𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 | 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐚

chapter nineteen

✴︎°༄

"Miss Russo, please be more careful in the future," The doctor smiled as they left the hospital. Kiara, Sweet Pea, Kevin, and Mr.Keller were on their way to the Kellers' car when they were interrupted by Kiara's bio-parents.

"Can I help you?" Mr.Keller asked.

"Kiara," Mrs.Marisa Russo said, ignoring the sheriff. "You are coming home with us. You no longer have to stay with the Kellers."

"I want to stay with them, mom," Kiara stepped forward, not letting go of Sweet Pea's hand. "I can't live under the same roof as my rapist."

"Honey-"

"No, daddy," Kiara hissed at her father, Enrico. "I would rather die than step foot in my childhood home."

"It's not like you have a choice, Kiara," He smirked. She froze.

*flashback*

"Daddy, I don't want to do this!" She cried as he walked closer to her. Her back was against the wall and she was frantically looking for a way to get away from him.

"It's not like you have a choice, Kiara," He chuckled.

*end of flashback*

She would've collapsed, but Sweet Pea pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her. Her breath quickened but she forced herself to stay calm. She couldn't panic now, she had to stay strong until she was away from her parents.

"Please, don't do this!" Kevin pleaded, looking into Mrs.Russo's cold eyes. "She doesn't deserve-"

"We can do this the easy way or Carlo can grab you and throw you in the back of the limo," Enrico said, "It's your choice, mia figlia (my daughter)."

"She's not going with you!" Sweet Pea shouted.

The Russo's driver and bodyguard, Carlo, stepped out of the limo and walked right up to Kiara and Sweet Pea.

"I won't let you take her," The Serpent said through gritted teeth. Mr.Keller stepped in front of Carlo, which separated him from Kiara.

"I'm only gonna say this once, get the hell away from my daughter."

Carlo's fist met Mr.Keller's jaw and it knocked him back several steps. Kevin stopped him from falling to the ground.

"I'll go with you!" Kiara suddenly said. "I'll go with you, don't hurt my dad or my brother or my boyfriend!"

"What, you can't be serious!?" Sweet Pea exclaimed.

She looked up at him and placed her hands on his cheeks. "I- I love you with all my heart and I'd rather go with them then you getting hurt."

"I can fight-"

"He has a gun, Sweets. I can't lose you," She whispered. His tears escaped his eyes as he bent down and kissed her.

"I love you," He whispered, breaking away. "I'm so sorry."

"Hurry up, we don't have all day!" Carlo huffed with frustration.

Kiara hugged her dad and Kevin before looking at her bio-parents. It was as if she had gone completely numb. She was calm. Her mind seemed to be on pause. It was as if she was stuck in a horrible nightmare and she accepted the fact she'd have to go with the flow if she wanted to wake up.

"Wait!" Sweet Pea exclaimed and grabbed her hand. "Let me stay with her."

***

It was only minutes later that Kiara found herself back in the house next to the Cooper's. From her bedroom window, she could see into Polly's. She grew up talking with Polly using cute signs which turned into daily phone calls. She never told her anything about what was really happening, it was nice to have a friend who simply saw her as the pretty, rich neighbor.

The first thing Kiara did when she set foot in her room was take a shower. Afterward, she dove into her small pile of homework and helped Sweet Pea with his. She then looked through her closet, only to realize all the clothes were her old style. Tight skirts, expensive shoes, diamond earrings, her closet had it all. It made her feel like throwing up. She didn't want any of it. She wanted her Serpent jacket, or one of Sweet Pea's hoodies, not the clothes in front of her.

She found herself wearing a girly outfit to school the next few days anyway. She received compliments from Veronica and Kevin, which made her feel more herself, but it also reminded her of the compliments they gave before New York.

When Weatherbee forced the Southsiders into uniforms, it infuriated her that he refused to give her the uniform. Since she was no longer a Southsider and legally never stepped foot in Southside High, he treated her as if nothing ever happened and she was the same person she was before New York.

Her heavy heart lightened when Jughead came back, she felt less alone and defenseless. He'll know what to do, he'll fix this, she kept telling herself.

He did, to a point. He started the 'Swords and Serpents' gaming club; a community for the former Southside High students hidden in plain sight.