❝ SEASON ONE, EPISODE SIX ❞
🐱 Faster, Pussycats! Kill! Kill! 🐱

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Isabella adjusted the denim skirt and cropped striped shirt that she had decided to wear during her performance for the Variety Show. She had spoken with Jughead, he had mentioned that he would visit Betty to check up on her; Isabella agreed with his idea. Isabella was feeling a little nervous about her performance but she was just happy to do something that didn't involve Jason Blossom's murder or the shadows that were taking over her life. She made her way out of her room and past her mother's, peeking in to see the frail woman asleep; with a sigh, Isabella made her way downstairs and out of the house.

Isabella walked into the venue, her heart was pounding with nerves as she spotted Myles McCoy sitting with his wife. Isabella grinned as Josie and the Pussycats sang on stage, the song was beautiful and matched their voices perfectly as Isabella's phone dinged. She looked down to see a message from Jughead telling her that they may have found something, she was nervous but her attention was taken by Myles leaving. Isabella followed after him knowing how this was affecting Josie, "Mr McCoy!" Myles stopped and looked at Isabella, "Can I help you?" Isabella stopped and took a breath.

"That was incredibly unfair to Josie. She works hard every day to the point of exhaustion to appease you and this is how you respond?" Isabella asked. "Josie understands--" Myles was cut off by Isabella, "No. She has talent far beyond Riverdale and far beyond your personal obsession with Jazz. She is her own damn person and it's time you see that too!" Isabella shook her head, "I used to look up to you but now... It's not even worth the words." Isabella spared the older man one last look before walking in to prepare for her performance while Myles took in her words. Josie, who had been watching nearby, smiled with watery eyes.

"Archie?" Isabella caught her cousin's attention, she stepped up to the ginger and smiled. "I, uh, actually don't think I can do this," Isabella told him, she looked out to the crowd. "What do you mean?" Archie asked as Kevin prepared to call Archie on stage. "Music and singing... It's not my thing and that crowd is big... But the stage is rightfully your own, Archie," Isabella told him before the two hugged. "Kevin isn't gonna like it," Archie whispered to her. "I'll make it up to him in future... Probably some musical or something," Isabella replied as Kevin called Archie to the stage. "I'm right here, Archer. I'll always be here," Isabella assured her cousin before letting him walk out on the stage.

Archie looked over at Isabella after the bulldogs taunted him, she smiled and sent him a thumbs up building the courage in him to start strumming his guitar. Isabella's smile widened as he began singing, his lyrics made Isabella sway as Veronica moved to stand with her. The two girls shared a smile before linking their arms and listening to Archie sing his original song, Isabella focused on the words of his song. The moment he finished singing the crowd went wild with applause, Isabella ran out onto the stage and wrapped her arms around him making him laugh. "I told you Archer, the stage is yours," Isabella told him with a grin, Archie hugging his cousin.

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Here's the thing about fear. It's always there.
Fear of the unknown, fear of facing it alone...
Fear that those closest to you are the monsters.

Fear that as soon as you slay one,
There's another monster waiting to take its place.
Fear that there's one more boogeyman waiting at the end of the dark hall.
She was out there.
Alone, bereft, unmoored...
Where was she going? And what would she do next?

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Later that night, while others were asleep in their beds or wandering the streets due to unrest, Isabella Larkin was walking down a dark alley with a hood over her head. She was anxious and jumpy but her grip on the package in her pocket never faltered. Many eyes watched her as she walked down the dark crevice between buildings, she swallowed carefully ignoring the way the icy rain soaked her from head to toe. She finally reached the end of the alleyway, she noticed a man leaning against the wall; he lit a cigarette and watched as she walked towards him.

She pulled a card from her pocket and held it out to him, he pulled one of his own out; the matching cards meant she found the right person. She looked around subtly before looking up at him through hooded eyes, "Cash?" The man scoffed before pulling out a rolled-up wad of cash but kept it out of her reach. "My package, sweets," The man replied with a grin unbothered by the unforgiving stormy weather. She pulled it out and showed him, holding it tight before raising a brow at him; the man winked before holding the cash out to Isabella and in return, she handed him the package.

"Pleasure doing business," The man spoke before walking away leaving Isabella to her lonesome, she leaned against the wall managing to take cover from the rain for a moment. To say that Isabella feared the person she was becoming was an understatement, she needed a way out but with every deal, every slip of cash and every dark alley in the Southside; she seemed to fall deeper into the clutches of Penny Peabody the Snake Charmer. She needed an out, these deals would get her arrested or killed. "You know there are other options," A voice spoke startling Isabella, she stood tall and looked toward the voice to see the same teenager she saw long ago when she first met Peabody.

"Who are you?" Isabella asked with a defensive stance making him grin as he stepped closer to reveal gorgeous blue eyes and light brown hair. "Noah Sinclair. And you are Isabella Larkin, a Serpent Legacy," Noah spoke as he leaned against the wall beside her. "Why should I trust you? I saw you that night," Isabella replied as she stepped away from him. "Uh, yes. Well, considering that Penny Peabody is my unfortunate mother, you were bound to see me but... I have a better idea for you, little viper," Noah spoke as he ran his fingers through his hair. "And that is?" Isabella asked with a raised brow. "Fight for me instead," Noah answered with a shrug.

"The hell do you mean by that?" Isabella asked though she was uneasy with his wording. "The Ghoulies run a fight club under the Snake Charmer, brings in nice money and I've seen you training before... Switch out the drugs for the fights. Win my crew a lot of money and it'll save you from my damned mother," Noah expressed without a care in the world. Isabella was silent as she processed his request, it'd save her from the deals and shady places, all she'd have to do is fight against others which is something she is skilled in. "No more shady deals?" Isabella asked him. "Just win every fight and you'll be safe," Noah replied with his hand outstretched.

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Fear prompts rash decisions that alter everything.
Fear dares to leave you in the middle of an ocean gasping for air.
Fear is what overshadows sunshine.
Isabella Larkin didn't know what to do next.
And Fear showed her the way.
But... Was it the right choice?

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Rosemary Here!

So it's been a while since I've written anything really...

But I read through this book and got all excited for the next chapter before realising I had to write the next chapter myself. So here I am, working on Lifeline.

This chapter may not be the best, I'm still getting back into the groove lol

Anyway, what will Isabella do?

What are Noah's intentions?

How are we feeling about Isabella's own plot?

(Betty and Jughead did NOT kiss. They share a sibling-like friendship in this book!)

Also, Noah Sinclair is played by Tanner Buchanan <3

See you in the next chapter!