Broken Home

19 | Highway to Hell

FP arrives to the Whyte Wyrm, where the Ghoulies threatening to go in. Tall Boy stands at the door yelling at them to get lost. Hog Eye keeps watch from inside his bar.

FP makes his way through the crowd, but one of the Ghoulies grabs his arms to stop him from walking any further. FP shoves him off. The subtle dispute catches the attention of their leader. He turns around to address FP, standing face to face with each other.

"What the hell are you doing here?" FP growls.

"Finally, you arrive." Verne amusingly states; FP wants to smack that smug look off of his face. "We didn't get to have our talk."

"I have nothing to say to you. Just round up your men and get lost."

"That's not how this is going to work," Verne shakes his head. "No, we want the southside. Business booms here. Greendale just isn't kicking it anymore."

"You can't bring that shit here." FP doesn't want Jingle Jangle swarming around Riverdale any more than it already has.

"Why? Your kid loves it." He knows he struck a nerve; FP grabs him by the collar. "Hit me. I dare you. Better yet, beg me for mercy." He continues to taunt. "I'll just have my boys hold you down again."

FP doesn't think twice before punching him. Tall Boy comes down to grab FP. Hog Eye and other Serpents come out to see the chaos awaiting them.

Verne spits blood out. "Why don't we settle this like men?" The older man challenges the younger to a brawl. "Round up your best men. Winner takes the southside."

"No," FP shakes his head. He isn't going to wager the southside for a stupid fight.

"Do it," Hog Eye chimes in.

FP swerves his head to look at him. "I'm not betting our land."

Hog Eye pulls FP aside. "This is your chance to get rid of them. Play into their little game."

"I can't just do this. It's too risky."

"You have to do it," Hog Eye continues to press. "You just have to. They're not going to go away. You know that."

FP's decision didn't matter. The Ghoulies started to attack the Serpents under Verne's command.

An entire war ensues.

Once given the chance, FP headbutts the first Ghoulie that attempts to hit him.

The Serpents and Ghoulies alike were too distracted with each other to notice the cloud of smoke coming from the trailer park until the sound of sirens started to get closer.

The fire truck drives past the bar but the numerous cruisers block the gang members in.

Hog Eye yanks FP inside the bar.

"What the hell was that?"

"I told you to trust me," Hog Eye calmly tells him.

"What did you do?"

"I bought us time. Ghoulies are getting arrested as we speak." Hog Eye explains. "I knew they were coming. Sheriff Keller called the bar in advance asking to keep you in place."

Tom waltzes in and approaches the two men. "You need to come with me."

FP glares at him. "Why are you keeping tabs on me now?"

"You should be grateful Alice cares about your wellbeing. Why are you out here starting a riot?" Tom grips him by the collar, hoping he can get through him in some aspect.

"Alice called you?"

"That's not important. There was a call down at the station. Your trailer is on fire."

"The fire is at the trailer park?" Panic takes over FP's face. "Jesus Christ, my kids!"

Tom grabs FP before he can run out the bar. "The fire department is already there handling it. You need to stay put."

"I was just home..." FP shakes his head. "I'm not just going to stand here and do nothing! Those damn Ghoulies have to be fucking kidding me!"

The last time FP felt this enraged he nearly beat a man to death. Now he's out for blood and it was against a different man.

FP ran to the front in search of Verne. He spotted him handcuffed in the back of one of the cruisers.

"Back for more?" Verne stifles a laugh.

FP pulls him out and launches his fist into his face. One of Tom's deputies has to restrain him before he can do anything more.

"That fire better not have touched my kids!" FP fumes. "Or else you're a dead man!"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

A second deputy assists with keeping FP back and shoving Verne back into the car. Tom catches up to him and drags him to his own cruiser.

"Your kids are fine! Gladys was the one to call it in," Tom notices him relax slightly to that.

"They're okay?" FP needs to be sure.

"She said she noticed a couple of Ghoulies lurking around so she grabbed the kids and loaded them into the car. They weren't inside."

FP dials Gladys's number on his phone. He needs to hear it from his kids himself.

Gladys hears her phone. She knows it has to be FP.

"Mom, aren't you going to answer?" Jughead asks innocently.

FP feels a sense of relief when the call goes through. "Hello? Gladys! Where are you?"

"Dad, it's me!" Jughead giggles.

"Pass me the phone, Jug." Gladys holds a hand back.

"Where are you, buddy? Are you okay?" FP asks his son.

"We're fine. I'm taking the kids back to Toledo with me. It's not safe with the Ghoulies around. They torched the place the second we were out of Sunnyside."

Tom helps FP sit down. Everything was hitting him all at once. She left him again. That wasn't the issue though. His problem with it is that she actually took the kids this time.

He has just lost his home, his two youngest kids, and all for what? He still doesn't have a feasible solution to get rid of the Ghoulies. He's hit rock bottom once again. It's a dreadful feeling all too familiar to him.