Start Again | Choni

you can go and burn in hell

Third Person POV

"The Court will rise for Judge Penton." The official said and everyone stood. Cheryl was shaking from head to toe but she took a deep breath and held her nerve as she took to the stand. "We are calling witness Cheryl Marjorie Blossom to the stand. Please repeat after me." Cheryl swore under oath and sat at the stand, her hands twisting in her lap. She looked to Toni who smiled encouragingly and then back at the lawyer.

"Please describe to the court your relationship with Hiram Lodge." "I-I, um..." Cheryl swallowed and looked around. The room started to spin but then her eyes settled on Hiram's smirk and she controlled her anxiety. "H-Hiram, he and I didn't get along..." She finished her testimony strongly and even smiled back at Toni as she left the stand. "Well done babe." Toni whispered.

Hiram did not say a word as the trial went on until the judge called the jury for their decision. "How does the jury find the defendant?" There was a pause and everyone held their breath. "Guilty. Of all charges."

Cheryl squealed with delight before rushing out of the courtroom. Hiram frowned and his attorney stood up. "What about a deal? He hands over names in exchange for a lighter sentence." "There's no need for that, Sowerberry. We already have all we need." The judge almost smirked as he sentenced Hiram and received several rounds of applause from the crowd. Hiram scowled as he was led out of the courtroom, only to be met by hundreds of paparazzi as they pushed through. "Get those things out of my face." He growled.

At the exit of the courthouse stood Hermione, Cheryl and Toni. "Mi amor..." he started to say, but Hermione cut him off with a sharp slap across the face. "I have not been your amor since you started bullying and manipulating others to do your bidding, Hiram. Least of all, my niece. You killed my sister and her family all for some stupid maple syrup. I mean, come on, grow up." She scoffed and turned away.

"This is your fault." He yelled at Cheryl who shook nervously but didn't look away. "Hiram, you don't scare me any more. I'm not going to run out of a window like last time." She said determinedly. "You can go and burn in hell." And with a satisfied feeling she walked away, her arm linked with Toni's.

Over in youth detention, Veronica heard wind of her father's sentencing and she stormed towards the guard. "I need to see my father. Now. He's going to prison and I need to say something to him." She demanded. The guard ignored her. "Hey, don't you have a family? How would you feel if you never saw them again and didn't get to say goodbye?" She pretended to choke up and the guard relented. "Come with me."

He took Veronica to see the Warden in charge. "Sir, this girl wishes to speak to her father, Hiram Lodge." The warden smiled as he took a sip of his drink. "Of course, please have a seat, Miss Lodge." Once the guard had left, he turned to Veronica. "I know all about your father and his crimes." He smiled evilly. "I just want to say goodbye to him. He's going away for a long time, since nobody is willing to give an open statement of forgiveness." She complained. "Touching, very touching. But you see, I'm not the sentimental type. I couldn't care less whether he's going to prison for a day or a year or more. You're here to serve your sentence and pay for your crimes." "But, but.." her face fell. "I can tell you stories about your father if you'd like. Stories that would curl your hair. You're in for a real treat."

"Like what?" Veronica sat opposite, waiting patiently. "Let me tell you a fascinating story about a lucrative and dangerous mobster criminal named Poppa Poutine.  They were good friends and partners for years after Hiram found work in Montreal, Canada. But then they became rivals. You see Poutine was an excellent businessman and he knew good business when he saw it. He had a chain of extremely successful restaurants in Quebec, his signature dish being Poutine. However he also hustled his own speciality rum on the side." "You say had, is he..." Veronica interrupted. "Poutine came to Riverdale a few years ago, looking for Hiram. They had unfinished business as Hiram wanted the rum trade all to himself. Just before Halloween, his body was discovered in his hotel room in the five seasons, a bullet to the head and an untouched bottle of rum on the table. A warning. Your father isn't as clean and innocent as you think, Veronica. He needs to pay for his crimes now."

Veronica was speechless. She knew her dad was ruthless, but to have an old friend like Poutine so coldly murdered? That was beyond cruel. She stood up, needing space to think. "I-I think I need to go. I, I don't want to see him anymore. I don't want to be associated with him, he's done terrible things." Her voice was beginning to shake. The warden stood and walked towards the young girl, who watched nervously. "Believe me, there are many more stories like that. I hope, for you're sake, that you don't end up like you're scumbag of a father, killing anyone who gets in the way. Including my family. So don't think for a second that this sentence is going to be easy, or that you can manipulate my staff to get what you want. It doesn't work like that, not for anyone, not even a Lodge. Go, while you still can."

Trembling, Veronica headed to the dining hall with the other inmates. She sat alone, picking at her food. She had a lot of thinking to do. And one of those things was Cheryl Blossom. It was her fault that Cheryl was raped by Nick St Clair. After all, she knew he had a dark past and she knew what he was capable of. For the first time, Veronica felt emotion. She felt sorry for Cheryl, and more importantly, she felt disgusted by the person she had become. All because of her father. Well that ended today. She went to the public telephone and dialled the one number she remembered. "Sowerberry, I want to change something."

...

The bell rang out through Shankshaw prison and the cells opened. Hiram appeared, dressed in orange pants and a white tank, his muscles exposed and his eyes cunning. "P. Lanyard, S. Lemmings, H. Lodge." The guard took roll call. Afterwards, Hiram went to talk to him. "When do I get a phone call?" He didn't answer. "Excuse me, I'm talking to you." Hiram repeated his request. "I've been told to give you a message, Lodge. From Warden Norton at L&L youth detention centre. Miss Lodge no longer wants to stay in contact with you. She's going about changing her surname to Luna, which I believe is an old family name. I'm sorry." He said before walking Hiram back to his cell. Back in his cell, he yelled out. "Damn you Blossom!" He shouted before kicking his bed over and over. He didn't stop until the guards had arrived to settle him and he lay down, staring at the ceiling of his lonely, dark cell.

A/N

Nearly at the end, finally Hiram and Veronica are both dealt with, and Cheryl feels much happier and safer without them around...

Prom is just around the corner. What will Choni get up to I wonder?

Enjoy XO