Underneath ¤ Jughead Jones [2]

seventeen

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN, FATAL WORDS

"What is the fourth law?" Tallboy yelled, his face extremely close to Jughead's,

After a lot of practicing with Mason, Toni and Lauren, Jughead was reciting the laws in front of all the Serpents who screamed along with the crowd. Lauren and Toni stood slightly further away from the pair, anxiously watching and hoping Jughead wouldn't mess up the lines. Mason stood beside Lauren, hands on her shoulders, squeezing it every now and then as the boy continuously delivered the laws with perfection.

"No Serpent is left for dead!" Jughead yelled back, not blinking and standing perfectly still.

"What is the fifth law?" Tallboy shouted back.

"A serpent never betrays his own!"

Tallboy stared at the boy, slightly shocked, his eyes narrowed at him. "The sixth?"

"In unity, there is strength!"

Lauren couldn't contain her excitement as her lips broke out into a large and proud smile, sharing it with Mason who gave her a highfive, repeating with the rest of the crowd, everyone screaming with pride. "In unity, there is strength."

Tallboy raised his arms at everyone, giving them a look which made them quiet, everyone looking at the pair with eager eyes. "You know the laws, now it's time for the next trial."

A bunch of Serpents stood from their seats to reveal a glass box with a rattle snake in it, a dagger sat on the rock that the reptile surrounded, Lauren bit her lip in anxiousness, sharing a nervous look with Jughead who glanced at her briefly before turning to Tallboy, confused.

"Retrieve the knife." Tallboy seethed, Jughead turned to him, wide eyed, worriedly looking at the glass box and gulping thickly. Despite Lauren knowing that he was scared the boy tried not to show his fear as he approached the snake and quickly trying to get the knife, the snake piercing his skin with a hiss. Jughead pulled out the knife, biting his lip in pain and putting the knife on the table as he inspected his wound.

The Serpents bursted into applause, clapping and whistling as Lauren walked up to him, tissue and a wrap in her hands. The rest of the gang dispersed as the said girl engulfed him into a tight hug, briefly kissing him on the lips before leading him to the seats. "I'm so proud of you."

"A rattlesnake, Laur." Jughead scoffed, wrapping his hand in a bandage, giving her a look. "A rattlesnake bit me and drew blood."

"One that had it's venom glands removed, so stop whining." Lauren retorted, a light smile on her face as she watched him, he glanced at her with raised eyebrows.

"Easy for you to say, Serpent royalty, you got the jacket handed to you." Jughead added making Lauren glare at him.

"So were you, you just took long to actually accept the Serpents." Lauren smiled sweetly at him before rolling her eyes at him. "And female serpents have to do some slutty Serpent dance."