"And if, you don't love me now
You will never love me again
I can still hear you saying
You would never break the chain "

"Sheriff." Athena and Archie had discussed and came to the decision that they would help Betty and Jughead solve the case of the Riverdale Reaper. Veronica walked along with them as they arrived at the Sheriff station, quickly finding the Sheriff walking in the halls. "We wanted to talk to you about a cold case," Athena said, looking into the Sheriff's light green eyes.

"About a family that was murdered in Fox Forest 40 years ago. Your receptionist said that the files on the case were missing." Archie elaborated on Athena's comment. Things were still tense between the two since the simple but complex words spilled from Archie's lips. "Is it possible they were stolen? As part of a cover-up?" Athena's conspiracies caused the Sheriff to widen his eyes and try to set the record straight.

"Now, now, hold on. Sometimes with cold cases, the lead officer will take the files home, so he can keep working on them." Sheriff Keller told the teens causing them to nod, slowly. "Who would have been the lead officer on this case?" Athena asked whilst biting her lip, hoping that Keller would know. "Back then? Multiple homicides? My guess would be Sheriff Howard." Athena felt a small smile creep onto her face before she looked up at Archie who smiled down at her.

"Do you know where he is?" Archie had hope in his voice which the sheriff quickly squashed. "Sheriff Howard died two years ago, now. But his daughter still lives in town here, Margaret. Get her contact information. Maybe she can help." Their hope was reignited and the two went to search for the woman's details which was quite easy because they had google to aid them.

+ + +

"My name is Athena Blossom. I'm calling about one of your father's cases, the Conway murders?" Athena spoke to the woman in the offices of the Blue and Gold. Veronica had left them, leaving Archie and Athena to call about the Conway murders. "Here we go again. What about 'em?" Margaret sounded annoyed at the mention of the murders but allowed Athena to start asking her questions. "My partner and I are writing an in-depth article on the murders, and we were wondering if---" Athena was interrupted by the woman who sounded as if she was becoming increasingly more annoyed.

"My dad was obsessed with the killings. He called the house where they happened the Devil's house. He'd go to that place day and night for hours, trying to put the pieces together. If you ask me, my father lost his mind in that house. Now, I am done talking about this, okay? Don't call me again." Margaret hung up the phone causing Athena to quietly scoff before looking up at Archie.

"Athena, We have to go to that house." Athena sighed and nodded before looking at the documents they had. "I know. Are you prepared to dance with the devil tonight?" Archie nodded before running his fingers through his hair. "I'll call Veronica again." The pair went throughout the day, thinking about the other and the murders in the devil's house that they were going to walk into whilst the town slept. Night came swiftly causing Archie and Athena to wait outside the front of the creepy house, waiting for Veronica.

"Are we ready to go into the depths of the creepy house where murder was committed four times because I certainly am." Veronica strutted up to them before they all stared at the door. "After you." Athena motioned to Archie causing him to roll his eyes and walk into the house causing the floorboards to creak. Athena walked in after followed by Veronica. The place gave Athena chills as she swung her flashlight around looking at the old home.

"God, I wish I had a baseball bat or another weapon." Athena cursed as she came up next to Archie who was pulling out the article from his back pocket. "Shouldn't have thrown my gun away then." Athena softly hit him, causing him to chuckle. "Sheriff Howard kept coming back here year after year, there must be a reason why," Veronica said looking around the room and shining her flashlight on every surface.

"Something that didn't, or doesn't add up," Archie concluded causing Athena to gulp and look at the article. "So, what does the article say happened?" Athena asked before Archie cleared his throat and started to walk. "The Reaper came at night when the rest of the town was getting ready for bed. He killed the mother, Mary Ellen Conway, first. He killed the father, Jim Conway, in the kitchen. He was rushing to save his wife. He was shot point-blank in the chest. The kids were still in their bedrooms." Archie walked through where the murders happened causing Athena to have chills come over her entire body.

"Hiding." Athena's breath became shaky as she imagined the scared children hiding under their beds at the sound of two gunshots. "My God" Veronica said before Archie's narration continued for only a sentence more. "They were hiding under the bed." They walked into one of the kid's room seeing blood stains under the metal frame. Athena turned and walked back towards the hallway and towards Archie who looked around the house. "Archie? Athena? It was a family of four that was killed, right?"

"Yeah, why?" Athena became confused at Veronica's question and turned back towards her. She stood in front of the door, staring at marks. "There's something weird here. Three sets of initials." Athena's eyes widened as she and Veronica locked eyes before hearing Archie shout out to them. "These are Sheriff Howard's files, his notes." The two girls walked over to Archie who held a flashlight over the papers that the former Sheriff had noted down all of the aspects of the case.

