach up to grab it. He winds his fingers around my hand, pulling me onto my feet in one swift motion.
"I'm Sweet Pea, by the way."
"I'm Y/N."
"Let's get you outta here, Y/N."
He turns around, walking towards his ride. On the back of his black, leather jacket was an embroidered patch. A green, two-headed snake shaped into an 'S' with the words 'Southside' above and 'Serpents' below it.
