𝓛𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓑𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭

𝒻𝒾𝒻𝓉𝓎

Horror is like a serpent: always shedding its skin, always changing. And it will always come back. It can't be hidden away like the guilty secrets we try to keep in our subconscious. 

- Dario Argento

+ + + + 

A sudden hum caused Sweet Pea to lazily open one eye. At the corner of his sight, he saw Nellie's sleeping form pressed against him. In the darkness her hair was fanned out over the white pillow, strands of if obscuring her face. With a satisfied smirk, he held her closer, enjoying the warmth of her body. 

The humming continued, avoiding Sweet Pea to return to his deserved slumber. Annoyed, he looked around the room, trying to find the source of the sound. Scattered on the ground, the screen of his phone lit up, indicating an incoming call. The phone must've dropped out of his leather jacket as it somehow got tossed onto the ground. 

Squinting at the bright screen, Sweet Pea forced his mind to identify the caller. The mist in his eyes slowly clear as he read. J. Jones.

With a heavy sigh, Sweet Pea pressed the green telephone and held his smartphone closer to his ear. "You better have a damn good reason to disturb me, Jones." He hissed, trying to keep his volume down so Nellie wouldn't wake up. 

"Fangs is getting out in half an hour. We need backup to escort him back to the Southside." Jughead said. His words immediately shook Sweet Pea from his dreamlike state. 

"I'll be there." He answered, clicking away the conversation and immediately reaching for his clothes. Woken by the sudden chaos erupting in the trailer, Nellie sat up a bit straighter. She wrapped the sheets around her naked chest as she observed Sweet Pea tossing his T-shirt back on and reaching for his Serpent jacket on the floor.

"What's going on?" she said, her voice hoarse of sleep.

"They're releasing Fangs."

Making moves to get dressed, Nellie scooted to the edge of the bed but Sweet Pea halted her with just a wave of his hand.

"Please stay here. Things aren't looking pretty. There's still a mob of protesters camping in front of the sheriff station and it won't be easy to get Fangs past them." He crouched to meet her gaze. "Just stay here and I'll be right back after we drop off Fangs." Sweet Pea pressed a quick kiss on her forehead. 

Worry crossed Nellie's features but she knew she couldn't stop him. Fangs was his best friend and even though she wanted to do anything to help him, she was glad she could stay safely tucked underneath the warm sheets. Today had been so eventful already. Trying to get Fangs past a crowd of angry citizens would be a bit much. 

"Be careful, Sweets," she called out at last, watching him stride to the door. With a sly smirk, Sweet Pea pulled out his knuckle duster. The tiny weapon shimmered in the dark. 

"Can't promise anything, Nels." He said before sticking up the collar of his jacket and heading outside towards his brother's truck. 

+ + + + 

When he reached the sheriff station, the crowd gathered in front of it seemed to have doubled in size. Cutting the engine off, Sweet Pea ran his hand over his protected knuckles. One wrong move and the first protester would get a square hit in the face. 

Pushing angry people aside, the tall Serpent urged his way inside. His arrival was accompanied by a relieved Toni who couldn't help but wrap her arms around his torso in assurance. 

"This nightmare is soon to be over," she muttered, grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the place where Jughead was talking to Sheriff Minetta. The man threw Sweet Pea a dirty look but didn't give him any more attention as Jughead insisted to take a side exit.

"It wouldn't surprise me if there's a crowd gathered there too," Sweet Pea said. "I've seen the mob outside. They're mad and thirsty for blood but the side exit will be the only manageable escape route." 

Toni nodded in approval. "You came with Bear's truck?" 

Sweet Pea nodded, pulling out the car keys from his pocket. "We just need to get Fangs in the car and then drive off."

Jughead squinted "We've already arranged where he should go." Sweet Pea gave him a confused look. "The mob outside knows where to find him, Sweet Pea. Tracking down a Serpent isn't hard considering most of us live in the trailer park."

Sweet Pea understood but it didn't settle with him. "Why can't he stay with me and Nellie?" 

Jughead shook his head. "It's already decided. It's his best option."

Sheriff Minetta left only to return later on with Fangs in tow. It was clearly displayed that the sheriff wasn't pleased with the turn of events but he unlocked his cuffs and shove Fangs back into the embrace of the Serpents. 

With big eyes, Sweet Pea's best friend looked at them. "What are we going to do? Those people outside want me dead. I don't want to die." he uttered. Sweet Pea had never seen Fangs afraid before but the day's events had rustled everybody. 

"You're not, Fangs. Not today." Sweet Pea encouraged him as he gave him a brotherly pat on the back. His guts told him not to taunt fate but he needed Fangs to get out of the sheriff station rather sooner than later. 

"We're leaving from the side." Jughead said, urging them all closer. "We'll surround Fangs and protect him against any of those protesters. As soon as we get him in Sweet Pea's truck, you hit the gas and get the hell out of here, to San Junipero." 

Sweet Pea nodded in understanding. "I'll go first." He said, standing up straight. He knew his height could be intimidating and that was all they needed right now. 

"In unity there's strength." they recited, locking eyes for just a second. This was what being a Serpent meant. Being a part of the gang came with a lot of responsibilities and crap, but it also meant having a family by your side whenever you needed one.

Before stepping through the door, Sweet Pea looked back at Fangs. The other Serpent was uneasily shifting from one foot to the other. 

"Ready, friend?" Sweet Pea said. 

"As ready as can be," and with that Sweet Pea pushed open the door, not even trying to be secretive. He already knew the crowd outside was eager for Fangs punishment but he wouldn't give them the satisfaction of not being afraid to want so.

Thundering down the stairs, he pushed away the first few protesters who slung their arms at Fangs in the middle. Sweet Pea groaned and pushed, throwing obscenities back to those who spoke them. He clenched his fist, feeling the cold metal of his knuckle dusters bite in his skin. 

A guy appeared in his vision, fists balled and determined to get through the Serpent fence to reach Fangs. Sweet Pea pushed the guy away with all his might, sending him tumbling against a few other protesters. Nevertheless the crowd grew denser on them, pressing the Serpents closer together. Sweet Pea could see his truck in the distance but the crowd was blocking their way. 

Getting out of line to push away another enraged man, a gunshot turned his furious glare into one of confusion. Jerking his head back to the group, Sweet Pea watched as his best friend fell to the ground. He was immediately squatting by his side. His face turned pale as Fangs rose his hand to reveal dark blood staining his palm. 

Sweet Pea was no longer able to distinguish sounds as the world crumpled beneath his feet. Somewhere he heard Jughead scream out for help. His own desperate eyes were scanning the crowd around them for a way out, when his eyes landed on Archie and Reggie Mantle. 

Both Riverdale jocks were laying flat on the ground, heavily panting. Other people were also fighting, Serpents hidden amongst them trying to fight their way out but Sweet Pea couldn't help but look at the two Northsiders. 

Guilt graced their faces and Sweet Pea knew why.