"He kept them here so he could keep working on the case," Archie added on causing Athena to stand and nod. "His daughter was probably right then. The case probably did drive him to madness." Athena said as she sighed out. "Does it say anything about a third child? With the letters 'J' and 'C'?" Veronica asked causing Athena to lean back down as they flipped through the pages.

"Wait, wait, turn it back," Veronica asked as they saw a family photo for a split second. "Oh, my God, there. The Conways were a family of five." The faded picture showed the parents and three children causing Athena to inaudibly gasp. Where was the third child? The three teens, startled, walked out of the house before returning to their homes. Athena tossed and turned as she tried to think of ways that could result in the hidden third child being found in Riverdale, now. But maybe he was the killer.

"So, the real story was in the Sheriff's notebook." A new day was upon them and Athena sat on one of the desks in the Blue & Gold's offices and looked at Betty and Jughead who had asked what had happened the night before. "There was a third child, Joseph Conway, who survived the massacre," Veronica said causing Athena to jump down from the table and grab one of the many documents, detailing what had happened.

"They hid his identity, changed his name, so he could lead a normal life and not have him deal with the massacre of his family." Betty and Jughead nodded along with what they were saying, waiting until they got all of the facts to talk. "According to Sheriff Howard's notes, he was adopted by another family in Riverdale and presumably, enrolled at a local high school. We got a picture of the kid." Archie explained further, handing Betty the family photo.

"If we match that boy to one of the students at Riverdale High during the years he would've attended--" Veronica said before Betty finished her train of thought. "Then he might be able to tell us how the Conway murders are connected to the Black Hood."

"Or he is the Black Hood. Just go with me here. Let's say that our mystery kid did end up surviving the slaughter, maybe even saw it. That would've messed him up for life." Athena nodded as her suspicions were backed up by Jughead and Betty's analyzing of the situation. "Yeah, and somehow, for some reason, he could be blaming the town for what happened." It all made sense in Athena's mind. Now all they needed to do was put a name to the face and find him.

"And now is punishing us for it," Jughead concluded. "So, basically, we just have to go through all these yearbooks, page by page, and see if we find a match. So, not quite a needle in a haystack. What?" Veronica noticed the couple in front of her shifting their feet before Betty cleared her throat. "Uh, we just have to get ready for a party that we're hosting."

"It's my dad's retirement party, so," Jughead told them. "Oh." The three awkwardly said at the same time before Betty quickly stammered out. "No, you guys should come. Yeah, no, I'm renting a karaoke machine." They watched as the couple fed them contradicting words before finally leaving.

"Let's dig in." Athena sighed before they each took a yearbook. Time went on with no talking and soon dusk was upon them causing their need to find the kid to increase. "Athena, can we take a break and talk about--" Athena was about to go into panic mode before Veronica let out a gasp. "Oh, my God. Is that him?" She exclaimed.

"Could be, yeah," Athena said as she stood above her and looked down at the book. Veronica traced her fingertip along the names before landing on what was supposed to be the boys. "Oh, my God," Athena whispered before they all walked into the hallway. "Mr. Svenson!" Archie called out as they spotted the Janitor who mopped the floor with his back turned to them.

"Yes." He replied in a monotone voice. "We know who you are, Joseph Conway." As Athena let his name fall from his lips, Mr. Svenson or Joseph ran away from them, prompting them to all sprint after him. "Hey!" Archie called out. The football player caught up to the janitor within seconds, slamming him into a set of lockers. Athena and Veronica quickly came up from behind Archie and glared at him. They dragged him into a classroom, tossing him in and slamming the door behind them.

"Why did you run, Mr. Svenson?" Veronica said as she menacingly strutted, her high heels clicking as she took each step. "I got scared. No one's called me Joe Conway in decades." He looked shocked that some high school kids would find out about his dark past. "We read about your family. We know you're the only one that survived." Athena's jaw clenched as she looked at a possible murderer.

"If you've been tempted to find justice--" Archie started to say before being interrupted by the accused "I found justice. The night it happened, I heard gunshots and I escaped out of my bedroom window. I could've run into the woods, but I didn't. I wanted to see him leave my house. I saw him covered in my family's blood. I saw his face." Athena gulped at his words before turning to Veronica who stood with her mouth open. "You know who killed your family?"

"A con man, a preacher passing through town. Next day, a group of men took me to the motel where he was staying. I pointed him out, they took him away, and they killed him. I'm not sure how." The janitor told them causing the kids to nod, curiously. "What happened to the men who did that?" Athena asked with curiosity in her voice.

