The next day Archie came to Callie and Jughead about Ricky missing along with something Ricky drew and colored. It was Gargoyles around someone, lots of fire. They were in Jughead's trailer.

" You weren't kidding," Jughead noted. " This kid's into some really dark stuff."

" Yeah," Archie breathed. " Got a sketch of him, too." He pulled out a piece of paper, they opened it to see the sketching of Ricky. " Pop Tate said some thugs chased him outta the diner."

" Thugs?" Callie asked. " You mean gang members?" 

" Yeah, probably," Archie answered. " Didn't you just recruit a bunch of Gargoyles?"

" More like my mom did, but yeah," Jughead confirmed.

" Well, are they still playing G&G?" Archie asked. Jughead and Callie glanced at each other, they then called a meeting down in the bunker. Callie held up Ricky's face drawing.

" His name's Ricky," Jughead informed.

" Does anybody recognize him?" Callie asked. No one answered.

" Well, he's in trouble, so we're gonna help Archie find him," Jughead said.

" Break the town into sections and we'll split up the work," Callie said.

" You want us to go looking for some dumb kid?" Kurtz asked. Archie got off the wall and faced off with Kurtz.

" Was it your crew that came after him at Pop's?" Archie demanded. " Looking to make him a sacrifice?"

" No, dude," Kurtz answered. " We have other business of the chemical kind. But there are others out there. Outliers that broke away when we joined the Serpents.

" You mean, there are Gargoyles out there that are even crazier than you?" Fangs asked.

" Will you shut up?" Jughead demanded. " If what you're saying is true, then that's all the more reason that we need to find him fast."

" You better get to it then," Kurtz advised as he tapped Jughead and started to walk away.

" Oh please help us look knight and shiny armor, " Callie requested while batting her eyes. " It'll make me very happy."

" Of course red hair princess," Kurtz said as he took her hand and kissed it." No need for you to ascend into the kingdom while unhappy." He then took off and  Callie wiped her hand on Sweet Pea.

" We'll help look," a Gargoyle offered.

" Thank you," Callie said in relief.

" Did you just wipe that Junkie's saliva on me?" Sweet Pea asked.

" Yeah," Callie confirmed. " If the princess is going to get her hands dirty it won't be because of his saliva."

" Kurtz seems to take a liking towards you," Fangs noted.

" He believes that we are destined to ascend together," Callie informed. " I'm not ascending anytime soon."

*****
The next day at school Callie was at Archie's locker getting ready to leave.

"Archie, Callie," Jughead called them, they saw him walking towards them. " Got most of my Serpents out looking for your boy Ricky.  But I think I got a place the three of us should check out." Jughead stopped in front of them. " Gargoyle ground zero.

" Let's go," Callie agreed. After school ended they went to the building the found Kurtz in, just as creepy during the day as it is as night. They came across a board that had names written all it and crossed off. From the Sisters, Diltons, to Archie and Ricky.

" All these names..."Archie began. " They're sacrifice. Jug." They heard a commotion, three shined their late in a section to find Ricky poking his head out.

" Archie," Jughead breathed. He went behind the wall.

" Ricky?" Archie asked. " What the hell are you doing here?" Archie helped him out of the hole. " Are you okay?"

" Yeah," Ricky answered. " I came here 'cause I heard they all cleared out."

" The Gargoyles?" Callie brought up.

" Yeah, they're gone," Jughead confirmed.

"I thought this would be the last place they'd come looking for me, but...I'll never be able to escape them," Ricky panicked. " I'm marked for death. That's what this symbol means. Isn't it? And you have it, too."

" Yeah," Archie said. " It means sacrifice, but that's not gonna happen. Okay? I swear. Right, Jug? Cal?"

" Yeah," the two breathed.

" That's right," Callie confirmed.

" That said, let's get the hell outta here," Jughead advised. All of them left the creepy place. Archie took Ricky to the gym as the other two went back to the school for the Swords and Serpents meeting.

" We found the kid, but he's still in danger," Callie reported. " So is Archie for that matter."

" So, what's the next play?" Sweet Pea asked.

