"What are you doing down here?" I ask Ethel.

She looks up at me. "Hiding from the Gargoyle King. I'm terrified he's gonna kill me for failing my mission."

"What mission?" Jug whispers. She looks at me, then looks down at her shoes. "Wait. You were the one that told Ricky to send that letter during prom." He scoffs.

I look over at her. "You led me and Betty right to the Gargoyle King and the Black Hood?" I scoff. "I thought you quit G&G."

"She saved me from the Sisters false king, yes. But then I rejoined the true king in the woods after." She tells us. "When I came back to him, he put me in charge of his lost boys."

Jughead glares. "The Lord of the Flies gang that just chased us through the woods with spears? Ethel, you're playing G-" He shakes his head. "All right. You're gonna tell me now, right now,who the Gargoyle King is." He orders.

Ethel sobs. "I can't. I can't betray his trust."

I scoff. "He's trying to kill you, you dumb cow. How hard is it to tell us who it is!?" I shout

She shrugs. "He's...He's beautiful." She whispers. "Despite it all, I love him."

i groan, "Okay, this isn't Romeo and Juliet sweetie." I retort

Jughead sighs. "Fine. It's okay. But you and the lost boys can't stay in these woods. You have to end this game." He looks down at her. "Will you?"

She agrees.

So, the two of them make a plan while I gather what I need. "Ready?" He asks me. I nod and he tosses me my old serpent jacket. My black one. My heart aches at the memory of the first time I wore this jacket. I grab it, sliding it over my shoulders.

"Stand down Lost Boys." Ethel orders as she climbs out. Jughead and I follow as she stared them down. "The Hellcaster and the Sorceress are on our side, and they come bearing good news." She says. "Our quest is complete."

They stand down, looking relieved. "Where's Ricky?" Jughead asks.

"He just took off." One boy says.

I look at Jug. "What if he's reporting to the Gargoyle King and the Black Hood?"

"That's exactly what he's doing." Jughead mumbles.

Ethel looks around. "Jack? Where's Jack?"

"He went back to the bus to get his carving knife." The boy says.

"We can't leave Jack behind. He's the youngest."

I sigh. "We'll find him." I say, gesturing to me and Jug.

"He will never trust you on your own." Ethel whines.

"Well, then, come on." Jug waves her over. The boys all shrug, heading their separate ways as we head for the bus.

When we approach it, we hop on the bus to see the scrawny little boy. "I can't find my knife."

"Okay, I'll get you a new one, but right now we have to go." Ethel ushers.

Jack frowns. "Why'd you bring them?"

"It's okay, you can trust them."

Suddenly, we hear a loud sound of metal scraping. I kneel down, looking out the window. "Uh, Jughead."

He looks out and sees what I see. The Black Hood. He shoves us all down. "Get down, right now." He hisses. I cover the boys mouth as Jug covers Ethel's. "Don't say another word." He whispers.

The metal scraping continues, it's eerie, and causes my heart to race. Then, its silent.

Until he bangs on the hood of a car "Go! go, go go!" Jug says, rushing us to the back of the bus. Ethel pulls on the door as I stand next to Jug.

"It won't budge." She shouts.

"Ethel, open the damn door." I shout.

My eyes widen at Jug. "Ethel, open the door!" Jug shouts. Suddenly The Black Hood approaches the bus and Jughead booked towards the door, busting it open. I twirl back, grabbing the closest thing to me.

A book.

I shrug, throwing it at Hal. Jughead lets Ethel and Jack out, and I jump out as well, we shut and lock the door, placing something in front of it. "I'll get the front!" I shout, running. I slam the door shut, grabbing a near by rod. I slide it through the handle, just as Hal tries to kick it open.

"That's not gonna hold him, we have to go." Says Ethel. I grab Jugs collar, pulling him away.

And we run.

That night, I head to La Bonne Nuit. I approach Veronica, tapping her shoulder. She turns around, smiling. "Wow, Em, you look-"

"Weird without red? I know." I tease. I hold out my heels, showing a glossy red.

"I was gonna say amazing, but," She laughs. "So, when are you going up?" She asks.

Reggie jogs over. "She's up right now."

I smile. "I'll see you, V."

