Broken Home

24 | Traitor

It only took one quick phone call from Charles to the Whyte Wyrm to reveal the truth. And it only took a matter of minutes before a swarm of Serpents ended up locating Penny Peabody and demanding answers. All whilst Charles went back to eating with his boyfriend in a booth adjacent to the Andrews and his sisters.

Penny was escorted to the bar where a crowd of Serpents await her. The Serpents were furious about the revelation. They had a traitor amongst them.

Tall Boy and Mustang take the lead in interrogating her. Tall Boy gets real close to her face. "Care to explain how you're a two-timing bitch?"

Penny spits at him.

Mustang flips out a pocket knife and holds it up to her neck. "He asked you a question."

"Tell your boyfriend I plead the fifth."

"She's a traitor! She's been helping the Ghoulies behind all of our backs! Who knows what else she's done while breaking law number 5," Tall Boy paces around. "A Serpent never betrays their own!"

"Where's your so called king? Isn't it true he skipped town? Doesn't that break the first law? A Serpent never shows cowardice."

"I wouldn't put it past you if you had something to do with his disappearance," Hog Eye shoves his way into the inside of the circle. "Well, did you?"

Penny scoffs. "I have bigger things to worry about than Jonesy Junior's whereabouts."

"Where is he?"

"I don't know."

"Bullshit, you brought us this war with the Ghoulies."

"All we do is supply preppy northsiders with candy. There's no need to have your panties in a bunch." Penny rolls her eyes. "If you snakes hadn't stuck your nose in it, we wouldn't have had a problem."

Mustang lowers his knife to her shoulder. "Traitors don't get to keep their tattoo."

"Bite me," Penny grits through her teeth.

Tall Boy gets up in her face. "You're lucky we don't just skin you alive."

"You won't kill me." She shakes her head. "You need me alive to know how to lure FP back to town successfully. All snakes have a soft underbelly." Penny smirks. "She's his, am I right?"

Penny had advised the Ghoulies on how to proceed with their reign of terror. The only effective way to hurt the Serpent King is to hurt those closest to his heart.

Hog Eye instantly understood what she was trying to insinuate. He heads over to the landline to call Alice, hoping it's not too late.

+

FP spins for Alice. "Are you sure I don't look like Fred?"

Alice had changed after their shower and gone next door for a change of clothes for him while he waited in her bedroom in nothing but a towel on his waist.

"You both keep the flannel department in business. You're fine."

"I still need to buy myself a new wardrobe," He sighs. "Fred offered me a place to stay, but I don't think sharing clothes was something he bargained for."