My Serpent's Keeper [J.J]

Predator

"Hey. I'm guessing we're not watching funny cat videos." Jughead said approaching the Serpent table, they were all huddled around a busted down laptop watching some video. "Check this out. Some sick-in-the-head Northsider posted a crazy-ass video." Sweet Pea turned the laptop to Jug "And we were just talking- Jughead cut Sweet Pea off "About what?" he asked worried, because the man in the video was his best Friend Archie Andrews and he was threatening the Black Hood.

"Fogarty wants to earn his Serpent stripes." Cleo spoke up, she sat on the table behind them, casual watching the younger teens "I say bringing us the head of that Northsider should be easy enough." she spoke looking to Fogarty, he smiled "I'm down with that." Sweet Pea smiled as well "Yes." he banged his fist on the table and few of the other guys banged their fists as well.

"No, guys, don't." Jug yelled trying to calm them down "What, Jones?" Sweet Pea asked "I know this guy, he's a milquetoast. He's a football player. It's kind of a lame target, is all I'm saying." he lied. "You wanna prove something? Why don't you go after the Black Hood?" Jughead suggested. Cleo squinted at him "And why would we do that?" Sweet Pea asked with a chuckle "The Black Hood's targeting Northsiders, who do nothing but blame the Southside for everything that's wrong with this town." Cleo spoke up, Jughead looked to her "We're sick of it." Fogarty spat "The Black Hood's doing our work for us. He's a hero." Sweet Pea smiled. Cleo watched as Jughead's face fell, worry etching onto his features.

-

Cleo walked with Toni to the newsroom, she had nothing else going on after school and when she heard her friend mention Jughead Jones her interest was piqued. The girls walked in to see Jughead reading, a few stacks of books around him and headphones covering his ears. Cleo walked over and sat on the edge of the desk and lifted one of the earpieces "Whatchya reading?" she asked with a smile, Jughead removed the headphones and Toni walked over closing the book to read the cover "Beware the Zodiac. It's decent, though I prefer Robert Graysmith's definitive books on the subject." Toni smiled.

Jughead's phone started vibrating and Cleo looked down at the screen to see the name Betty. "You gonna get that?" she asked with a raised brow as she moved her eyes to meet Jug's. He flipped the phone over "I'll call her back later." a smile pulled across Cleo's lips as the two stared at one another. "Jones, Jones, Jones. You disappoint me. If serial killers are your jam, might I suggest Ted Bundy, Albert Fish, Aileen Wuornos." Toni spoke breaking him from Cleo's hold on him. "They don't fit the profile." he said clearing his throat.

"Right. Unlike most serial killers, our guy wears a mask, well, a hood, when he kills." Toni crossed her arms and leaned against the table across from the desk "Suggests someone consumed with self-loathing." Jughead said "Conversely, he sends letters and cryptos to the press." Toni dropped the newspaper on the desk, the one that published a letter from the black hood. "So, narcissistic or a Batman villain?" Cleo asked. Jug and Toni laughed at her joke

"I'm a true crime junkie." Toni started "True crime is like crack t her." Cleo smiled at her friend "And that's why I'm seeking you out. The Register took a break from bashing the Southside to post the Black Hood's cipher. You wanna help me crack it?" Jughead asked hopefully. The two girls looked at each other with smiles.

-

The next morning Jughead woke up to someone knocking on his door. He groggily got up to open it "Betty? What time is it?" he asked seeing the perky blonde "7:15. I wanted to catch you before school." she smiled and kissed him before pushing into the trailer. "I'm sorry. I have morning breath. You want coffee or something?" Jughead asked walking to the coffee pot "No, I'm actually on my way to the library. I asked Ms.Paroo to set aside all the books she has about cryptograms and ciphers.I thought it might help us crack the Black Hood's code. Which I'm hoping is something we can do together." she smiled sweetly, hoping he would say yes. they didn't see each other much since he moved and she missed him.