𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐄𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 | ˢʷᵉᵉᵗ ᵖᵉᵃ

S E V E N

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The dreams in
which I'm dying...

   ҉

CLEMINTINE STARED at the strawberry milkshake before her, barely touched. The bell above the door of Pop's Chock'lit Shoppe rang, and Jughead walked inside. She watched as he walked towards her cousin on the opposite side of the diner. Her heart stung as Betty and Jughead locked lips. She yearned for the day she could share that kind of affection without the ensuing nightmares.

The blonde made it to school early. She could practically hear her untuned violin beckoning for her from the music room, where it had sat for over a year. She was caught off guard as she entered, however. The Pussycats and Veronica stood there in all their glory. But it was the figure facing her that stopped her breathing.

"Clemintine Bartholdy, is that you?" All eyes turned to her. "You look better than I remember."

The four females waited for her response. Her breath hitched. She quickly escaped, pushing past students and teachers, running out onto the streets of Riverdale. The crisp air nipped at her lungs. She ran to the one place she felt safe: Southside High, of all places.
She slipped through the metal detectors and made her way to the cafeteria, where Jughead had just arrived. The Serpents stared at her. Her flawless curls were now matted from her frantic run, and tears smeared her face, taking her makeup along with them.

"Jug." Her voice cracked sharply.

"What's wrong?" He pulled her aside, but the Serpents could still hear every word.
She told Jughead what took place in New York that day, and unknowingly, she also revealed the trauma to her Serpent companions.

"He's here. In Riverdale," she choked through tears. Her mouth and throat burned.

"How do you know that?" Jughead held the girl tightly.

"I saw him. At school. He knows Veronica." She coughed. "What am I going to do?"

"We're going to tell Sheriff Keller. Right now." Jughead grabbed his bag from beside Toni. All eyes watched the pair, waiting.

Clemintine's head shook frantically. "No, Jug. I can't. He threatened me. There's no evidence. It's all gone by now."

Jughead dropped his bag again. "You'll be okay." He turned to the Serpents but kept his words directed at Clemintine. "The Serpents have your back." The mass of Serpent teens nodded. Though she wasn't one of them, they considered her close enough to offer their protection.

"Can I stay here? Just for today?" Her eyes searched Jughead's frantically.

"Of course, Clemmie." Jughead moved to sit, taking Clemintine with him.

"It's Sunny now, actually." Clemintine's face brightened with a genuine, true smile.

Night fell upon Riverdale. Clemintine was hard at work, scribbling in her notebook, her raw emotions spilling onto the page. Reggie had yet to answer her messages, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

She jumped in her seat at the soft knock on her balcony door. Sweet Pea stood there, clutching his wrist. His hands were beaten and bloodied.

"How did you know where I live?" was the first question she asked, opening the door.

"You left your location on," he chuckled.
Clemintine took his hand, earning a sharp hiss from the boy, who immediately retracted his hand. "How did you know which room was mine?"