Betty's POV

The year ended in complete disaster, my mom had joined my sister Polly's cult. I was self-harming again and slowly becoming an emotional anorexic. After the Serpents and I burned down the foundation of the Sodale project, we thought things would get better. But they got even worse. The Ghoulies ransacked and robbed the White Worm, leaving Hawk Eye in financial shambles.

Hiram had hired his own police force for Riverdale, headed by Sergent Minetta who arrested Archie for the arson I basically committed. There wasn't any innocence left in this town. Veronica and her father upon Archie's arrest came to blows for the final time and she took asylum from him on the South Side with the Serpents. Jug was starting to push me away again, I was worried he blamed me for all of this. I brought my darkness upon Riverdale the way I look at it.

This was all my fault, the Serpents were nearly homeless and broke, Archie was about to be indicted with a crime he didn't even commit. While Jughead was off in Greendale with FP trying to make a mense with Penny and the Ghoulies, I was left to pick up the pieces for the Serpents here. He barely called since he left five days ago, I was beginning to think Jug and I didn't stand in surviving the Riverdale civil war now.

"Betts...Betty...Betty!" Veronica yelled as she shook me awake. I'd fallen asleep on the bar stool in the Whyte Wyrm again.

"I'm up...sorry I haven't been sleeping much." I sighed.

"Tell me about this..this has been the worst summer of my life. I can't wait for the trial to start tomorrow so we can get Archiekins back where he belongs. Are you coming to see him at the Sheriff's station today?" Veronica asked.

"No...I think I'll wait for the trial. I just have so much on my mind. I don't want to freak Arch out, he has enough to worry about." I sighed as Veronica nodded.

"Oh okay...well Betts Jug should be back from Greendale with his dad soon. Don't stay in your head too much." V warned me as she walked out of the bar, throwing her Serpent jacket over her shoulder. I decided to call Jug...I needed to talk to him before I did something I would regret, either to myself or with someone else. Not that I was the first person he wanted to talk to at this point. I was his fucking girlfriend, but he'd been so cold to me recently.

"Jug.." I said as he picked up.

"Betts" he said back. I was almost shocked he even answered my call at this point.

"Are you on your way back?" I asked.

"It's going to be a much longer negotiation process with Penny than we thought, Betty. She's making this as difficult and miserable as she possibly can now that we're at her mercy. Malachai has been MIA. Please keep the Serpents in line while I'm gone." Jug said about to hang up. "Oh and Betty...I love you." Jug said as he hung up. It was weird how much those 8 letters sounded forced to him now. They still meant something to me.

"I love you too Juggie." I whispered back as the called ended. I felt my heart crack a little more. I was losing him. I decided to pay Archie a visit, after all, to distract myself from my crumbling relationship.

"Betty you know visiting hours are over honey." Sheriff Keheller said to me as I walked into the station.

"I know and I'm so sorry Sheriff Keheller, but I really need to talk to Archie. I promise it will just take a minute. Please." I begged him.

"Alright, Betty...just make it fast." He said as he let me through the secured entrance.

"Thank you so much! I will!" I said as I walked over towards the cells. "Archie..." I whispered. My heart shattered the second he lifted his head up from the rusty cot he had to sleep on.

"Betty? How did you...they don't let anyone get this close." He looked at me confused.

"Here..." I said as I undid my ponytail. I used one of the bobbie pins to open the lock on Archie's cell door. I closed it behind me and ran into his arms. "I'm so sorry" I sobbed.

"Betty this isn't your fault. " Archie whispered to me. "I knew Hiram would do this. But I was willing to take the risk." He said back to me.

"I know Arch...I feel so awful I..." I was cut off my him grabbing my wrists.

"Betty...you're not." Archie looked at me.

"I don't know what else to do...I want to punish myself for this Arch. I have to...this is all my fault. I ruined the Serpents, my relationship with Jug, your life and any hope I ever had at being normal again. Veronica had to join the Serpents after her dad cut her off. He told her if she didn't leave town he would ruin her. His own daughter Archie...Jughead is in Greendale with FP right now. They've been there for days trying to negotiate a truce with the Ghoulies. He doesn't he want to say I love you to me anymore Archie. I ruined his image of me. We aren't strong enough...I'm not strong enough to lead the Serpents without him." I cried.

"You Betty Cooper....are the strongest person I know. Don't give up on yourself now...don't give up on Riverdale. You got this and I'm here with you. I'm not going anywhere. My mom's in town she's going to be my lawyer. We'll get through this. But in order for us to move forward, I need you with me. I need Betty Cooper." Archie's words broke my heart. I had been hard to even be friends with him lately.

"I wish I knew who she was...I'm not her anymore. " I said.

"She's there...keep looking for her. Keep looking Betty." Archie said as Sheriff Keheller walked over towards the cell.

"Alright Betty, Come on. You'll see him tomorrow." He sighed. Even Sheriff Keheller knew Archie didn't do it. But he had to follow Hiram's laws...even though Hermonie was the mayor but Hiram controlled the decisions.

"Bye Arch...thank you for everything." I half smiled as I walked out of the cell.

"No Betty thank you. I didn't think you would come. But you always seem to surprise me." Archie said.

"Most of the time Arch, I even surprise myself." I sighed as I walked out of the building and back towards my bike. Tomorrow was the beginning of Archie's trial and I really needed Jughead to be there for it. I couldn't make it another day let alone another week without him. I was crumbling and relying on the darkness guide me...relying on the worst part of yourself for survival is the most dangerous thing a person can do.