FLAMES {Peter Parker X Betty Cooper}

ch18

Peter gasps as I stare down at her, horrified. She lays still, not moving at all.
"What's going on?" Someone yells from the other room. It sounds like Veronica but i'm so shocked it could have been anyone.
"I-I-" I call back, unable to form a sentence.

A scream fills the room, making me jump. I whip around and see Cheryl behind me, looking as if she's about to faint. Archie runs in after her. "What's going o-" His eyes move from Cheryl's pale face to Nana Rose's.

After what seems like an eternity, my voice returns. "Someone call an ambulance!" I yell. Archie pulls out his phone as Cheryl leans against the wall and slides down it. Peter throws himself onto the floor next to Nana Rose. I do the same, grabbing Nana Rose's wrist, looking for a pulse.

I almost cry of relief when I find it.
"She has a pulse!" I yell at no one in particular.
I look over at Cheryl who is still sitting on the floor. Veronica and Josie are on either side of her, clinging onto her paper white hands while Jughead yells orders through his phone.

"The ambulance is on its way". Archie tells me and I nod calmly, if only for Cheryl's sake. Riverdale never used to be a dangerous place, but in the last month it's been nothing but.

Cheryl picks herself up from the wall and slowly walks towards me and Nana Rose. She sinks down on the floor next to me, taking one of her nana's hands.

Sirens wail from outside the house. Jughead walks over to the window and looks out.
"Ambulance...and police too". He announces, walking over to the door and pulling it open.
I stand up quickly and follow him out of the house, Veronica close behind me.

Once outside, Jughead walks off to go talk to them while Veronica and I hang back, the icy air sending shivers through me.
"Do you think it was an accident?" Veronica mutters while we take in the scene.
"I don't think so. Cheryl's been paranoid about something bad happening to Nana Rose and then it does? That's no coincidence". I reply, shaking my head.

A couple of men run past us and into the house with a stretcher. A few moments later, a couple of people brush past me and make their way over to the cops. At first, I think it's Cheryl or one of the others, but then I realise its Penelope Blossom, followed by Claudius.

Veronica looks at me bewildered. I briefly return the look before turning my gaze back to Penelope and Claudius as they talk to the cops. Everything about their presence is sinister.

I turn around to see Cheryl and Josie sitting on the steps of Thistle House. Archie, Jughead and Peter are all standing a couple of steps behind us. Archie and Jughead look worried but Peter looks more confused than anything. He stares down at his arm, rubbing it with his hand, before looking back at the scene in front of him.

I look at the stretcher now being carried out the house and frown, before looking back at Peter. His eyes are on me now, his expression still confused. The frown remains on my face for a few seconds as we look at each other before I eventually break the gaze, turning back to Veronica.

"I'm gonna go speak to Archie". She says quietly, her voice wavering slightly. I nod as she walks off to Archie who, immediately, pulls her into a hug. I look at them, with nothing but admiration for how much they care about eachother,

"You ok?" I hear Jughead's voice from beside me. I plaster a tiny smile on my face and cross my arms, turning to face him.
"Yeah, i'm ok. You?" I ask.
"I'm fine". He replies. I nod and turn my head to face the stretcher being put in the back of the ambulance.

"Hey," Jughead starts, "Were you out of bed when the accident happened?" He asks and I glance over at him.
"Yeah, I was grabbing a glass of water-"
"And you didn't hear anything?"
I shake my head in response.

"You kids ok?" A new voice says. I turn away from Jughead and towards the person, a police officer. We both nod in response.
"You will all need to arrange for someone to come and pick you up". He tells us.

"Not a problem, officer," Veronica starts, stepping in between Jughead and I, "I called my parents, and my driver is taking us all back to the Pembrooke".
"Thank you V". I say and she smiles at me.
"Of course B". She replies, before turning back to the officer.

"And Nana Rose? How is she?"
"Well, she was very lucky tonight. She'll take a while to recover, but her injuries aren't fatal. The girl, Cheryl, has asked to go with her in the ambulance to the hospital".

I glance over the mans shoulder and see Cheryl
climbing into the ambulance, Josie going with her for presumably emotional support. A long black car pulls up in front of the ambulance.
"That's our ride". Veronica says before walking away to Archie and Peter to tell them.
"Thanks for your help". I tell the man as Jughead and I walk towards the car.