Betty's POV

I paced back and forth in my room, it had been weeks since my attempted sacrifice. I still had the cuts, bruises, and scars to prove it. The memory of that night has haunted me every time I close my eyes. I haven't been able to shake the darkness...I'm falling back into my own patterns. Jughead has been off handling Serpent stuff without me...after what I did..I think he lost trust in me. I didn't blame him. But I didn't have a choice, Veronica called to apologize on behalf of her father. I didn't answer the call. I wasn't her fault, I just didn't feel like talking. I sat by the window and stared out at Riverdale. My town which used to be picture perfect was now like living in the depths of hell. My father was in jail, my mom has been gone for a week now visiting my grandparents. I think she needs money, we're going to lose the house soon. Without my father's income, we have nothing. My sister went back to the farm to continue living with her cult, she said once that it was better than living in her own home. Now I know what she meant. We've all been living a lie. My phone started to buzz, it was Jug..I didn't answer. I couldn't face my own boyfriend. I was falling apart trying to glue everything back together. I wasn't eating, I wasn't sleeping...I was barely breathing. There was a knock at my door that shook me out of my thoughts. I walked down the steps and turned the handle on the front door to see Archie standing there.

"I haven't seen you in weeks. You don't answer anyone's calls. We're all freaking out Betty. What the hell is going on with you!" Archie yelled.

"Absolutely nothing Archie...nothing. " I said as he walked into the house.

"You haven't been to school in weeks, where the hell is your mom Betty?" He asked.

"I don't know Arch, she told me, my grandparents. But I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't come back either. " I said as I looked down at my hands, they were shaking uncontrollably. This was becoming a regular thing for me. 

"Betty, whatever is going on we can get through it." Archie tried to assure me.

"Lies are nice Arch...but I'm not interested in them anymore. Life has been spinning out of control now for years. My parents...my sister...me. We're not perfect, we're so far from perfect it scares me. Arch..remember last year when you took Veronica and me to the dance. How you told me you'd never be good enough for me. You said you didn't look at me as anything other than a friend. The one thing you were wrong about was you not being good enough. It's been me that wasn't good enough for this town all along. The Coopers destroyed Riverdale and left their youngest daughter to pick up the shattered remains. I just don't think I'm strong enough to do it on my own. That song you sang me, Archie...you think you love me now right? You don't...you're falling in love with the madness. The line I sang back to you wasn't romantic it was me telling you to stop playing the part of being the guy everyone wants you to be and be yourself. A photograph could never show the you I know Archie. It's that simple." I said getting up. He was speechless as he nodded and headed for the door. I locked it as he walked out and collapsed against the door.

 I wonder what would've happened if he fought back? If he said he wasn't leaving and tried to talk me off the ledge. Would I have started to fall again? The boy next door and the girl with the Serpent tattoo. Archie and I were nothing more than our labels. 

 I decided to try to take a shower. I made the water as hot as I possibly could, so it would sting my skin. I heard a loud bang, followed by the sound of the lock popping on my front door. I got in the shower anyway. I sobbed so loud and hard I choked on the water as it fell on me. 

"Betty open the door!  Betty open this door right now!" I heard Jughead yell as he stood outside the bathroom door. He kicked it in a minute later. The second he heard me sobbing, his anger turned to panic. He started to take off his clothes and walked toward the shower. He moved the glass door back. "Betty" He sighed as the makeup poured down my face. All my scars, cuts and bruises were exposed.

"I'm losing it Jug...I'm losing everything..everyone and I'm going to lose you too." I cried. He pulled me into his bare chest as water fell down on both of us.

"Hey hey...no...never. I am never leaving you, Betty. You can't push me away that easy. I know you're going through a lot right now. That's why you need me and I need you. What's a king without his queen?" He said to me.

"Why would you want me to be your queen? Don't all the Serpents hate me! I'm the reason they lost their homes. Everything I touch...I destroy." I cried.

"They love you, Betty, they know you meant well. Malachai would've done that to us eventually. We all made it out alive, that's what matters." Jug said as he kissed my forehead.

"Jug..we're going to lose the house. We have no money left...I haven't been to school in weeks. My life is falling apart." I said to him, gripping his chest.

"Oh my god Betty. I'm so sorry. I'm going to do everything I can to get you through this. You can't stay here alone though. So until someone comes home or the bank throws us out. I'm moving in." Jug said as he wrapped his arms around me. 

"Thank you. " I whispered, I was shaking as Jug turned the water off. He took a towel and wrapped it around me. 

"Come here, babe. " He said as he picked me up and carried me back to my room. He handed me his big grey long sleeve shirt and some pajama shorts. "We'll figure all of it out in the morning. The school will excuse all your absences after everything that's happened, Betty. " Jug said as he looked at me. "No more tears..I'm here now." He said as he kissed me.

"Jug...I don't know what I would do without you." I said as he got in my bed with me.

"You will never have to Betty. That is a promise I know I'll keep." He said as he squeezed my hand. I squeezed back. Jughead held me tighter than he ever had before that night. While the city burned..he let me sleep. But in the back of my mind, all I could think was, what would've happened if Archie stayed?