*Archie*

"Are you okay, Archie?" Veronica asked the next day in class.

I couldn't stop thinking about last night. Part of me regrets doing that.

She looked so scared.... She even pleaded with me, as if begging for mercy.....

Before I could answer Veronica, Principal Weatherbee and Sheriff Keller suddenly entered the classroom.

"Sorry to interrupt Dr. Phylum," Principal Weatherbee said. "But Sheriff Keller and I need to see Archie Andrews in the hallway."

I looked over at Veronica, a bit nervous, before getting up.

That's when Veronica got up and I stopped.

"I'm sorry, Principal Weatherbee, but the t-shirts were my idea, not Archie's," she said.

"This is not about t-shirts, Miss Lodge. Please sit down," he said.

"Its okay, Ronnie. There's nothing to worry about," I assured her.

I follow Principal Weatherbee and Sheriff Keller outside the classroom, everyone watching.

We walked out and stand in front of my locker.

"So what is this about?" I asked calmly.

"Got a tip from a bodega owner in the Southside who said that a Riverdale High School student was waving a gun around in front of his shop," Sheriff Keller said. "Said it looked like he had red hair."

"I was in my garage last night working on some songs," I lied.

"Okay, well, nevertheless, given your behavior over the last several days, we think that it's prudent to have a look in your locker for and weapons or contraband," Sheriff Keller said.

"Weapons? Don't you need a warrant for that or something?" I asked.

"No, I do not," he replied.

"Well, maybe we should call my dad," I said.

"I did. He's informed," Principal Weatherbee said. "Open the locker or I will."

I sighed in frusteration before giving in and putting int the combination.

"I don't know what you think you're going to find, Sheriff," I said, taking the lock off.

He pulled the door opened and began to look through my things.

I waited there as Principal Weatherbee watched.

"This is interesting," Sheriff Keller suddenly said.

"What? There's no gun," I said.

All of a sudden he pulled out a familiar black fabric.

Reggie's hood.

"Where did you get this hood?" Sheriff Keller asked sternly.

I sighed. "I can explain that..." I said.

***

I sighed as I sat at the kitchen table, telling my dad the truth, but he was still upset.

"I don't know what to say," Dad said. "I'm at a loss Archie. Keller and Weatherbee, they think you're a threat, so they bar you from school property, and I can't tell them any different."

I looked up at my father.

"I was shot. The man who shot me is still out there, playing some kind of weird cat-and-mouse game with this town, and he scares me," he admitted. "But not as much as you do right now."

My eyes widen a little as he continued.

"Because I have no idea what is going on in your mind," he said. "And I don't know what you're going to do next."

That's when he turned to head out the door.

"Wait, Dad, come on. Can we talk about this?" I begged.

"Yeah, when I get back from the Town Hall we can talk about this," he snapped. "If you're ready to be honest with me, and let me back in."

And with that he grabs his coat and walks out.

I sighed as I looked down at the table.

He's right... This is going to far.

Last night... That Serpent girl.... I really scared her.....

She wanted to just leave with her brother and friends, and I held a gun up at her when she tried to stop me and her brother... She looked so scared of me.....

Wait, why am I thinking about her? 

But I need to do this. I have to end the Black Hood.

I quickly grab my phone and call Veronica.

*Sage*

I finished up my homework before deciding to focus on the cipher, webcaming with Toni as I worked.

"What if we tried only vowels?" I asked.

"It could work," she shrugged with a sigh. "The guy has a knack, I'll give him that."

"No wonder they had a hard time finding the Zodiac killer," I sighed as I laid back on my bed, raking my fingers through my hair.

"Well, what do we have so far?" Toni asked.

"A psycho with a strange fixation on speeches that Betty writes and is a lousy shot considering is kill list is at 1 out of 4?" I asked.

She scoffed with a chuckle. "I mean about our progress."

"You know I'm not wrong," I laughed, and she rolled her eyes with a smirk.

