now tell me, how did all my dreams turn to nightmares?

Chapter 2

An ear piercing scream left the redhead's throat as the reality of the situation began to resonate with her. This was not a joke. This was really happening. Whatever this was.

"Wake up, Cheryl," she told herself to no avail. "You have to wake up. This cannot be real. You...I ... cannot look like that. This is all just an incredibly vivid nightmare."

The front door of the trailer flew open as Jughead Jones nearly fell through the threshold.

"Hobo?"

"W-what?" His face scrunched in confusion before remembering the reason for being there, "I heard a scream. You okay?"

"What's going on? Where am I? Where's Toni?" Cheryl's bottom lip trembled as she listed off her questions. She had never been so lost or confused in her life, not even when her mother had discarded her with the Sisters.

Jughead squinted at her, attempting to figure out if she was serious. "Cher, are you high?"

"Of course not! Will you please answer my questions," she pleaded.

"You're home? This," he waved his arms around, "is where you live. As for what's going on, I have absolutely no idea."

Cheryl scoffed at the accusation, "I most certainly do not. I live at Thistlehouse, the same place I've lived for over two years, ever since Thornhill burned down. You know all this!"

"Thistle...what? Seriously, what laced shit did Tank sell you this time?"

"Please just tell me where Toni is. You are talking nonsense, Jones."

"Toni? You mean Toni Topaz?"

She huffed, "Of course I mean Topaz. You know? My girlfriend."

The raven haired boy burst out laughing at her claim. "I never realized you could be so funny, Cheryl. All this time you've been holding out on me. Like you'd ever date the Northside Princess."

"Wh-"

"Hey, but if you are really okay, I gotta run. My shift starts in fifteen. Was just walking by when I heard that banshee noise thing you had going on." He reached up and scratched his head through his beanie, "Seriously though. If this, whatever it is, doesn't wear off soon text me asap. I can have one of the Serpents sit with you or something."

"Wai-"

"Just sit down on the couch. This will pass; I promise. Here," he opened the refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of water before tossing it to her. Cheryl managed to catch it as her eyes blinked rapidly, still not processing what the hell was happening. "Drink that. All of it. You hear me? I'm stopping by as soon as I'm off to check on you. Alright?"

The redhead nodded silently.

"Cool, see you in a few hours," he confirmed before turning to walk back to the front door, still left ajar. The boy paused as his hand gripped the doorknob, "I mean it, Cher. Sit. Drink." He gave her a nod and a smile before exiting the trailer, pulling the door closed behind him.

Cheryl sat the bottle down on the TV stand next to her and ran back to the room she had woken up in, hoping to find some sort of clue to explain what was going on. Something was seriously wrong. Her friends wouldn't do this. Jughead Jones wouldn't worry about checking up on her. She wouldn't have so carelessly pierced her perfect skin. Nothing was right about any of this.

When she had awoken the redhead had not bothered to really examine where she was, and now that she was she noticed multiple Polaroids taped to the wall behind the bed. She swallowed the lump forming in her throat as she approached them. As she feared, they were of her, this version of her. There were a few of her and Jason, but there didn't seem to be any of them past the age of 12 or 13. Most of them, however, were of her with Jughead of all people.