Restrained - A Sweet Pea x Reader Fanfiction

14

Sweet Pea gave me a ride to school the next morning and while he tried to distract me from the night before, I did not engage. It was all I could think about. That feeling when the gun pointed at me- the split second where I knew my life was going to end- but it didn't. I had never been more scared of anything in my life. We got to the school, passed silently through the metal detectors, and put our bags in our lockers. If it had been my choice, I would have stayed at home today. God, I wish I could have. But Jughead thought I might do something destructive if I was left alone, so there I was, an invisible speck in a crowded hallway full of people. 

I was supposed to go to the Wyrm after the party the night before and complete the second and third tests, but we decided that in the state I was in, it wasn't a good idea. We would do it tonight instead, giving me ten hours to get my head right before then and memorize the laws. I was considering asking for it to be cancelled again. But I knew that if I did, there was no hope in hell of me becoming a Serpent. So in those short seconds, I decided to put all of my energy towards memorizing the laws.

As if reading my mind, Sweet Pea handed me a sheet of paper with the laws written down in his messy handwriting. We headed off to class, going in opposite directions of the hallway, but not before he kissed me gently. I was barely able to kiss back.

I mouthed the laws from the sheet all through the first two periods of the day, repeating the words again and again and again:

1. A Serpent never shows cowardice.
2. If a Serpent is killed or imprisoned, their family will be taken care of.

I stopped at the second law as I read it over the first time. Were Jughead and I 'being taken care of?' What would that even mean? I decided not to dwell on it too much as I continued reading down the list:

3. A Serpent never sheds its skin.
4. No serpent is left for dead.
5. A Serpent never betrays his own.
6. In unity, there is strength.

Toni quizzed me on them during lunch and I only messed up the phrasing on the second law. It wasn't my fault it was twice as long as the others. I practiced that one almost exclusively throughout the rest of the day until the bell rang. A pit of dread opened in my stomach as I debated whether or not to go through with this. I was still conflicted even after Sweet Pea, Toni, Fangs, and I arrived at the Whyte Wyrm and we entered, the red lights setting an ominous tone. The realization suddenly dawned on me that I would be the first girl ever to do this. I could just call it quits and do the Serpent dance right then and there, and I was considering it, not gonna lie. But I had to do this. I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath in and out. I walked up to Tall Boy, Sweet Pea reluctantly staying back as Tall Boy yelled, "Are you here to recite the laws?"

Somehow, I didn't flinch. I replied, "Yes." In an even tone, though I felt like puking. Multiple times.

"What is the first law!" Tall Boy shouted, getting in my face. His hot breath reeked of alcohol.

"A Serpent never shows cowardice!" I yelled back, gritting my teeth as I finished the phrase.

"What is the second law!"

"If a Serpent is killed or imprisoned, their family will be taken care of!"

Tall Boy started glaring harshly. It was clear from the look in his eyes that he wanted me to fail.

"What is the third law!"

"A Serpent never sheds its skin!"

"What is the fourth law!"

"No Serpent is left for dead!"

"What is the fifth law!"

"A Serpent never betrays his own!"

"What is the sixth law!"

Moment of truth. "In unity, there is strength!"

"In unity, there is strength!" Every Serpent in the bar shouted. I glanced over my shoulder at Sweet Pea who's smiling face calmed me.

"Show no fear! Retrieve the knife!" Tall Boy yelled at me as a glass cage was rolled in between me and him. Inside... was a knife and a rattlesnake.

I gulped, the pit of dread opening up again as silence was thrown over the bar like a blanket. As I looked over the top, the snake coiled, shaking its rattle. I feigned grabbing the knife with my left hand, pulling it away at the last second and taking the knife with my right hand. As soon as my hands were out of the cage, I handed the blade to Tall Boy who fumed silently in front of me while everyone else cheered. I smirked at him as I walked into Sweet Pea's arms. He hugged me, a rare smile exposing itself on his face. He kissed me quickly but tenderly before Toni and Fangs came to hug me. And though everyone was celebrating, I knew tomorrow, I would have to do the most dangerous thing I'd ever done.

At the next nightfall, I'd have to run the gauntlet.