"Okay, well, I've noted any punctuation marks that Kevin missed and also repeating symbols, but I'm still at a dead end here," I said. "What if Jughead is right and this isn't even in English?"

"Maybe that's it," she said, rubbing her temples.

I was going to say something when I suddenly hear voices outside and frown.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Not sure... I'll be right back," I said, getting up and walk out of my room.

I enter the living room and see Sweet Pea pulling on his jacket while Fogarty waited at the door.

"Where are you going?" I asked, making him turn.

"Stay here, Sage," he said. "I'll be back."

"Hang on just a second," I snapped, grabbing his arm. "You're not going anywhere until you tell me where you are going. Its a school night! What could be so important, Sweet Pea?" 

He sighed in frustration before facing. "The Northsider that held the gun at you... His name is Archie Andrews."

My eyes widen in shock.

"We found out where he lives and are heading there now," He said.

"Sweet Pea, no! He has a gun for Christ's sake!" I exclaimed, gripping his arm. 

"A gun he held up at you," he snapped. "Besides, he could have pulled it that night but didn't. He's a coward! He's gonna regret messing with the Serpents and with me."

"Please, don't kill him," I begged.

"Damn it, Sage, I'm not gonna kill him," he said, quickly walking over to me and holding my shoulders. "I would never do that to you."

I looked at him worriedly.

"I promise, I'll be back soon. I'll call Toni if it makes you feel better," he said.

I watched as he kissed the top of my head before leaving.

I ran out and stood at the door as he climbed on his bike and sped out with other Serpents.

I watched worriedly as he left, then noticed my bike covered up and parked nearby.

Oh god he's gonna be so made at me.

I hurried inside to get ready.

*Archie*

I eventually told Veronica everything about last night.

Including about the girl I held a gun up to.

I had also asked her to retrieve the gun I hid in the school

"Archie... That video, the gun...." She said nervously. "If I'm following you, I need to know where, I need to know the truth."

I had enough and shot up from my seat.

"I want him dead, Veronica!" I snapped as thunder clapped outside.

She looked at me in shock.

"I want the Black Hood dead," I said seriously. "And I want to be the one who does it. I want to be the last thing that he sees."

Veronica glares as me. "Spoken like a true vigilante..."

"No, you wanted the truth," I said. "I made that video and showed my face so the Black Hood would make me the next target! I went to the Southside hoping he would see me."

Veronica shook her head. "It is no wonder that Serpent girl was so scared of you, because I don't even know who you are anymore...."

I went quiet as I looked at her.

"So, you find the the Black Hood and you shoot him, then what?" She snapped. "You go to jail or you miss him and he kills you, Archie!"

"It doesn't matter what happens to me," I said.

"Yes it does, and it matters to me!" she shouted. "Your dad, Betty, Jughead...!"

I sighed as I sat down.

"Meanwhile, like an idiot, I'm trying to support you by designing T-shirts," she said.

"I didn't ask you to do that," I said.

"No, you asked me to fetch your loaded gun," She snapped as I sighed. "And by the way in case you were wondering where it is, I threw it in Sweetwater River."

I froze and looked up. "What?"

"And you can be mad at me now, but you'll thank me later," she said.

I grunt and pinched the bridge of my brow.

"I.... No, I can't do this," she said, shaking her head. "I've tried supporting you through all of this, but I can't support you like this anymore, if you're not going to value your life and just risk it like this, I can't go through this!"

"Wait, what are you saying?" he asked.

She sighed as she turned around, but then there was a knock at the door.

She sighed and went to answer it.

"Wait. Wait, Veronica, wait, what if it's..." I said, but she went and opened the door, and we look to see it was Reggie and the guys. Reggie held some pizza boxes under his arm.

"Reggie?" Veronica asked.

"Can we come in?" he asked as he and the others walked in, Dilton with them.

Veronica and I looked at each other before Veronica just sighed and closed the door.

