Fate can be Fatal

Part 39: Taken to the Extreme

Pea arrives back at the lake, "Tons, I got you a soda and actually---" but pauses mid sentence at the realisation that his friend has gone. He looks around in confusion, noticing her bike remains in the same spot, as well as her shoes. Pea begins to panic and calls Jug. 

"Jughead? Toni's not here. She's fucking disappeared---" and continues his panic until Jughead orders him to return home so they can figure things out together, as Serpents. 

An unknown amount of miles away is Thornhill house. The old Blossom residence, recently (partially) burned down by Miss Cheryl Blossom. She sits painfully on a wooden chair; blindfolded, constricted by tape around her hands. A literal hostage situation was upon her. Her voice strains itself from shouting. She hears muffling coming from beside her, but is panicking far to much to concentrate. 

Toni, in whatever situation she's in, attempts to yell but the tape over her mouth prevents it. She can't see anything, can't move her hands, she's stuck. The only thing she does know, is that her girlfriend is sat right next to her. Revealed by her recognisable voice. But Cheryl doesn't know Toni's sat right there. 

They hear footsteps, numerous footsteps. From the underneath of her blindfold, Toni manages to witness two pairs of feet. The first pair wearing red heels, tall and thin. The other, black business shoes. Toni attempts a scream, muffled still. In shock, Cheryl manages the words, "Mother?" allowing Toni to have the realisation of her situation. 

Suddenly, the heels speak. "Ah Cheryl. Darling" 

"And Toni, of course. How could I forget" she continues, as the other voice chuckles lightly. 

"Mother? What's going on?" her daughter asks, as Penelope rips the blindfold away from Cheryl's eyes. It takes her a moment to adjust to her surroundings. After a few worrying moments her eyes fixate upon her demonic mother and uncle, standing there smugly. Then, her head turns to the left; she see's her girlfriend. Who even though can't see anything, can hear every whisper exchanged. 

Immediately after, Penelope pulls Toni's tightly placed blindfold away from her face, revealing the whole Blossom family. She attempts to break free but it's no use, her struggle makes Penelope laugh. 

"Why Mother? Can't this all be over now?" Cheryl pleads.

"Over? Over! You really thought this would be over once you sent us to prison. You took everything from this family Cheryl. Jason, your father, this family's name, my home, my reputation - everything. You're selfish" she aggressively forces upon her daughter. 

"I'm selfish? This is all your doing. You're psychotic mother. Insane. You've kidnapped your daughter and her girlfriend. Tied them up---" but before finishing her sentence, a harsh slap is inflicted upon Cheryl's face, making her lip bleed. 

Toni, angered beyond belief at the action, struggles once again, the rope on her wrists burning her skin. Claudius pulls the tape from Toni's mouth, finally allowing her to be heard. Her Serpent roots kick in, "Touch her again and like I said before, I'll have to kill you" she yells, biting down on her jaw. 

The adults chuckle at the teenagers threat. "You know, for a Serpent; you're pretty pathetic" hisses Penelope, looking down on Toni. 

"Cheryl. Back to my point. You're selfish, worthless, a disgrace to this family and this town. There's only one way to get you back on our team. One day to put your head back on straight--" her mother begins.

"Is that supposed to mean what I think?" Toni says humorously, but is purposefully ignored by Penelope, who rolls her eyes. 

"The way to correct this; is to eradicate the problem" Claudius states, glaring at Toni. 

Cheryl's mouth drops at the comment, silent from shock she begins to beg for a change in opinion. "My dear, you didn't need to be here to witness this, we just thought it would be a nice bonus for us all" Penelope tells her, dragging her chair in the direction of Toni, who's sat there helplessly. "Are you ready?" she asks sarcastically, as Claudius approaches Toni's chair, his fist curled. 

Back on the Southside, Jughead gathers the gang, among other serpents to track down Toni. Pea calls Cheryl over and over again before giving in. "That's weird, no reply" showing the missed calls to Jughead. Who has the realisation that something worse has happened than expected. They pace the trailer park, trying to wrap their heads around the situation. Fangs finally speaks up. "So... both Cheryl and Toni are gone? C'mon guys. Who else could it be? Mrs Blossom" and the gang hop on the bikes to Thistlehouse almost instantly. 

Back at Thornhill, Claudius' fists create loud impact onto the cheeks of Toni, who's now bloody and aching. Cheryl screams every time, each punch like heartbreak. 

After far too many hits, Claudius stops, his fists covered in the blood of a teenager who's head is spinning. "PLEASE! STOP!" Cheryl yells, until her throat becomes dry from pain. 

"That all you got, fuckers" Toni tells Cheryl's psychopathic uncle, sarcastically. It wasn't the first time Toni has been in this type of situation, it was simple, don't ever give in. Claudius becomes enraged, beginning to punch Toni's chest and torso, hoping to weaken her further. He manages to crack a rib. 

Eventually the whole gang arrive on their bikes at Thistlehouse. Jughead and Fangs kick the door down and they swarm inside. Nothing. Stuck for ideas, Betty speaks. "Wait, Thornhill. That's it. They're there. They have to be" as they speed off once again, praying Bettys instincts are correct. 

After a few more blows to the body and face, Claudius stops once again and looks at Penelope, who looks as smug as ever.

"You're bat-shit crazy" Toni manages to mutter under her breath. Cheryl continues to beg for her family to stop, with tears streaming down her face. She kicks at the chair but its useless. 

A loud noise comes from upstairs. Claudius and Penelope pause and proceed upstairs, their guard rightfully up. The girls hear their friends echoing voice from upstairs, and breathe a sigh of relief. "Down here" Cheryl yells, catching the ear of Pea, who dashes to the voices. 

On the way there, Jughead, Fangs and Pea encounter a defensive Claudius, holding a knife. They smirk before whipping out their knifes also. Claudius backs down swiftly, allowing Betty to restrain him. They follow the voice of Cheryl, begging for help. They see Penelope speed off from the window in her car but are more focused on getting their friends back. 

Pea finds the basement door and leaps down it with the others. He pauses at the sight of a bloodied Toni, her head hung in pain. He rushes over to her, untying her wrists. Jughead cuts Cheryl out of hers, she's covered in sweat, with rope marks on her wrists. Pea picks up a very injured Toni and carries her outside. "We're going to the hospital" Pea states, as the girls willingly get into Bettys car, ready to explain everything...