Serpent By Association

Ghoulies

A few weeks later, Sophia was taking a stroll along by sweetwater bridge. She had done it a lot recently, passing over to the more obscure parts of the south side to try and jog back any more memories. As she was walking back towards the bridge, she was stopped by a guy wearing a leather jacket, with what looked like Halloween makeup on his face and a blonde woman.

"Stop, Serpent." The woman said. "I don't know you."

"And I don't know you." Sophia replied. "So, I'll be going now."

"No," she said. "Malachi, do you know who this is?"

"Sophia Putnam, Penny." The guy said. "Her family not long moved here from England. Spy in the nest says she's a bit of whore."

"Well, isn't that fun." Penny said, circling her. "The boys are always looking for someone new to play with. Who's she had so far?"

"On the books, a couple of Bulldogs. Off the books, probably all of the Serpents." Malachi sneered.

"So, those slimy serpents are fraternising with the enemy. Interesting. I wonder what they'd do to get their slut back?" Penny asked.

"They won't need to do anything." Sophia smiled sweetly before punching Penny in the jaw, knocking her out cold.

Malachi advanced, and they scrapped a bit before he pulled out a knife. She went to kick him the same time he lunged forward, and he plunged the knife into her calf. The adrenaline from the fight was pushing her forward and she managed to push herself away from him, limping over the bridge. He was conflicted about whether to go after her, but instead went to Penny's aid. Sophia stopped a bit further up from the bridge, calling the first person she could think of.

"Hey, Soph, where are you? You haven't answered any texts and we're all at Pop's- "

"Sweet Pea. Hey. Sorry. I've been busy," she said. "I just need you to talk to me."

"Why? Are you okay?" Sweet Pea was suddenly concerned by the serious nature of her voice.

"I'll be fine. I just need to do something quickly. Just talk to me, okay?"

Sophia put it on speaker phone, placing it next to her.

"Soph, I really don't- "

"Please, Sweet. Tell me about your day."

"Well, I woke up and hung out with Fangs for a while. Then Jughead texted everyone and asked us to go to Pop's..."

While he continued his story, Sophia nodded along, his voice calming her as she ripped her leggings, easy to do now there was a hole in them which was holding a blade. She took a deep breath as she slowly pulled the knife from her leg, wincing at the pain, and before too much blood came from the wound she wrapped the fabric around it tightly.

"Oh, thank God," she sighed, interrupting Sweet Pea's story.

"Soph, you've not properly been listening and now you're sighing in relief. What's wrong?" Sweet Pea asked.

"I had a run in with some people. Might be friends of yours. Penny and Malachi?"

"Ghoulies." He spat, his hand clenching into a fist atop the table in Pop's. "Shit, are you okay?"

"I need you to pick me up. I'm a bit further north from Sweetwater bridge. It can't be your bike. It has to be a car."

"Okay. I won't be long."

"Don't hang up either. I've got something wrapped around to stop blood loss but I don't know how much it's helping."

"Okay. Shit. Fuck. Er- Andrews!" Sweet Pea stood next to Archie. "Give me your car keys."

"What? Why?" Archie asked.

"Just do it, Andrews, for God's sake." Sweet Pea held his hand out and Archie gave him the keys.

He jumped in and sped down the road, talking to Sophia as he did. He stopped as close to where she said she was as possible, jumping out to find her. When he did, she was still sat in the same place, one hand over the makeshift bandage to stem the blood flow.

"Sweets," she said quietly, when he came towards her.

"Fuck, Soph. What happened?" He looked over the bridge. "I'm gonna fucking- "

"No, you're not." She put her hands on his face making him look at her, accidentally smearing blood on his cheeks. "You just need to get me to camp. Or a first aid kit."

"Okay, okay. Here." He helped to lift her from the ground, then carried her to the car.

"I can walk, Pea." Sophia said.

"No, you have to be careful." He put her in the front seat then got in the drivers side. He drove them to camp, helping her out and sitting her down. "Fuck, I need Toni. I can't stitch wounds."

"I can. Just get me the kit." Sophia said.

Sweet Pea handed her the first aid kit and watched as she made quick work of undoing the wrap, using an antiseptic wipe to clean the wound and then stitching it. Once it was all done, she grabbed some wipes, cleaning herself up and also going over to Sweet Pea.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"I accidentally got blood on your face. Let me clean it." Sophia said. She wiped his face then disposed of the wipes. "I can't say I feel great. Can I rest in your tent?"

"Want me to go with you?" Sweet Pea asked.

"I'd actually really appreciate that." Sophia nodded. They went into the tent and settled down, cuddling.