❝ SEASON ONE, EPISODE FIVE ❞
🖤 Heart Of Darkness 🖤

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Everyone has a dark side. A part of themselves that pushes all morals and understanding aside. The darker side of them is always willing to put the ones they love ahead of themselves.

And a brunette ball of sunshine was about to learn, that like Ikarus; anyone is capable of flying too close to the sun. Or perhaps she was about to learn that nothing strikes faster than a snake.

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Jughead had informed Isabella that he had found a safe place for him to stay, she was reluctant about letting him leave but nothing meant more to her than trust; but she wasn't stupid, she knew that though the place may have been "safe", it didn't necessarily mean good for him. But Isabella knew better than to push Jughead, so with her hesitance, she agreed to let him go under the promise that if he really needs to stay somewhere, her door was always open. It didn't take long for Isabella to miss Jughead's presence beside her as she slept, she had grown comfortable having him always there.

"Where's Jughead?" Christian asked his daughter as he walked down the stairs with a tray from Annelise's dinner. "He's found a place to stay but I told him our door is always open," Isabella told her father as she finished off her steak. "It'll be strange without him always around," Christian told his daughter before grabbing his jacket. "Anyway, I'm off to my night shift and please remember--" Christian was cut off by Isabella, "To lock up, turn the lights out except for the toilet light and get enough sleep to function tomorrow." Christian laughed before kissing the top of her head, wishing her good night before leaving for work.

Isabella locked up the house before noticing her father's office door open, he usually kept the door closed and Isabella often ignored the extra room within the home. She bit her lip before remembering all of the parental chaos happening to her friends and decided a peek wouldn't hurt. She walked in and noticed the lamp over the desk, she switched it on and noticed the pile of different bills stemming from medical bills to school fees to house bills; her eyes watered spotting the letter of notice stating that if the rent wasn't paid, they'd be evicted.

Isabella dropped into the chair as she added up the bills to be way more than they could ever afford even if they had ten years to save it up, tears fell down her face as she tried to think of ways to help but her job at Pop's would only help her earn so much. She was debating about dropping out of school to pick up another job but she knew that her father would never let her do that, she thought deeply before remembering that she knew someone who could have the right connections to help her out.

She grabbed her jacket and keys before locking up the house, checking on her sleeping mother before grabbing the small remote that would alert her if her mother needed anything. With one location in mind, Isabella drove deeper into the Southside of Riverdale with her heart in her throat as she looked around wishing she could help everyone on this side of their town. She spotted the person she had been searching for and pulled up in front of him, the older teen smirked before standing from his bike and approaching Isabella's window.

"Hey Little Belle, how may I help you?" Joaquin asked with his usual playful smirk. "Remember how you told me that you knew the right people if I needed to make a buck," Isabella asked him, Joaquin sighed before running his fingers through his hair. "How bad?" Joaquin asked her with a serious tone. "I'm desperate, Joaquin. My family is about to lose their home," Isabella told him with watery eyes, he sighed before pulling out a piece of paper. "Listen, if you decide to do this, just be prepared completely. I mean it, Isabella. This woman is no joke," Joaquin warned her before handing the paper over.

"Stay safe and make wise choices," Joaquin told her before leaning down and kissing the side of her head with a smile. "Be sure to come and visit the crew when you can," Joaquin told her before he walked back to his bike, the brunette teenager put the window up before looking at the address on the paper. She sat for a moment before starting the car and heading to the address written on the paper, she knew that she would regret this decision in the future but for now, she needed to do something; she wouldn't let her family struggle when she could do something about it.

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To say that Isabella was uncomfortable was an understatement. She was in a warehouse surrounded by Ghoulies, their eyes watching her knowing exactly who she was and who her parents were. She shook off their stares and approached the bar, she cleared her throat gaining the bartender's attention. The man turned to her and scoffed before leaning forward, "You Northsiders never learn." Isabella rolled her eyes. "I'm looking for the Snake Charmer," Isabella told the bartender, his eyes lit up with mischief before nodding and walking into a room behind the bar.

The bartender came back out after a few minutes, he had an all-too sweet smile on his face as he walked up to Isabella. "Follow me, sweetie," The bartender spoke before leading the brunette Larkin down a hall into a room where a few Ghoulies hung about with barely dressed women dancing sensually and Isabella wasn't even certain some of them were legal. "Isabella Larkin, in the flesh," A blonde woman spoke with a crazed smirk, she approached Isabella and looked her up and down before motioning her to sit at the booth.