" It's a classic gambit," Jughead answered. " The hunters become the hunted. Kurtz has said that there are some rogue Goyles. So you two..." Jughead whistled at used to be Gargoyles. " Heckle and Jeckle, start talking. I want the names of those outliers. And I want sentries posted at the Gargoyle lair."

" Jughead!" Toni yelled in a panic as she ran in. " You need to come right now."

" What? Toni?" Jughead asked.

" Kurtz is about to kill Fangs," Toni informed. All of the immediately got out of the classroom and into the hallway where Kurtz and another Gargoyle was hanging Fangs over the ledge by his feet.

" Fangs!" Sweet Pea shouted.

" What the hell?" Jughead demanded as he tried to get through, but those Gargoyles would not budge.

" Guys!" Fangs shouted, his face turning red. " Guys, help!"

" Don't be scared, you dirty Serpent spy," Kurtz snickered. " You're about to ascend. And you'll fly, too."

"Kurtz...don't," Callie pleaded.

" Happy landings, worthless snake," Kurtz said.

" No!" Jughead shouted. Kurtz and the other guy let go of Fangs, Sweet Pea and Jughead ran forward and cut his fall, all three of them landed on the ground.

Late that night Callie was the only one home. Dad was working late, Archie took Ricky to get some food at Pops. She had just finished choreographing when there was a knock at the door. She paused the music walked over, looked through the peephole to see nobody home. She shrugged and walked upstairs, she opened her bedroom and saw that a giant poster of Heathers was covering her murder board. She looked at her desk, her eye grew alarmed, there sat two chalices.

" Are you ready to ascend my red hair princess?" a voice asked as the door slammed behind her and lights turned off. Callie jumped she turned and saw Kurtz.

"What are you doing here?" Callie asked.

"The kid is found, which means you must really happy and would want to ascend now," Kurtz said. " I'll ascend with you. Both chalices are poisoned."

"No, I don't," Callie declined as she backed up. " How did you get in here?"

" Your friend Betty isn't the only one good at picking locks," Kurtz said as she back her up to the window. He then slammed his lips into her, Callie started to tremble. " I can feel all that you have for me trembling. In his law, he says when we get to the kingdom, we shall be married. Callie slipped right past him and grabbed the chalices. " Ready to get started."

" You need to get this fantasy of you and me out of your head," Callie said she took the chalices and left the room.

" It's not a fantasy red hair princess," Kurtz argued as he followed her. It's the law." She then went into the bathroom and threw the cyanide all over the bathroom floor. She then picked up towels and threw it on the liquid.

" I'll clean that up later," Callie said.

" I was giving you the easy way," Kurtz said. " Looks like we'll have to do this the hard way. There was a slicing sound, she turned and saw that he had a knife. 

" I'm not ready to ascend," Callie said as she threw things at him.

" I think you are," Kurtz said, he lunged at her. Callie dodged and punched him the eye. He moved his arm and sliced her cheek.

"Ah" Callie gasped as she held her cheek, she looked at Kurtz who was licking the blood off of the knife.

" You taste so sweet," Kurtz giggled madly. Callie looked at him in horror. She pushed him into the wall and ran back to her room. She climbed out of her window so fast and ran.

" Stop running Red hair princess!" Kurtz yelled as he ran bbehind her. She picked up the speed and zigzagged through places. She looked behind and saw that Kurtz was nowhere in sight, he was still running, but she couldn't see him. Tears were blurring her vision. She then stopped at a place she didn't she would be back to see.

" Sweet Pea!" Callie yelled banging on his door rapidly. " Sweet Pea! Open up!"

" What do you want?" Sweet Pea demanded as he opened the door. " Wh-What happened?" She pushed him inside and closed the door locking it. " Callie, answer me."

" He broke in," Callie breathed heavily. " Kurtz broke in."

" He what?" Sweet Pea demanded angrily.

" He broke in," Callie repeated, tears streaming down her face.

" Did he give you that cut?" Sweet Pea asked he pulled out first aid kit. She nodded.

