Serpents ✔️

Chapter 41

"You sure your up for this?" Sweet Pea asks me for the 100th time
"Yes. It will be quick. I'm not going to be harmed promise"
"Ready?" We get out the truck and I can already hear Hod Dog crying. We sit and wait for an hour before we make our move
"Alright. Sweet Pea keep a look out. El your with me" Jug and I walk up to Hot Dog
"Hey bud. You gotta be quiet ok" Jug cuts the chains but as he does the lights turn on and out walks Penny and Malachai
"Hiya Ella and Jug. Welcome back to the Southside"
"I thought this mangy mutt might get you to show up, Malachai here was convinced he'd would see his precious El again and he was right" the Ghoulies surround us
"We need to talk"
"No we don't Penny I'm here for the dog"
"You sure about that?" Suddenly I'm pulled into Malachais grip, he's holding a bat with nails on to my chest "If you didn't want trouble why have you both been sending spy's all summer trying to get in our business"
"Just let Ella go and we will leave"
"Naaa I've missed my play toy not sure what to do about the pesky parasite in her tummy though"
"I'll make you a deal. Back off and you can have your dog and sister. Unless you want a reply of Riot Night and this time Ella will be on the right side"
"Ha you delusional" Malachai pushes the spikes into my chest a little more as I laugh
"I'd shut up if I were you"
"Your Jacket. The Southside isn't yours anymore. Take it off. Malachai take El's off would you"
"Happily"
"Lay a finger on her and your dead" Penny and Malachai chuckle at Jughead
"We could always take it off your dead limp bodies" Penny shrugs
"Fine you can have the jacket just let Ella go and stay out of the Northside"
"Oh you don't get to make demands" Malachai says putting more pressure on my chest
"Ahh" I scream being able to feel the nails on the bat dig into my skin
"It's ok baby I'll fix it later" Malachai starts to kiss my neck
"Let her go hobgoblin now" Cheryl
"You can't tell me what to do" then the nails are ripped out of me as an arrow shoots into his shoulder. I run over to Jughead
"Fine. You want it the hard way. Kill them all"
"Cheryl aim your next arrow between Penny's eyes" Penny puts her hand up to stop the Ghoulies "take one step closer she'll release that arrow"
"And Cheryl doesn't miss" I say
"Congratulations you just made the Northside fair game"
"Sure Penny. I'd love to see you try. You step one foot into the Northside, your dead got it. Come one let's go" Jug and I walk back to the truck
"See you soon Ella" Malachai shouts. I flip him off and get in the back of the truck
"Toni you need to clean the punctures on Ella. We don't know if they were rusty nails"
"Damn it" I breath out as I take off my shirt
"Sweet Pea I think it would be better for her to get a shot anyway just in case"
"Hospital it is then" Toni pours alcohol on my chest which stings like hell to kill off any bacteria that my be in the wounds.

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After getting a shot to make sure I don't get sick we head back to Sweetwater
"There you guys are I've been worried sick" dad says walking up to us "what happened? Where have you been"
"Sorry dad. Didn't mean to scare you, Jug can you fill him in. I'm tired and just want to sleep"
"Of course Ella Goodnight"
"Pea you coming?" I ask
"Yeah" Sweet Pea takes my hand and we walk into the trailer together
"We need to start getting things for the baby" I sigh
"I know. I've got enough for a second hand crib"
"That'll do. I don't see the point in spending money on something new that we might only use for a year"
"What about a car seat? You know for the truck"
"Yeah we need to get one of those as well. Again we'll just get a second hand one"
"Can you believe it. We're going to be parents in 4 months"
"I know Pea. I can't wait"

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"All rise" the judge says as he walks in to the courtroom. Once he sits down we all sit down, I'm sat next to Pea and my dad this time "has the jury reached a verdict?" He asks and a man stands up
"Your honor, we haven't" there's gasps and whispers "we're deadlocked 6-6 and it's not gonna change"
"What does this mean?" I whisper to dad
"I'm not sure"
"So be it" the judge says "the jury is dismissed. Thank you for your service" the jury stand up and leave the room. The woman who's fighting to get Archie in prison stands up
"Your honor. In lieu of another trial the state is prepared to offer a deal for a lesser sentence. Instead of prison time served, 2 years in juvenile detention, if Mr Andrews pleads guilty to the crimes of manslaughter"
"Your honor" Archie's mum stands up but is cut off by Archie saying the most dumb thing I have ever heard
"I'll take the deal"
"What" I say shocked
"No Archie" everyone else says
"Archie listen. We know you didn't do it so please for the love of all things good don't willingly put yourself in there" I plead
"I can't put you all through this again. The stress it's had on you, I'm so sorry" he says looking at me. I give him pleading eyes "your honor I accept the deal" I put my hand on Vs shoulder as shes sat in front of me, she puts her hand on top of mine
"Son just so I have it straight even though it's legally within your rights, your ignoring the advice from your council, your own mother"
"Yes. Your honor. I'm guilty"
"Oh my go..."
"Shhh babe we're in court I don't think you can say that here" Pea takes my hand
"Mr Andrews the court accepts your plea of guilty. You'll be taken directly from the courthouse to the leopold and loeb juvenile detention centre where you will serve out your sentence beginning immediately. This court is adjourned" I watch as Archie gives his mum a hug and police begin to remove his from the courtroom
"Archie stick with the Serpents"
"I will"
"Arch find Baby Teeth and stick with him, tell him that the Princess told you to find him" I yell as he's walked out
"No he didn't do anything you can't take him away he's innocent" Veronica yells trying to get to him. I remove myself from Sweet Peas grip and run over to her with Betty as we hold her
"Shhh were gonna get him out. I promise V. Baby Teeth will look after him. He's protected I promise" Veronica brakes down in tears in mine and Betty's arms.