Red Horns ❖ Jughead Jones

1.

Death. The thought of it scared me, what came after it? Is there another life? Another life where maybe things could go right? Another life where I won't make the same mistakes? Who knows...

Riverdale. Sounds like a nice town right? Well, that's where you're wrong. From a distance -- or from the window of a train rushing by -- it presents its self like so many other small towns. Safe. Decent. Innocent. But that's only how people want it to be. Or think it is because they're young and don't know any better -- or they're old and don't want to know any better.

At a certain point though, you look close enough -- and you start seeing the shadows underneath the town. And sometimes... the shadows take over. And you're living in this place you don't recognize anymore. And you're feeling a lot of things, but safe isn't one of them.

I'm gonna tell you a story, my story. You see my story starts in this town, it starts with a blonde haired girl and a certain -- sardonic filled humor -- dark haired boy. We seemed like best friends, we were best friends. That was until the past summer, the Fourth of July to be precise, what a lovely holiday right? Getting to celebrate independence with your friends... but all celebrations came to a halt at the death of Jason Blossom.

The death of the red headed boy shook the town, nothing bad was ever meant to happen here, but it did.

Riverdale police dragged Sweetwater River for Jason's body, but never found it. So a week later... the Blossom family buried an empty casket. And Jason's death was ruled an accident, as the story that Cheryl told made the rounds...

That Cheryl dropped a glove in the water.. and Jason reached down to get it. And accidentally tipped the boat. And panicked. And drowned.

Some say Jason didn't deserve to die, some say he had a bright future. But what I say is he deserved what he got, he was an inconsiderate, foolish boy who didn't care about the girls he hurt. He had his sister -- Cheryl Blossom -- under some spell, she believed he hadn't done anything wrong. Little do you know, he's done things that are unspeakable.

I set down my pen and closed my torn and ripped journal that Betty had bought me. If you're going to understand my story you need to hear it from the beginning.

______________________________

The wind blew through my hair as my arm lazily hang out the car window that I had previously rolled down. I looked next to me to see Jughead concentrating on the pothole filled road,  we were both off on a road trip. His so called "friend" bailed on him last minute without reason so here I am.

"You alright C? You haven't said anything for the past 30 minutes" Jug stated, I felt bad. I was meant to come along with him to cheer him up but I've let him down.

"Yeah just thinking, anyway where's our first stop?" I asked changing the subject.

"That's for me to know and you to find out" I rolled my eyes and laughed  "you're gonna love it"  he said.

I leaned forward and turned the radio volume up, the music now blaring throughout the car as I terribly sang along. Jughead laughed at my failed attempt earning a glare from me, he stopped and we were both silent until I burst into a fit of laughter and Jughead shook his head while letting off a small smile.

Everything in this moment seemed perfect, on the road with one of my best friends not a worry or care ran through my mind.

I closed my eyes and happily relaxed back into my seat, opening them again I was drawn into the sight of the river as we drove over the bridge that led us out of Riverdale.

Everything was calm, everything was peaceful, everything was... perfect I guess, that was until we heard a gunshot which caused Jug to step on the breaks bringing the car to a halt and we both jolted forward at the sudden lack of motion from the car.

"Tell me you heard that too" I said, my voice laced with worry.

"No I just decided to stop the car for no reason at all" he muttered sarcastically which earned him a glare from me.

"This is serious Jughead, someone might be hurt" I started to panic, Jug grabbed my hands and reassured me everything was okay. "Hey, it's okay, I'm sure it's not serious."

Looking out my window once again I saw a blue car that I recognised.

"Jug.. is that Miss. Grundy's car by the rivers edge?"