Don't Let Go

Part 4

Caleb- DAD! DON'T!

Hal looked back at Caleb while the knife continued to travel closer to Betty's neck.

Caleb- P-Please, d-don't do it. (tears)

Hal groaned and dropped the knife next to Betty's head, but he continued to grip her tightly, drawing blood from multiple places.

Hal- You're right, Caleb. If I kill her now, I won't have anyone to play with...I guess I have to keep her around a little longer.

He laughed softly before punching her across the face, then he dropped her to the ground and walked away. As soon as he was out of sight, Caleb ran to Betty and picked her up, pulling her into his arms.

Betty- W-Why did you do that?! (sobs)

Caleb- W-What? What are you talking about? (tears)

Betty- Why did you stop him?! (sobs)

Caleb- Betts... (tears)

Betty- You should've let him kill me! (sobs)

Caleb- Betty, I can't lose you- (tears)

Betty- No! I hate you! I can't do this anymore! Just let him kill me! (sobs)

Caleb- P-Please calm down! (sniffles)

Betty- N-No! I want to die! (sobs)

Caleb let the tears finally roll down his face while he held his sister in his arms.

Caleb- I can't let you die, Betts...we're going to figure this out, I promise. (cries)

Betty- H-He's never going to stop. (sobs)

Suddenly the front door opened, and after a moment, Ben walked into the kitchen to see Betty, broken, in Caleb's arms, with both of them crying.

Ben- What the fuck did he do now?!

Caleb- H-He was going to kill her...h-he pulled a knife out and... (cries)

Caleb pulled Betty closer to him while Ben slowly walked over and got onto his knees in front of them. He took Betty from Caleb's arms and they all walked downstairs. The three of them sat on the couch together, Betty and Caleb both still crying, but for very different reasons.

Ben- Betty...are you okay?

Betty- N-No, I wanted him to kill me! I want it to stop! (sobs)

Ben fell silent, but nodded knowing how she felt.

Ben- I know you want it to end...b-but we can't let him kill you, Bee. Please understand that. (softly)

Betty- P-Please get him to stop. (sobs)

Ben- I will do everything I can to stop him...I just got back from my new job and I'll be working at the same place that dad is, so I'll try to talk some sense into him, I promise.

Betty- T-That won't work. (sobs)

Ben- Then I'll start fighting him back, I won't let him keep doing this to you.

Betty nodded and laid down with her head on Ben's lap and her legs on Caleb's lap, then before shutting her eyes and letting herself sleep she said.

Betty- I can't keep living like this. (sniffles)

And then she was out.

–-

The next morning, Betty woke up on the couch with Caleb's arms wrapped around her. She shook him slightly, waking him up and the two of them quietly snuck up to their rooms to get ready for the school day. But as soon as Betty walked into the bathroom and looked in the mirror, she saw a big bruise on the side of her face and multiple cuts around her neck. She sighed and grabbed her makeup, doing her best to cover everything, then she walked into the hallway and met back up with Caleb. The two of them snuck out of the house, without eating breakfast, not wanting to see their father. Then as soon as they arrived at school, Betty saw Jughead and Toni with another girl with beautiful red hair.

Caleb- Are you okay if I head to my friends over there?

Betty- Yeah, that's fine, go have fun. My friends are over here anyways.

Caleb- Alright, I love you, come find me if you need anything.

Betty- I will.

Caleb kissed her cheek softly before running off to his jock friends, then Betty walked over to her small group.

Jughead- Hey, are you alright? You kind of left abruptly yesterday.

Betty- Y-Yeah, I'm fine.
Toni- And I didn't realize you had a brother.

Betty- I have three, actually.

Toni- Well, he's pretty cute. I'm not surprised though, because you are beautiful.

???- Um, excuse me! What about me!

Toni- Calm down, Cher, you know I only love you! Anyways, Betty, this is my girlfriend Cheryl, and Cher, this is Betty, the girl I told you about yesterday.

Betty- Hi, it's nice to meet you. (smiles softly)

Cheryl- It's nice to meet you too.

*Bell Rings*

Toni- Well, we gotta get to class. Don't you two have all of your classes together?

Jughead- Yep!

Toni- Alright, well, we'll meet up with you guys later.

Betty- Okay, bye guys. It was nice meeting you Cheryl.

Cheryl- You too.

Then they all went to their classes. But as soon as the lunch bell rang, they were all back together in the cafeteria. Betty and Jughead were talking non stop, clearly enjoying each other's company. And both Cheryl and Toni, couldn't stop eyeing the two, giggling back and forth, clearly seeing the ship that was forming.

Jughead- What is with you two over there?

Toni- Oh nothing, nothing, you two just keep chatting it up. (giggles)

Jughead rolled his eyes and turned back to Betty, but that's when he saw the purplish mark on the side of her face.

Jughead- Oh wait, you have a little something right here.

He brought his thumb up to her cheek to wipe it, but as soon as his hand touched her, she winced.

Jughead- B-Betty, what is that?

Betty- N-Nothing, it's nothing. I'll be right back. (softly)

She instantly got up and ran out of the cafeteria, running all the way to the bathroom to see the makeup on her cheek, smudging.