Stardust // Reggie Mantle (3)

Chapter Thirteen

News broke the morning after Archie's escape that Warden Norton had killed himself. Caia was stunned, as were all of her friends. She couldn't help but feel like maybe Archie's escape was some how connected to the Warden's death. Especially since the Warden had been found with blue lips, just like Ben and Dilton so long ago.

The bad feeling Caia had was making for one heck of a sour mood. The scolding lecture Sheriff Minetta gave during her first period class didn't help, either.

"Archie is a murderer," Minetta claimed. "And we know he didn't escape alone, he had help." Caia tried to act as nonchalant as she could at those words. It would be horrible if they were caught now. "Hiding a convict or withholding information from the law is a felony offense. So, whoever's aided and abetted Archie Andrews is just as much of a criminal as he is."

As Sheriff Minetta made his way down the asile, Caia desperately wanted to avoid his piercing gaze. But she also know that this could make her look even more suspicious, so she fought hard to maintain normal eye contact. However, Minetta seemed to be staring more at Caia's boyfriend.

"I was busy all day, Sheriff," Reggie stated. "If you know what I mean." Reggie glanced over at Caia and gave her a small wink. Caia felt her face heat up. Even if it wasn't true, she couldn't help but blush.

Not to mention there was a slight murmur of giggles and whispers that pulsed through the classroom. Caia could see Cheryl roll her eyes through the corner of her own.

To Caia's relief, a foreign voice spoke up from the back of the room to take the spotlight off of herself. "I don't even know this Archie person," a redheaded girl claimed. "And on Mondays I host a group for teen Farmies. We are still accepting members." Caia glanced diagonally over her other shoulder to Betty, who did not look impressed.

Caia turned back over her other shoulder to give the girl a once over. She looked pretty normal, but there was something off about her eyes. They looked- crazy.

Caia returned her gaze to the front as Minetta began grilling Josie. "And where were you, Miss McCoy, at the time of the breakout?" He quizzed as he began to stride toward Josie's desk.

Josie glanced around the room before speaking. "Don't look at me, sir. I- uh..." Josie faltered and Caia cursed her bad lying abilities. "I-" another long pause ensued. "I was in the music room. Practicing."

"Alone?" Minetta questioned. Josie stayed silent, staring up at the Sheriff. She looked like she was about to faint. Minetta finally looked away from Josie to address the whole class. "I'll be looking into all of your alibis and if I find out later that someone in here was involved," Minetta turned to stare down at Josie once again, setting his hands on her desks and lowering his face towards hers. "Then you can say goodbye to this school, your hopes and dreams, your music, your entire future, all of that goes away just like that." Sheriff Minetta stood tall once again, but Josie continued to look sick. "So again, to be clear, if you know anything, now is the time-"

Suddenly, Caia noticed Josie's head fall back and her body began to shake. She gasped, and Cheryl, who had seen the same thing, sprung from her seat. "Sheriff Minetta, back off!" She shouted, rushing over to Josie, who was now full on convulsing. Just as Cheryl reached her desk, Josie lurched forward and her head slammed against the wood. Suddenly, she shot back once agin, her eyes almost rolled all the way back in her head.

And just like that, it was over. Cheryl caught Josie as she lost consciousness and flopped towards the ground. Murmurs began floating throughout the room. Still, no adult made move to do anything, which Caia found more than strange.

What was going on?

*

After school, Caia was recruited for an emergency South Side Serpents meeting at Jughead's trailer. She had been there for a while when Jughead finally walked through the door.