Stardust // Reggie Mantle (3)

Chapter Two

"Are you absolutely sure that this was Hot Dog?" Was Jughead's first question after Fangs had finished telling his story.

Fangs nodded. "100 percent, man," he affirmed. "They must have snatched him on riot night. He looked skinny. I don't think the Ghoulies are feeding him enough."

Caia's blood boiled. She loved Hot Dog. He was the closest she ever came to having a dog of her own and she couldn't stand to think he was being mistreated.

"Oh, we're lucky those animals aren't slow roasting him on a grill," Sweet Pea shot, obviously also angry about the situation.

Toni crossed her arms. "What do we do, Jughead?"

"We'd be going behind enemy lines," Jug began. "Outnumbered, open to attack from all directions and risking another gang war."

Everyone was silent as they thought about the consequences. No one wanted another war, but what could they do? They all loved Hot Dog. Caia looked up at the group. "No Serpent left behind, right?" Everyone nodded. "That includes our spirit animal."

Jughead nodded. "Okay, we're gonna to deploy after dark. It's gonna be a stealth mission. It's gonna be quick," He decided.

Betty had some concerns about the plan. "Jug, last time you went into Ghoulie territory you were beaten to within an inch of your life," she reminded.

"He'll have more than me as backup this time," Caia stated.

Jughead agreed. "And we're gonna be quick, Betty. They won't even know we were there."

"Okay, then I'm coming with you," Betty demanded.

"No."

"No, don't you dare tell me that's it's too dangerous, Jug," Betty commanded, angrily. "The Serpent Queen is a warrior queen. So if you're on the front lines, so am I."

Jughead stared at Betty, and Caia could tell he was proud of her. "Okay," he agreed. "Let's bring Hot Dog home, shall we?"

*

Caia left out her window that night, not wanting to deal with her mother. She met the others at Tent City and from there they trekked to the Ghoulies hide out where Fangs had seen Hot Dog.

They sat in the grass for an hour, staring at Hot Dog whimpering from where he was chained.

"It's been an hour and no sign of anyone," Toni observed.

Jughead finished chewing his snacks. "Alright," he agreed, turning around and setting the bag in the back of the truck. "Sweet Pea, you guys keep lookout." He grabbed a pair of bolt cutters and made his way to the dog.

Sweet Pea straightened up in his seat in the front of the truck, trying to keep lookout. Cheryl stood on the back of the truck bed, also keeping watch for trouble.

Everything seemed to be going well until Jughead cut the chain. As soon as he did, all the outsides lights came flooding on. Jughead snapped his head up in alarm. Caia pushed herself off the truck and took a few steps forward, afraid that Jughead would need help.

"Hiya, Jonesy," Penny Peabody greeted, rounding the corner with an army of Ghoulies trailing behind her. Jughead threw down the bolt cutters in exasperation. "Welcome back to the South Side."

Betty tried to go forward to help her boyfriend but Cheryl held her back. "Not yet, cousin," she commanded.

Caia made eye contact with Malachai, who smirked at her. She sneered at him, thinking of everything that he'd done to make her life harder.