VIPER • the serpent princess

46

We enter the trailer, coming back from the hospital. None of us speaking a word. Our home, which no longer feels like my home, or even a home.

"I'm having a shower" I state blandly, then move to the bathroom.

I turn on the shower and take off my pants, but then have no energy to take the rest of my clothes off. I step into the shower and then slide down the wall, sitting on the wet ground as the water pours down me. I pull my knees to my chest and bit my teeth, fighting the tears, not wanting them to fall. However before they can, I hear a loud smashing noise, following by Sweet Pea yelling madly. I rush out of the shower soaking wet into the living room. Sweet Pea has destroyed the crib, and is throwing the prices around.

"Sweets! Sweet Pea! Stop!" I yell, running over and grabbing his hands, "Stop!"

"Why? We don't need it anymore do we! It's just a waste, of space" he yells, kicking at it again.

"Stop! Please! Please just stop" I beg, tears starting to fall down my cheeks at the sight of how broken he is.

He looks to me as I start to cry, uncontrollably .

"We, we lost our little boy" I gasp, my lips trembling, "He was just in my stomach, safe, and loved yesterday and now...what did I do wrong? Wha-What did I do?"

"Casey" he cries and pulls me into his arms, "This isn't your fault. I don't know, w-why this happened. I don't know why we lost...we lost our boy"

Two hours later, I lay in my bed, staring at the ceiling. I can't sleep. I quietly get up, dressed and walk out into the living room. Sweet Pea is sitting on top of the remains of the crib. Staring into nothing. I open the door and make my way to the Wyrm. When I get inside, Hog-eye is just opening up. It's five in the morning.

"Give me a vodka Hog-eye, the bottle"

"Now, now kid. Whatever happened you know you can't drink pregnant-"

"I lost the baby" I blurt, "So I can drink. Stop giving me that look and just give me the damn bottle"

He reluctantly grabs the bottle and slides it to me, but before letting it go, looks closely into my eyes.

"I'm so sorry Casey"

I just nod, then take the vodka, open the lid and pour it down my throat. Closing my eyes in relief. Soon later, FP enters the Wyrm, looking like shit. Probably because it's so early.

"Casey" he sighs, rushing to my side.

I jump off my stool and step away from FP, shaking my head and taking another sip from the bottle.

"No, I don't want to talk about it. I don't want you to tell me to stop drinking, I don't want you to say sorry!" I shout.

The pubs doors open once more and Toni runs inside. I scoff, shaking my head once more.

"I'm not speaking to anyone! I'm fine! I can drink again! That's something to celebrate yeah!" I slur, having another sip.

"Casey, please-"

"Don't Toni" I hiss, looking at her, "I don't want to talk about it-"

"You have to kid" FP states, "You can't run away from this, you can't drink away and pretend it never happened because it did. You and Sweet Pea, this will be tough-"

"Tough? Tough! You don't know anything! You left your kids for alcohol! You chose to leave them! My baby died FP! He died! Tough? It's not fucking tough, it's torture" I gasp, my lip trembling.

Both of them stand crying at the sight of me, Toni tries to step closer towards me.

"I don't need you Toni. Just go check on Sweets would you?" I ask.

"Why don't you?" she responds quietly.

"Because, how the hell am I meant to look him in the eyes, when I killed our baby"

"Casey" Toni cries, shaking her head, "You didn't-"

"Just go Toni, please" I beg, turning away and sitting back down on my stool, watching relieved as she leaves the Wyrm.

I take another chug, and this time when I put the bottle down FP is sitting beside me. I chuckle.

"You've got bigger problems then me right now. Jughead needs you-"

"He's fine. You're not" he responds fast.

"I, am fine" I hiss, looking at him straight in the eyes.

"You don't have to be. Stop lying, just let it all out-"

"I am fine. Now leave me the hell alone"

"No I won't leave you alone" he fights.

The next day. Everyone knew, every single Serpent. Now, we stand in front of Sweetwater River. I hold a box in my hands, inside, the baby clothes we brought, the outside lays out the baby Serpent jacket. Sweet Pea stands beside me, the rest of the Serpents all standing in a semicircle around us. I grab hold of Sweet Peas hand and we walk forward, then I place the box down into the river, watching it float away. I take a deep breath, watching at it goes.

"We won the war against the Ghoulies, this is our land and always will be. We got our homes back. But we have suffered a great loss. In loss we rally, we come together and make each other strong, lean on each other! In unity, there is strength"

Everyone responds quietly and somber, "In unity, there is strength"

After the ceremony, Sweets goes to the Wyrm with the others, I go to the trailer. As soon as I close the door, I shout. I punch the walls and go over grabbing the rest of the crib and breaking it. Breaking the mobile above it and then moving to glass, breaking anything I can. Suddenly I feel small arms around me and I fall into the ground, Toni rushing to the front of me and grabbing my head in her hands.

"Casey" she cries, looking at me sadly.