"How can I help the daughter of Christian Larkin?" The Snake Charmer spoke as she sat down across from Isabella. "You're the snake charmer?" Isabella asked with distrust in her eyes, the sight only made the blonde laugh. "Call me Penny," Penny told her before leaning forward, downing her shot before focusing back on Isabella. "So how can I help?" Penny asked as drinks were placed in front of them. "I need quick money and... I know you have connections. If my father doesn't pay the house bills, we'll be evicted and I... I need to do something," Isabella told Penny who smiled and leaned back.

Isabella swallowed carefully as she noticed a boy around her age watching her closely, his expression was blank but something about his eyes screamed sympathy and concern. "Alright. I'll pay off every debt in that list and claim it as a 'miracle' blessing," Penny told Isabella but the brunette knew it wouldn't be that simple. "What's the catch, Penny?" Isabella asked as she leaned back and crossed her arms showing that she wasn't that stupid. "A simple little exchange. You drop off a package to a dear friend of mine then bring me back the cash," Penny answered with a sickly sweet smile.

"A drug deal?" Isabella asked knowing exactly what the Ghoulies do. "Call it what you wish. Get the job done and I'll pay off those debts. Just be discreet and all will be sunshine and rainbows," Penny told her before standing up and motioning one of the Ghoulies over, he placed the package on the table before walking away. "So, do we have a deal?" Penny asked as she held out her hand, Isabella stared at the package as she thought of every way this could go wrong but she was desperate. She grabbed Penny's hand and shook it with a firm nod, Penny pulled Isabella closer to her with a deadly expression.

"You even think of screwing me over or messing up this deal, I'll make those debts worse and your parents and friends will suffer the consequences. Understood?" Penny asked, her grip on Isabella's hand tightened causing the brunette to fight back the wince. "Understood," Isabella gritted out before the older woman let go and stepped back. "Wonderful. Get to it," Penny told Isabella with a smile, watching as the teenager grabbed the package and headed out of the warehouse. Isabella felt sick to her stomach as she headed to the meet point, she had learnt that the deal was happening with a Northsider which meant they'd know her.

She pulled up to the spot and grabbed the package, she slowly made her way over to the meet point and pulled her hood over her head in hopes to hide her true identity. She lifted her head at the sound of footsteps and groaned to herself as one of the Bulldogs walked up to her, she swallowed carefully before standing up straight. "You got the package?" The Bulldog asked. Isabella revealed it slightly preventing him from grabbing it. "And the cash?" Isabella spoke, and the teenage boy looked around even though they were completely alone and isolated.

The Bulldog handed her the cash without hesitation, she internally rolled her eyes at his naive actions before counting the amount of cash to ensure it was the right amount. Once she was happy with the cash, she handed him the package and watched as he walked away. She looked down at her gloves and let out a breath feeling proud for ensuring her own innocence as much as she could. She got into her car and drove away, her heart was pounding and she felt sick in her stomach as she looked at the cash; shaking her head with disappointment.

After seeing Penny and handing over the cash, the woman attempted to convince the young brunette to stay for a few drinks but she refused. The next morning, Christian had barged into Isabella's room with a wide smile and watery eyes revealing that they were no longer in debt or at risk of losing the house; Isabella, of course, pretended like it was all news to her and the older Larkin celebrated with pizza and movies for the Larkin clan. Through the celebration, Isabella allowed her shame to fade and enjoy the smiles on her parent's faces; her mother looked alive with a lack of stress.

But the moment the brunette was at Pop's working her night shift, she felt the shame hit her and she immediately knew that she had done the wrong thing. She knew Penny wouldn't let it be a one-deal thing, she could feel the calm before the storm. Even as her friends came into the diner during her break, she couldn't find the strength to keep up with their conversation claiming that she was just tired and overwhelmed with the memorial and the murder case. Jughead noticed the distress that Isabella was feeling, he couldn't work out if it was connected to her mother or something else; but he knew she'd talk when she needed to, or so he hoped.

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Even the sun sets and in the shadows hidden under the moonlight, a silent hooded girl continues to fall deeper and deeper into a cage that she may not escape from. Her own sunshine burning out with every drop.

She didn't know it at the time, but this very decision was the one that changed the whole path of fate for not only her but everyone around her. Whether the consequences play in her favour or against her, she just may learn the hard way.

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Rosemary Speaks

Oh no... Isabella has made the wrong decision... or has she?
Just a little original content to tie into my adaption. What may happen now?

See you in the next chapter!