" It was either that or drink poison chalices with him," Callie informed as she sat down. " I'm sorry, I didn't know where else to go. The Coopers weren't home, Archie was at Pops with Ricky, I just ran where my feet would take me."

" It's alright," Sweet Pea said as he tried his best to clean her up. " He can't get you while you are here." Callie nodded. " Were you home alone?"

" Yeah," Callie breathed as Sweet Pea picked up his phone and shot a text to Jughead.

" He's going to be exiled for this," Sweet Pea cheered.

" He won't," Callie said.

" He attacked one his own," Sweet Pea reminded her.

" I'm not a serpent," Callie reminded him.

" You are serpent alliance," Sweet Pea said as he grabbed her hand. " And you still wear the ring."

"Red hair princess!" A voice yelled from in the woods. Callie froze as Sweet Pea put a bandaid on her face. 

" He won't hurt you again," Sweet Pea promised as he wiped away her tears. " Maybe you should have my number again, just in case he tries anything again."  She nodded.

**** 

Callie ended up staying at Sweet Pea's that night, she got home early in the morning to find Archie in the kitchen, Vegas ran to her.

" Where were you?" Archie asked.

" With Sweet Pea," Callie answered. Archie raised an eyebrow. " Kurtz broke into the house last night."

" Are you alright?" Archie asked as she walked over, he saw the bandaid. " Did he give you that?" She nodded.

" I'm gonna kill him," Archie growled.

" Don't," Callie said. " He has a lot coming to already, besides we got Ricky to look out after."

" How did he get in?" Archie asked.

" My window," Callie whispered. " He picked the lock."

" Come on, I'll chain it closed," Archie said. They went upstairs just as Dad walked into the house. When they passed Archie's room. They saw Ricky putting on the varsity jacket.

" Ricky," Archie smiled as he knocked on the door.

" What's up?" Callie smiled.

" Sorry," Ricky apologized as he began to take the jacket off. " I was just..."

" No, you're good," Archie smiled more. " Keep it. If you want it, it's yours."

" You serious?" Ricky smiled.

" Yeah," Archie confirmed. " Come downstairs, I want you to meet our dad."

" What?" Ricky demanded.

" Ricky, it's okay," Callie assured.

" I spoke to him. He's gonna help," Archie said. " Look, we gotta find you a safe place to live permanently."

" But, Archie..." Ricky began.

" Witha good family," Archie said. " All right? One we will all meet. and we'll be checking in on you. We can hang out whenever you want. And I'll keep giving you boxing lessons at the gym. You just gotta trust me." Callie received a text from Jughead, telling her to come to the Sheriff station.

" It's going to be okay Ricky," Callie assured. " I have to go to the Sheriff station."

" What for?" Ricky demanded.

" Ms. Smith next door complained about Vegas poop being on her lawn," Callie lied. " And I gotta go pay a fine. See you kater."

" See you later," the two boys said to her. When Callie walked into the Sheriff office, Jughead closed the door.

" Kurtz really did a number on you," FP noted. " But you also gave him a black eye from what I have been told."

" Yeah," Callie breathed as she sat down.

" He dropped Fangs for no reason. If I hadn't broken his fall, he would have snapped his neck, or even worse. And now he broke into Callie's house and tried to kill her as well."

" You gotta take drastic action, boy," FP advised. " Words aren't gonna do it."

" I agree," Jughead agreed. " A big action. One that's long overdue, an not just for Kurtz, but for all the Serpents. Old and new. Dad, I'm talking the next chapter. Something that's gonna give us purpose, and keep us on the right side of the law."

" What do you have in mind?" Callie asked.

" Mobilizing that gang search for Archie's lost boy gave me the idea," Jughead answered. "And you did too."

*****

After school Callie was back in the Swords and Serpents classroom. FP was with them.

" What the hell is he doing here?" Kurtz demanded.

" I made the invitation," Jughead said.

"Why?" Sweet Pea demanded.

" Kurtz boasted that the Serpents need him for he needs them," Callie recalled.