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

I approach the stage, my hands wrapping around the mic. "I'm, doing this tonight. You're, probably gonna start a fight. I, know this can't be right. Hey, baby come on."

Sliding the mic off the stand I walk towards my right. "I, loved you endlessly, when, you weren't there for me. so, give me one good reason and make it alone." I make eye contact with Sweet Pea. He was wearing his leather jacket, leaning against the bar. My heart pounds with pure anger and rage. "I know that I can't take no more; it ain't no lie." I look him right in the eyes, a cold stare. "I want to see you out that door."

"Baby, Bye bye bye."

I turn back, walking towards the left. "I don't wanna be a fool for you. Just another player in your game for two. You might hate me but it ain't no lie, bye bye bye."

I flip my hair back, Veronica and Reggie nodding to the beat. Guests smiling. "Don't really wanna make it tough. I just want to tell you that I've had enough. Might sound crazy but it ain't no lie."

Leaning down, "Baby bye bye bye!" I hold the last note effortlessly, the crowd cheering.

I walk off the stage, Veronica hugging me. "You did amazing!" She cheers.

Eventually, Veronica approaches the stage. She sings Daddy's Lessons. As she finishes, FBI rushes in. Veronica casually steps down the steps, me meeting at the end. "What is the meaning of this?" She asks.

"You two the owners of this establishment?" She asks.

I let out a ticking sound. "That would be our father, Hiram Lodge."

"You don't happen to know where to find him?" The FBI lady asks.

Veronica smiles. "Why, yes. He's at the El Royale boxing club taking part in an illegal underground boxing match." She explains nonchalant. She holds her hand out. "Sheriff Jones is expecting you outside."

They walk away, but Reggie suddenly jogs over. "We have a problem. Some last minute bets are coming in, they all want odds on Hiram killing Archie in the ring."

I look at V. "We have to go." I shout.

We rush to the El Royale, our matching coats warming us up from the cool weather (V's black, mine red of course). We run in to see Hiram, our father. About to pummel Archie to death. "Daddy, stop!" We scream.

Everything goes quiet, Hiram scoffing down at Archie. "I beat you. I'm the better man."

I rush into the ring, wrapping my arms around Archie carefully. He chuckles. "No. You lost." He smirks. I take a cloth, wiping the blood of his cheek as he lays in my lap. "I was just keeping you busy."

Suddenly, Sheriff FP Jones walks in. "Hiram Lodge." Hiram looks up, "It is with great pleasure, that I say, You're under arrest."

"For what?" Dad asks.

"For conducting illegal activities at your establishments." Veronica explains. "El Royale boxing club and La Bonne Nuit speakeasy."

He looks between the two of us. "You betrayed me?" He hisses.

I look down at Archie, who's groaning in pain. "Did we do it?" He asks.

I laugh, my eyes watering. "Yeah, Arch, we did." Is the last thing I say before I kiss his lips.

That night, I'm sitting in my car in light blue jeans and a white crop top when I get a phone call. "Cheryl! Hey!" I chirp. "What's up?"

"No time to talk. The Farm is a organ harvesting organization and I need to get me and Toni out of here."

"What!?" I say, turning on the car engine. "I'm a few minutes away, I'll come get you!"

"Please hurry, sister!" She pleads.

I zip down the streets, going nearly 30 miles over the speed limit. Of course, I get there in triple the time, and it doesn't take me long towards the building. I slide open a window, climbing in. I run down the halls, looking for the two.

"Cheryl! Toni!" I scream.

I look down a hall to see the two of them. "Emmy!" Cheryl shouts, hugging me tightly. "Betty was right, this place-"

"I know!" I shout. "I came in through a window, follow me!"

We run down the halls, my breathing heavy. I slide open the window, hopping out. "Come on!" I shout at Toni.

She crawls out, and I look back at Cheryl. To my surprise, Cheryl slams it shut, locking it. "Cheryl!" Toni and I scream.

" I love you." Cheryl cries. "This is your only chance at freedom. She looks back. "Run! Go!"

"I'll come back for you!" I shout, pulling Toni through the woods.

This night couldn't get any worse.

_________________________

We will ignore the Archie and Veronica and Reggie scene. It never happened.

Two more chapters and then we're done! I'm so sad:((