***

"To what do we owe this unexpected honor?" Veronica asked.

"Archie could have told Weatherbee the hood was mine," Reggie said. "But he didn't."

Reggie then turned towards me.

"In the Book of Reg, that makes you a top-tier loyal badass," he added. "And, uh, we were talking today and decided if you wanna keep the Red Circle going.... We're here for you, dude."

I sighed and looked over at Veronica, who looked like she was going to say something before suddenly we heard something outside.

A motor?

She frowned and got up, walking over to the door and looking out the window, her eyes widening in shock.

*Sweet Pea*

  We pulled up to Andrews's house and cut the engine before we stormed up the stairs of the porch.  

As we did he opened the door, a girl behind him, and I stared him down with a smirk.

"How stupid are you Northsiders?" I snapped at him. "You really think you can come to my house, stick a gun in my face,  in front of my boys, at my little sister,and there wouldn't be payback?"

"I didn't know she was your sister," He said a bit nervously.

Before I can say something, the door opened to a taller Northsider, more behind him.

"You have crap timing, bro," he said. "Bulldogs eat Serpents for lunch."

"We'll see about that," I scoffed, looking up at the rest of them. "And the more the merrier."

I stepped up and he tried to shove me back but Andrews stopped him.

"Hey, chill," he told him, then looked at the girl. "Veronica, stay here."

"What? Archie, no..."  the girl said, running up to him, but he stopped her, whispering something as the taller Northsider kept glaring at me.

Soon Andrews came back and looked up at me.

"If you wanna fight, we'll fight," he said.

"What about your gun?" I asked.

"What about your knife?" He asked me as then Veronica stepped up. 

"How about no weapons?" she snapped as us both. "If you troglodytes insist on doing this, there are gonna be rules. Or should I call Sheriff Keller to be referee"

I looked from her to Andrews and sighed, irritated.

"Fine."

*Sage*

I told Toni what was happening before speeding to the Whyte Wyrm, halting my bike to a stop before climbing down, tossing my helmet aside and rushing in.

"Tall Boy!" I called out over the loud noise as I looked for him, then went to the bar. "Hog Eye, where's Tall Boy!?"

"Should be by the pool table, what's wrong?" he asked as he cleaned the bar.

"Was my brother here?" I asked.

"Yeah, left a few minutes ago with a couple others," He said.

"Crap," I said and hurried to the pool tables.

I immediately spot him with some other older Serpents.

"Tall Boy!" I shouted as I ran up to him.

"What the hell? You should be home, girl!" he snapped. "Your brother said so!"

"The Andrews house, where is it?" I snapped.

"I ain't telling you," he said. "Why would you want to know anyway?"

"Maybe because I'm trying to keep some Serpents, my brother included, from getting themselves killed by some raging Northside teen with some crazy vendetta over us!!" I snapped.

He sighed and rolled his eyes.

"Tell me where Sweet Pea went, damn it!!" I shouted as I slammed my fist on his table and spilling some drinks.

"Alright, alright, ease up!" he snapped, grabbing a napkin and motioning for someone to hand him a pen. He was handed one and wrote it down before handing it to me.

"Natural born spitfire, just like your mother," he scoffed as I snatched it.

"Watch it, jackass," I sneered before storming off, reading the address.

I read the address before grabbing my helmet from the ground and putting it on before climbing onto my bike, revving the engine and speeding off.

Please let me make it on time...

~~~~~

Hope you're all enjoying the story so far! I know it turning more like a synopsis of the show but a little bit ahead from here is where it starts becoming a bit more original and kind of starts taking off from there. Just want to kind of give a bit of a timeline here and there. 🌻 

That, and I'm kind of too organized for my own good and want this to be perfect. Hehe... 😅 

🎹 Currently in Sapph's playlist:

IAMX "I Come With Knives"

https://youtu.be/nt0MkotVIEc

♡~ sapphire.