" I disagree," Jughead said. Kurtz looked back at Sweet Pea, the tall serpent looked ready to smash the junkie into pieces. " But one thing is true. The Serpents are rudderless. We lack identity and focus. We're better and stronger when we're task-focused. That's why with the help of my father, Serpent Emeritus, and Callie, we've come up with a plan...to deputize the Serpents. To become partners with Riverdale Sheriff's department."

" You'll work for me," FP informed. " Help me with investigations, be my eyes and ears in the community. In return, you'll get paid, and receive school credit to help you apply to colleges." The Serpens besides Kurtz nodded at each other happily.

" This is about bringing order, ensuring our survival," Jughead said. " But this is gonna be a brand-new chapter for the Serpents, and we can't be divided about it."

" So let's put a vote to it," Callie spoke. 

" If it's unanimous..." FP began asked as he stepped towards Kurtz. " There's the damn door."

" All in favor?" Callie asked. Serpents rose their hands, Sweet Pea coughed and soon everyone raised their hands besides Kurtz. He looked around and the backup front. He then silently got up and left the gang.

" Good riddance," Fp said.

" Sweet," Sweet Pea smiled. " Do we get to carry guns?"

" Absolutely not," FP denied.

" No," Jughead denied.

" Not a chance," Callie denied. After the meeting, everyone started to pack up to leave.

" Will you be fine at home?" Jughead asked.

" What if Kurtz tries to come in again?" Fangs asked.

" I think I'll be fine tonight," Callie said. " Archie chained my window shut, he'll be home tonight and so will my dad."

" Don't be afraid to call," FP advised.

" I won't," Callie said.

" Do you have work?" Sweet Pea asked.

" Um, yeah," Callie said.

" First duty is to make sure she gets to Pops safely," FP ordered.

" We can do that one for free," Fangs said. Callie then had kids of the Serpent gang walking her to work. The shift flew by and Callie was going home with her dad, they had take-out from Pops. 

"So, you are being more careful?" Dad asked.

" Yes," Callie asked. " Especially since I just got put under a protection watch by the Serpents and probably soon the Pretty Poisons."

" No the Ghoulies, right?" Dad asked.

" Ghoulies is just a ghoulie now," Callie said. " Just Verne and Serpents are giving him protection at the current moment." 

" Just be careful," Dad warned.

" I will," Callie breathed. They got home, Dad opened the door and as Callie walked in with Pops.

"Archie?" Dad asked as they saw Archie holding his side.

" Dad, Callie, don't come in!" Archie ordered. Ricky ran off with a knife and they rushed to Archie. They saw he was cut on the side.

" Arch, what the hell happened?" Callie asked. Archie explained everything as they patched him up.

" I'm sorry, Dad," Archie apologized. " I'm such an idiot.

" You're not an idiot, son," Dad declined. " You just...got a big heart." 

" That's so messed up though," Callie said. " You think he'll come back?"

" With my luck, definitely," Archie answered. " Probably at a worse time, and with his friends."

" Hold on," Dad said as he picked something up from the ground. It was a quest card from G&G. It said 'Kill the Red Paladin'.

*****
By the next day the Serpents, Archie, and Callie went and cleaned up the hold Gargoyle lair. Sweet Pea was taking down boards to let the light shine in, Callie was sweeping up, Archie stared at the name board. Jughead went over and talked to Archie as Callie put the broom down.

" Ready to get some doll limbs?" Sweet Pea asked as he held out scissors.

" Yeah," Callie said. They grabbed a latter, Sweet Pea stayed at the bottom as she went to the top.

" Where do you think they where they got all these?" Sweet Pea asked.

" Probably stole them from the store or from their little siblings," Callie asked as she snipped some, Fangs was at the bottom catching the limbs in a bucket. Soon Betty walked in and she walked over to Jughead and Archie. Callie snipped an arm off the ceiling and didn't get it in the bucket.

" And that's minus 2 points," Fangs said.

" That's minus two points for you as well," Callie argued. " You have the bucket."

"Maybe if you directed them more," Fangs said. Callie cut an arm off, grabbed it and threw it into the bucket,

" My turn," Fangs insisted.

" Nah, I'm next," Sweet Pea argued.

" Best two out three," Fangs said as he pulled out a coin, Callie laughed.