Resilience | Sweet Pea.

25 - The truth.

"What're you talking about, Jughead?" I ask. "Yes, they did."

Jughead sighs sadly.

"Penny knows who you are, Nova. She threatened to 'release the secret about the Daniels'." He tells me.

"What 'secret'?" I ask.

Jughead doesn't answer.

"What secret, Jughead?" I ask again more forcefully than before.

"She gave me this." Jughead picks up a newspaper clipping from the seat beside him and slides it to me. "She said if I didn't comply, she'd have every copy she could find released across the town."

I pick up the newspaper article, my hands tremble as I read the words 'Riverdale couple found murdered near Greendale'

"This can't be real, Jughead. It can't be." I say.

"Read it." He says softly.

'Late last night, the car of two Riverdale residents, and long-time members of the gang 'The Southside Serpents', was found crashed into a ditch just outside of Greendale. The couple had seemed to have lost control and driven off the road on their way home from a day-trip. However, police discovered upon arrival that the couple, later to be identified as Juliet and Ottis Daniels, were not inside their vehicle but in fact almost a mile away from the crash site, both with multiple fatal bullet wounds. Their daughter, who's name is not to be released due to her age, was thankfully safe in their home back in Riverdale.

Police say that it's every bit possible that the couple were driven off the road and chased down by an unknown attacker. Both Riverdale and Greendale officers say they are working endlessly to find evidence and convict whoever committed such a brutal attack on the southside parents'

"Surely this can't be real, Jug." I say softly.

"It's dated for the day after your parents died, Nova." Jug says.

"That doesn't prove anything." I say. "Why would Penny even want to release this?"

"Because had you found out publicly, or had everyone find out about it, it would've destroyed you Nova. She did it so that I wouldn't have you, and the serpents wouldn't have you." Jughead says.

"I need to talk to Fred." I sigh.

"Before you do... There's one person you can talk to, to firstly, figure out if it's true and secondly, get answers to why it wasn't released." Jughead says.

"What?" I ask. "Who?"

"Look who wrote it." Jughead directs me.

I look down, then back up at him, then down again in shock

Article by: Alice Cooper

*

"Are you sure you don't want me to come in with you?" Jughead offers as we stand outside the Cooper house.

"Now is not time for an awkward encounter with your very recent ex, Jug. I can't support you through that right this second, just go hang out with Archie, I'll be home in a bit." I tell him.

"Good luck." He says, pulling me into a hug.

"I'll need it." I sigh.

I depart from Jughead, walking up the steps of the Cooper's home. I take a deep breath before knocking on the door.

"Oh! Hi, Nova." Alice greets me. "Betty's not here, she's with Veroni-"

"That's okay. I'm actually here to see you, Mrs C." I say.