The tension between them was high and strong. Betty didn't know what to do. Was she supposed to click play? But how could she when she could already foresee her future tumbling down around her. She could practically sense both Archie and Veronicas discomfort. Worry was high on everyone's radar.
It should be noted at this point that as soon as she started to question weather to go through with this or not, her first though was Jughead. He would know what to do. She turned to him, to see how he was holding up.
Neither Veronica or Archie noticed, they were stuck in a worrisome staring battle, one neither of them could escape from. Jughead was stood directly beside her, his chin being supported by his hand- making him look ever so deep in thought. She could see deep into his deep blue eyes that a thousand things were racing across his mind. His black hair was messy, tossed from side to side, a beautiful mess. Betty thought to her self, he didn't even need to try. All hidden beneath his signature grey crown beanie. Few curls escaped its boarders, like escaping convicts. His eyes had what resembled deep bags under them, he looked like he hadn't slept in weeks. His lips were pursed, like he wanted to say something but didn't have the will power to come out and say it.
He stared at her trying to take everything in, before everything else changed. But he knew she would stay the same- everlasting beauty is never affected, not in his eyes.
"Are you ready?" She asked not bothering to turn to the others, this didn't really concern them. She only cared about him at this moment.
"Press play." He dared , his voice was confident, but still had an undeniable shakiness to it.
She turned back to the computer, hand on mouse. She could feel both Archie's and Veronicas attention back onto the matter in hand.
With a weighty amount of doubt escapading her mind.
She clicked play.
The screen buffered and began to play.
The screen is dark. Pitch black. Nothing can be seen.
Betty waved her mouse scared the video was unrecoverable. Twenty four hours of footage. She began to skip by the hour , not wanting to spend all her time examining pitch black darkness.
Hour one: Nothing had changed.
Hour Four : The video was still submerged into what could be only described as an eternal darkness at this point.
Hour Six: The screen was still engulfed in a pitch black fog, but before she could skip any further an heart wrenching screech filled the room. A recognisable, undeniable voice...
One that belonged to the now deceased Jason Blossom.
"Hello? Why are you doing this?" Jason screeched at the top of his lungs.
Within second the rooms was dimly lit. In the centre of the room revealed a badly beaten Jason Blossom. His left eye swollen, multiple lacerations underneath and around his right eye. His signature red curls, filthy. His usual calm demeanour gone. Replaced with a frantic, heavy breathing state of panic. He was ties to an old wooden chair. That seemed almost recognisable to Betty, but she couldn't put her finger on it.
The room was bare, with little character. Its cream wall stained with an indescribable substance. Its thick, red appearance forced Veronica to gag.
The video portrayed an understandably terrified Jason as a great metal door opened. Its loud clanging revealing its presence before even appearing on screen.
In walked the devil herself.
Penelope Blossom.
Both Archie and Betty released a gasp. Questions ran through everyone's mind. How could she possibly be involved In this? Was everything an act? From slapping Alice Cooper for publishing an article involving Jason's autopsy to arranging meetings with the Sheriff to help catch her sons killer, when she really knew all along. It seemed unbelievable, only something that would happen in a teen thriller. Or to the Blossoms.
"Why are you doing this? I'm still your son!" Jason cried out, his shrieks painfully filling the silence of the room.
"If your still my son why did you try to leave me? Your mother! To run off and start a family with your cousin!" Penelope raised her voice.
"Oh my God ." Betty whispered. Jughead put a firm hand on her should, without look back, Betty placed her hand atop of hers.
"Wh..What?" Jason asked, his face showcasing how he felt inside. Broken.
"That's right Jason. Your Dad didn't want you to know. But I think it would be the icing on the cake." She said her voice shaky. She pulled up a chair similar to Jason's, sitting slowly in a respectable manor, almost like she not was committing a federal sin and was sitting down to dinner with her family.
"So as you recall the feud between the Coopers and Blossoms started long before you and I . It started when your great Grandfather killed pollys great Grandfather. Business partners, taking a horrible turn due to greed and power. But what you don't know is that not only were they business partners, they were also twins. Making you and Polly.."
"Second cousins." Jason whispered to him self in shock.
Betty stared intently at the screen, her heart in her shoes. Jughead providing a reassuring squeeze to her shoulder. She couldn't believe it.
She was a Blossom.
"Yes , isn't it delightful a baby of pure Blossom blood." Penelope smiled. Anger visibly raged through Jason, a normally well collected man. His nostrils flared.
"More like pure evil, if it has any relation to you." Jason spat out.
Penelope stood and slapped him hard across the face.
"How dare you. I'm still your mother. I kept you here to stop you from making the biggest mistake of your life."
Jason quickly recovered ready to snap back.
"No , you kept me here so I didn't bring shame to the Blossom name. You are no mother of mine. I am no mother. I want nothing to do with this family. I never have. Because you. You ruin everything always wanting your own way. You ruined our family with your affair. Its always revolved around this family, everyone's problems. Our heritage is built on lies and I would rather die than bring my child u with you around. You... Bitch."
Penelope Blossom had an affair? With who? Was that who killed Jason , out of revenge?
Archie, Veronica, Betty and Jughead were all on edge not knowing what to expect next.
Penelope's face was red, redder than her hair.
But Jason was not done.
" I hope you rot in Hel-" He didn't have a chance to finish.
From behind her back she pulled out a gun. And within a matter of seconds it was done.
Penelope was the one who shot Jason.
His own mother had killed him.
"Oh my God" Tears streamed down Bettys face. Veronica sobbed into Archie's chest. Physical and emotional signs of discomfort were sat upon Jughead's face. Their ongoing mystery had finally came to an end.
Jason's body fell lifeless. His torso bent unnaturally, a stream of blood running down his nose, to his lips them off his chin. Penelope's face softened. He glance fell down to the gun she was holding, like she couldn't recognise what it was- the murder weapon she had ust used to kill her son. She dropped the gun like hot coal. She let out a shriek. Collapsing to the floor in a puddle of tears, crawling on her hands and legs over to the chair where Jason's dead body lay.
She threw herself around her, regretting her actions.
She palmed his face tears streaming down her face.
"Oh my sweet baby boy.." She cried . "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry ." She repeated rocking her body.
Betty paused the video. It was far from over, still having just under eighteen hours left of footage. But they all need to take in what they just witnessed.
"She did it." Betty stated , turning around in a state of shock. Veronica had erupted into an uncontrollable sob, Archie's eyes brimmed with tears as he put his arm around her. Betty turned to Jughead to find him in a similar state. Betty knew he didn't like to display his emotions so she didn't draw attention to him. Instead she grabbed his hand. Instead of replying with a squeeze like usual, he pulled her in. Wrapping his arms around her. Comforting her. They both wanted it. Needed it.
They all sat in silence. The only sounds were Veronicas sobs.
There will still many unanswed questions. Like how did Penelope move the body, she couldn't of done it by herself, who helped her? Where did this take place? Who else was involved?
They were about to find out, to both Jughead's and Bettys avail.
But neither of the were ready for what happened next.