Riverdale: What no one saw coming...

Chapter Thirty-Six

Sirens and flashing lights swarmed Thornhill , great, red beams escaping every window, door and crack. The manor turning to nothing but dust. The walls slowly being dowsed in fresh , clean water. The flames fighting back, but eventually being defeated by the waters strength. Its lack of oxygen due to the suffocation provided by the water, forcing the bright, hot conflagration to simmer down to a few small beams of light.

Thornhill, the proud residency of the once honourable Blossom family, now tarnished and broken like the families they destroyed.

The steps before its grand door, now divulged in ash. The one and only , Cheryl Blossom stood before them. Her pitch black mascara had ran down her cheek in a thick, single line.

Officers had tried and tried to move the strong girl but she refused, their attempts meaning nothing to her. They left her there, having other issues to attend to, they left her , standing there affront of her burning childhood home.

The child hood home she burned.

Thick clouds of ash filled the air, clouding Bettys judgment, as herself and Jughead arrived on scene. Despite their past, Betty still needed to see if Cheryl was safe, they were now related and she had to come collect her by law. She was the closest relative in town and needed to be her guardian until a closer family member would be able to take her in. She felt like an adult being referred to as this way, despite being the tender age of sixteen. The recent activities meaning she had a lot of responsibility to take on.

The police had first arrived on scene to make an arrest, the video file Betty and Jughead provided gave the evidence they needed to convict Penelope and Clifford Blossom of murder. But the flames were already catastrophic upon their arrival.

It took over half an hour to seize its fiery depths. All of which Cheryl had not budged from her secluded spot on the marble steps. She would not move for anyone or anything. The police needed her statement and if there was anyone inside. But she remained silent.

Betty took in her surroundings, the falling ash, the Smokey sky, the broken home. The sheriff eventually approached the pair, hands on hat.

"What happened here?" Jughead asked the question on everyone's mind.

"We don't know to be honest. But we know it was arson, the strong smell of gasoline cascading the air gave that away..." The sheriff said , spinning around to gesture to the falling mansion.

"How Cheryl? " Betty asked spying the lonely red headed girl in a world of her own.

"She hasn't  moved once, not since we arrived. We don't know if anyone is still in there, we are currently undergoing investigation down stairs but the second floor is risky. Its unsafe to send  my officers from the fire department up onto an unstable floor, full of lung infesting ash for there to be no one to save. Especially considering the family car is missing, we suspect they caught wind of their arrest and fled quickly. But still it in our best interest to be sure. We don't know what happened to start the fire and Cheryl wont take a statement."

Betty peered over her shoulder, Cheryl stood in the same position. As much as she neglected and already regretted the action she was about to make, she did it any way..

"I will go talk to her..." Betty said looking around, almost waiting for someone to stop her, to tell her it was unlawful to do so. But Jughead was the only one who held such objections. As she moved toward the girl, Jughead grabbed her arm.

"I know how your feeling, but you don't have to do this. That girl bullied you, you owe her no favours." Jughead said his eyes glistening with concern.

She turned back to him, placing both hands on his cheeks to pull him down slightly and kissed him on the head.

"I know... but I'm the only family she's got. The only family I have too.." she reillitereated.