unheavenly creatures

Trick or Treat

***WARNING this chapter contains material related to non-consentual sexual situations. If this makes you uncomfortable, skip to the end of the chapter or feel free to not continue. If you or an acquaintance is dealing with this topic, please reach out to someone or message me. Thank you, and happy reading.***

SABRINA

If there's one thing I miss the most about Baxter High, it's the library. At Baxter, Roz, Susie, and I could get lost for hours scouring through the classics collection, the history section, everything in between. Not that the Riverdale Public Library is subpar, but it looks a little run down, not as well loved. The only breathing bodies that could think of inhabiting the space are the nice old ladies that want to re-educate the youth, and kids like me and Jughead, who don't follow most norms among teenagers. As a matter of fact, Jughead and I are the only younger people in this library today, with the purpose of doing research. Out of the wide variety of seating options, we choose a table closest to "Psychology and Sociology" - he thinks we can study into serial killers and see if we can find a pattern. He has me select some books out of this section while he ventures off to find books on Riverdale's history from the 1960s.

My fingers trace over the titles, the indents for each word. I wonder if the library includes anything about witchcraft, or anything supernatural. I wonder if there are books that can teach me how to work with Salem; he's nothing that I thought a familiar would turn out. Back in Greendale, I read that familiars aid witches in their magical rituals, and they offer protection against any harm. Well, Salem definitely could help with my magic. But protecting me from mean girls like Midge and outsiders like Jughead? The logic makes no sense.

For now, I grab some books on killers, like Charles Manson and the Zodiac Killer, and make my way back to our table. Jug has a pile of books stacked next to his laptop, where he's typing at lightning speed. He pauses for a moment to hand me the first book on top of his stack. "Here, start looking through this one so you get an idea of the town's history." I take the book, examining the front cover. It's an overhead shot of the town in black and white. There's no view of Pop's or the trailer park, but I can easily make out the school and the library. I peel open the book, a wave of dust spiraling which causes me to cough. A moment later, I start to read.

Riverdale was founded in 1941 by a General Augustus Pickens (Jughead pointed out Pickens Park on the way over here). The town was divided into two sides - north and south. The northside holds more of the wealthier families, and the southside....well, everyone else. The book only explains a generic history of the town, but nothing related to our case. I would have thought Riverdale would have been founded sooner with this land. 1941 seems a bit too recent.

"Does this explain how it even got established?" I ask him out of the blue. He stops typing and sighs, turning to face me.

"Not in that book....not in any book written by the founders." he admits. "See, Pickens and his pal, Barnabas Blossom, took over the land in the 1940s to build the ideal American Dream town, wiping out anything they thought didn't fit their image. That's why we got the divide between Northside and Southside." I continue flipping through the book. It just goes on with discussions of financial developments, lands to use for suburban communities.....but nothing about the events of the Reaper. No death counts, no evidence, no aftermath..... It's like this part of the town's history has been erased.

"Then how does the Reaper enter the story?"

"That...." Jug drums his fingers onto the table with a grin on his face. "is what we are going to uncover." He goes back to his typing, leaving me confused. Wanting a clearer answer. I close the book in frustration and lean back in my chair. Below me, Salem nuzzles into my calf, his fur bringing a sense of warmth. The thought of Salem's presence.... If these books don't have my knowledge, or Jughead's, maybe the internet would. I sit up and look at Jughead's computer.