Underneath ¤ Jughead Jones [2]

twelve

CHAPTER TWELVE, MISJUDGED LOYALTY.

"This is the Black Hood. I am the man who shot the adulterer at Pop's. I also am the man who shot the teenager who lied of her past. I killed the child predator in Greendale. I shot the drug and sex-addict teenagers at Lovers lane. Riverdale is not innocent. It's a town of hypocrites, degenerates, criminals. My wrath is the price of your lies, your secrets, your sins. I will not stop. I cannot be stopped. I am the wolf. You are the Flock. This is the blood-letting. You will here from me again."

"Fun." Lauren commented once Jughead was done reading out the paper.

It was another late afternoon in Riverdale. Lauren Davis had decided that she was going to have lunch with Jughead at the Red and Black office, Toni was seated there too along with Mason, coughing as Jughead started to open the curtains, small dust particles jumping in the air. Lauren wheezed, squinting her eyes as she swatted the air around her.

Jughead was reading out the letter that was sent to Alice and Hal Cooper by the Black Hood, he was worried about him possibly targeting Lauren and wanted to keep her around for as long as he could to make sure what happened last time wouldn't happen again.

"I'm just confused on how this makes sense." Toni stated, giving Lauren a concerned look, crossing her arms over her chest.

"How does you mom's sins count as yours?" Mason questioned, putting a comforting hand on Lauren's shoulder who sighed, rubbing her face. "Does this shit mean he might go after these people again, like you?"

"I don't know, Mason." Lauren said, she wrapped her jacket around her tighter, squeezing her eyes shut, before sighing as Jughead turned around.

"Look, I'm not gonna let him get to you, okay? Not again, so don't stress." Jughead whispered, grabbing a hold of her arms, he kissed her forehead, before taking a seat right next to her.

"I'm more worried if he goes after Maya, guys." Lauren admitted, looking at Mason who stood next to Toni facing the seated couple. "I mean she's the daughter of Teresa too, what if he goes after her next?"

"Look, all I can say is that for the short time I've known Maya, I know that she can take care of herself, okay? And if she thinks that you guys are more in danger than before, she'll be prepared." Mason convinced, giving her a warm smile, looking around the small room again.

"Well, it's no New York Times." Jughead stated, realizing that Mason was eyeing it with disgust.

"Obviously." He muttered.

"Well, kudos on finding your safe place, snowflake." Toni added, picking up the top of one of the boxes in the room.

"Yeah, now all he needs is a photographer with an amazing eye and hunger for social justice." Lauren hinted at Toni, giving her a large smile, her cold hands intertwined with Jughead's as he rubbed his thumb on it in hopes of making them warmer.