"Nothing. Justice had been served. It was never reported, never investigated. The town demanded blood for blood." Athena became sick to her stomach as she heard the words spilling out of his mouth. "You're sounding an awful lot like the Black Hood right now." Veronica started to say causing Athena's disgustedness to turn into anger. "Where were you the morning Fred Andrews was shot? And the night Ms. Grundy was killed? And Moose and Midge, And the goddamn Sugarman." She spat out, ignoring Archie's protests whilst Veronica just watched and glared at the suspected Black Hood.

"That's enough! I've looked into the Black Hood's eyes. We were wrong. It's not him." Archie pulled her aside before quietly explaining his doubts. "I'll meet you two at FP's retirement party. I just need to--" Athena still felt some anger boil inside of her as she rushed out of the school and made her way home. She didn't know why she felt such anger towards Mr. Svenson. Probably just her trying to get over her relationship troubles. She smiled slightly at her sister who sat, drawing on the dining room table. Cheryl had become quite the artist over the past few weeks.

+ + +

Slipping on a simple red dress to compliment her hair, Athena chewed on her nails before walking into the living to see her mother sitting on the couch, looking into the flames of the raging fire. "Mother, did you love my father?" Penelope Blossom scoffed at her daughter's question, her eyes still locked on the fire. "What a stupid question." Athena sat on the couch opposite her mother, biting her lip causing it to almost bleed.

"I'm only asking because I never heard you utter a word of affection. At least not in the presence of me." Athena stood up as she began to realize that her mother was once again and would always be, no help in these discussions. "We're expecting a visitor tonight." Athena furrowed her eyebrows but nodded before walking out of the house and going to the Southside. As she walked into the White Wyrm, bright lights and drunks filled the place and she searched the area to try and find at the very least a familiar face.

Athena soon had a drink in her hand before she spotted Archie, standing alone by a table. "Hey Arch." Athena became nervous as she looked up at him with the people dancing around her. "Hey. Can we talk? Not about Svenson, not about the Black Hood, not about some murder house. About us, Athena." Athena's eyes widened as Archie directly told her what he wanted.

"Okay, we're jumping straight into it. Archie, this isn't the place." Athena said as quietly as she could over the loud music. "I just want you to know. What I said? That was about me and what I was feeling at that specific moment and you shouldn't feel any pressure to say it back to me."

"Oh, Archie. Thank you for understanding. Just give me some time." Athena knew she wanted to say it, but the fear prevented the words from spilling out. Athena gave him a hug which he felt tense in before she pulled apart to look at him. "Yeah, you're welcome." Archie chuckled, his attitude still filled with slight happiness.

"Arch, you ready for our song?" Athena's eyebrows furrowed as she looked at Veronica and then who scratched his eyebrow. Veronica smiled at the couple before holding her finger out to Betty who was getting impatient on the stage.

"Uh, yeah. I, uh, I signed Veronica and I, up for a duet to sing that Donnie Darko song you love or hopefully, strongly like at least. I thought you'd like it." Athena's smile dropped from her face as she was filled with hurt. "Archie" She looked into his eyes to see he was filled with hurt as was she and he scoffed before shaking his head.

"Or can you not do that, either?" Athena nodded before watching Archie and Veronica walked up onto the stage and start performing. Athena always listened to sad songs when she felt depressed and this was one of those songs, but it had now become tainted with Archie's hurt words. Their eyes were locked as they sang, Veronica, looking between the two of them with a confused expression.

"Mad world, Mad world" Athena's eyes welled up with tears causing her to run out of the White Wyrm and when the cold air hit her face, she began sobbing. "Athena!" She sat next to the motorcycles on a tire, ignoring Archie's calls as he ran towards her. "Athena, what I said, it doesn't matter if you don't' wanna say it back to me."

"It does, Arch. It matters to you and I just need some time. I'm so sorry." The tears slipped down Athena's cheeks, Archie's reflecting the same. "Athena, I---" Athena shook her head as she looked into Archie's eyes. "I think you need some time too." Athena softly kissed his cheek, feeling the saltiness of his tears on her lips. She walked forward, keeping her head high until she rounded a corner and crumpled down to the floor. She made her way back home and as she walked through the door, tears spilling down her cheeks, she slammed it behind her and crumbled to the floor as the reality of what happened set in.

So, yes this is an extremely long chapter. but this is to make it up to you guys because I didn't really post a chapter of substance last week and I wanted to get this out so I can post the last few chapters as quickly as possible. I won't include any spoilers but the next episode was completely spoiled for me and that is kind of shitty.

Thanks, Queenie.

(EDITED)