"How in the hell did Hal Cooper fake his own death in a bus explosion?"

That was the million dollar question.

Nobody could figure it out. Hal Cooper was supposed to be dead. He was supposed to die with the rest of those prisoners.

But now he's working with the Gargoyle King.

Dr. Curdle Jr. replies, "Well, I re-examines the tell-tale hand recovered from the bus." He uncovered the hand from the blanket. "The erratic incision at the wrist leads me to think this amputation was self-inflicted."

Jughead looks up at the doctor. "So the Black Hood cut off his own hand and left it behind to convince everyone he died?" He asks, surprised.

"It's not an easy task." Curdle Jr. says. "There are eighth bones in the human wrist."

My eyes widen as I look at FP.

I sit next to Archie, feeding Tori as Veronica and Mary look at her deed. "It was all fake. My dad still owns Pop's and the speakeasy, and I'm a fool for ever trusting him." She snaps. "And on top of everything he's done to me, he's not planning on buying the entire town."

"Yeah." I scoff. "Dad sucks." I sigh. I look up at my half sister. "What about all the shady stuff that goes down at the speakeasy." I look between them. "Bethany Smith, aka my mom, and him are probably working together. If Dads name is on the deed, can't he be prosecuted for it?"

"Shady stuff as in..?" Mary asks.

Veronica steps in. "Drinking without carding, and/or illegal gambling, let's say?"

"Hiram did these things?"

I shrug. "Well, technically no, not exactly."

"But, if the property were under his name, doesn't that make him liable?" Veronica continues.

"I think I might know someone who might be able to help." Mary says.

The next day, Jughead and I waltz into the Lounge Room, eyeballing a boy reading a book. "Hey," I chirp. "It's Louie, right?"

"Yeah, and?" The boy remarks.

I roll my eyes as Jughead speaks. "This is kind of a funny story. But a jester gave my girlfriend and my friend here an envelope at prom. So I asked around." He explains how the envelope ended up leading us to him, and I sigh.

"So, here's the twenty dollar question." I hum, sticking my heel out, which lands on his foot. I wave out the twenty dollar bill, and he reaches for it, but I pull away. "Where the hell did you get the envelope?" I snarl, pressing my heel into his foot. He hisses in pain, looking up at me.

"Some kid gave it to me, lady." He snaps, yanking his foot away. "He looked homeless."

"A kid?" Jughead repeats. He thinks. "Was he around 13, brown hair, brown eyes?"

Louie nods. I hand him the twenty dollars. "Toodles!" I chirp, following Jughead out the room.

"So," I say, following Jug down the hall. "Who's the mystery kid?" I ask.

"Ricky, Joaquin's little brother."

I raise my brows. "The one that tried to sacrifice Archie?" I ask.

"And played G&G with my sister." He sighs. "I'll text you, okay?" He says, walking down another hallway. I sigh, walking to my class when I see Sweet Pea walking over.

"Emmy," Sweet Pea sighs. "I heard what happened at Prom. Are you okay?" He asks.

I roll my eyes. "I'm fine." I retort. "Archie and Jug were there to get me and Betty." I walk past him, but he follows me.

"Right, Archie." He says under his breath. "Do you need me to stay at the Pembrooke with you and Tori? To keep watch-"

I turn around, glaring at the serpent. "I'm staying at Archie's and/or Jughead's. Cause they'd sure as hell be more helpful than you." I snap. "Can't you just let it go?" I glare.

"Emmy, I'm sorry what happened-"

"Sorry isn't going to cut it!" I shout. "You cheated on me. Probably more than once." I set out a exasperated laugh. "I'm not stupid, Sweet Pea. And Im not going to let you treat me like shit!"

I turn to walk away, "So you're going to run to your Archiekins?" He snarls.

Slowly turning on my heel, I look up at him. "Archie has nothing to do with this. He's my friend. He's taking care of your kid. Leave him out of this. It's you and me. Not him." I snap. "You're the one that messed up. Not me."

I turn away again, and Sweet Pea tries to step forward. Archie steps forward and blocks him. Sweet Pea glares, about to make a move. I glare at the serpent. "Step down, you Neanderthal." I snap. I look over to Archie, holding my hand out. "Come on, my ginger stallion, we have history class."

Archie wraps his hand in mine, and we walk off.

"Really, Daddy? A boxing match?" Veronica says, glaring at our father.

Sure, this was part of Mission: Arrest Daddykins, but it was still pretty dumb.

"Archie challenged me to this fight in the prescience of some business associates. I couldn't look weak, girls." Dad explains blandly.

"Well, you're not gonna win this." I retort.

Dad raises a brow. "Says who?"

"Says us." Veronica says. "And all the odds makers."

"What? People are betting on this?" Dad asks.

I nod. "We've already gotten calls. The underworld's abuzz, asking if Veronica is taking bets at La Bonne Nuit." I explain.

"Obviously, we don't want any part of it-"

However, our father cuts Ronnie off. "Woah, you said no?" He asks. "Mija's, you can make some money off this."

Veronica and I share a look. "Maybe." Veronica says. "I mean, I do still have that debt to you."

"Yes, you do. So it's settled." Hiram says. "We'll run all the betting through La Bonnie Nuit. I'll reach out to some friends, everyone's gonna want a piece of the action. It's a win-win." He looks between Veronica and I. "And girls, make no mistake, I will win."

Im in the living room, having my weekly yoga session when I hear a pounding on the Andrews, door and I toss it open. "Jug?" I question. He's not bothered by the red sports bra and matching red leggings, in fact, he barely acknowledges anything I'm doing.

"We have to go." He rushes, pulling me out the door. "Is Tori home?"

"She's with Mary." I say as he pulls me to the car. "Jug, what's going on?" I ask.

"I know where Ricky is." He says. "But he's trying to ascend and-"

"He's our living key." I say. Jug pulls out of the driveway quickly and speeds down Elm Street.

We run through Fox Forest, my black nikes crunching the leaves.

Jughead rips out a piece of paper, panting. "Come on, Ricky, where are you?" He says.

We make it to a clearing, seeing the brunette boy in his ceremony state. "Ricky!" We shout. I lunge for the boy, having more advantage than Jug. We roll on the ground a a few times, and I pull him up.

"You shouldn't be here!" Ricky yells at us. Jughead kicks the chalices over, causing Ricky to scream. "What did you do!?" He grabs onto Jug, and Jug does the same.

"Listen, kid. I'm taking you back to civilization, all right?" The teenager in a beanie glowers.

They go back and forth like this for a while, I crouch down and pick up a chalice, observing its carvings.

"We answer to no one but our king."

I look up at Jug. "Did Rico on fizzle rocks just say 'we'?"

Suddenly, twigs are cracking as the boy scouts pile out. "Kill them! Protect the princess."

I scoff. "The only princess here is me, kid."

Suddenly, the kids all let out cries as they charge at us, Jughead and I making a run for it. "To the bunker!" He shouts. I nod, pushing faster.

We push it open, jumping down and closing it quickly. I know too well that they won't be able to open it. We pant as we hear their shouts. "Hellcaster."

We turn around, "Princess Etheline." Jughead breathes. I raise a brow in confusion.

"Help me, Jughead Jones. You're my only hope."

I look between them. "This is some messed up shit going on down here in Ethelhead town."