In a small trailer in Sunnyside Trailer Park, a young girl woke up into a nest of vipers. Blind for their true nature, she stepped into the ring with her eyes wide open. After all, the abandoned daughter still sought sunshine inside the creatures of the night.

+ + + +

As the sun brought a new day, Nellie woke up to the smell of burnt toast. She scrunched her nose as she stretched on the couch. Her elbow hit the armrest, awakening her enough to hear the scramble in the small adjacent kitchen.

"Goodmorning," she heard a hoarse voice mumble. Nellie immediately stirred and her eyes shot wide open. Clutching the blanket closer to her chest, she sat up. As her eyes grew accustomed to the new day, she vaguely made out a figure, hunched over the counter.

In the small kitchen, Jughead was drinking a glass of milk. He observed Nellie over the rim of his glass. His beanie perked proudly on top of his dark hair.

Before she could respond anything, Jughead left the counter and strolled towards her. "My dad is not here. He's looking for a place for you to stay."

He sat down in a worn leather couch in front of her. An awkward silence fell into the room when no one dared to speak.

"Thanks for letting me stay here," Nellie replied, fidgeting with the ruffled edges of the blanket.

"Don't thank us yet," Jughead mumbled, tearing his gaze away from Nellie. His expression didn't reveal anything that would clear his remark. 

Nellie frowned to his response. Upon her reaction, Jughead shook his head, a smile creeping in the corner of his lips.

"You have no idea in what kind of nest you are, do you?" Jughead said, lifting his glass of milk for another sip. At her silence, Jughead returned his eyes to her.

Observant, he watched the young, unknown girl. Her short hair was formed a misformed halo from her sleep. His father's t-shirt hung loosely over her frail figure. Her dark brown eyes were filled with questions and doubts.

"We are Serpents," Jughead explained "a gang that rules the streets of Riverdale's Southside. We are not the kind of people you want to meet in the dark." At his last remark, his face turned grim.

"You mean to tell me I shouldn't accept the help you guys are offering me?" Nellie replied, feeling a chill running over her bare arms. The revelation that the kind man of the diner was actually part of a gang, didn't bother her as much as it should. Perhaps living on the edge for the past few months had dulled her sense of danger.

"I mean, you should be careful since a gang doesn't offer you help without wanting something for it in return. A price needs to be paid," Jughead answered her, twirling the milk around in his hands.

"And what would a gang want from me?" Nellie scoffed. The revelation of being in a gang member's home, stirred her imagination to anything cruel she knew about gangs. As a child, she remembered watching old black and white movies with her mother, although she never really understood her mother's obsession with gangs and mobsters.

A poor girl from New York couldn't offer a gang anything of value, she thought.

"That's what I am asking myself since last night," Jughead confessed "That's why I need you to tell me exactly who you are."

At that exact moment the door of the trailer opened. In a stream of incoming light, F.P. appeared, wearing heavy boots and his leather jacket.

"Morning, kids," he mumbled as he reached for a leather jacket hanging behind the door. "Get ready, we're going to the Whyte Wyrm." F.P. said tossing the jacket to Jughead.

+ + + +

As Nellie sat behind F.P. on his motorcycle, the feeling of endless freedom the motorcycle had given her prior, was combined with a knotted stomach. She did not know what to expect in that place, the Whyte Wyrm. The name alone was enough to spark her interest.

Jughead's reaction hadn't escaped her. The moment his father had returned to the trailer, Jughead returned to himself. He had quit the conversation at that dubious comment about Nellie's identity and how it could be of use for the Southside Serpents.

Nellie shook it off as the motorcycle leaned heavy in the road. She grabbed F.P.'s waist tighter. If Hiram Lodge wasn't planning on helping his daughter, Nellie shouldn't stay in Riverdale, sulking.

As soon as she had found somewhere to stay for a few weeks, she would look for a job until she earned enough money to leave Riverdale and Hiram Lodge behind. It wouldn't be easy but she had been on her own for three months now. She would have to continue that way. Her confrontation with her father had only proven that she shouldn't count on anyone but herself.

Nellie was torn from her thoughts when the motorcycle slowed down and went for a parking lot next to a dubious looking establishment. A bunch of motorcycles were all huddled together on the lot.

People clad in black leather jackets observed her as she descended F.P.'s motorcycle. Dark glares were thrown in her direction.

It was too early for so many people to be going to a pub, Nellie thought to herself as she followed the Joneses to the entrance. As the door opened, the smell of cheap beer and strong spirits wafted over her.

They were all welcomed as they descended the staircase to a basement floor. Curious looks were shared as Nellie passed but considering she was accompanied by F.P. and Jughead, the other gang members remained at distance.

"What'cha drink?" F.P. asked her, slapping his hand between her shoulder blades in a familiair way.

"I assume you don't have ice tea?" Nellie replied with a smile. F.P. chuckled and turned to the barkeeper.

"You heard the girl, Hogeye," He said with a smirk. 

A few moments later, Nellie was observing all the different people F.P. introduced her to, her cold glass of ice tea clasped in her small hand.

Jughead was sulking near the bar, in his turn observing the foreign girl. Her features seemed familiar to him but he could not place Nellie Hearst properly.

A figure sat down next to him. "Who's the little rat?" Sweet Pea said, pointing his chin in Nellie's direction. Jughead observed the other Serpent from the corner of his eye. The tall boy turned his back to the girl, motioning Hogeye for another drink.

"My dad's goodwill case." He replied.

Sweet Pea leaned against the counter, his elbows resting on top of it. His attention returned back to the new girl and Serpent's leader.

"Looks like a doe in a hunter's home," the Serpent replied, his eyes quickly running over the girl's appearance. She was wearing her muddy converse sneaker, pale blue jeans and dark sweater from the day prior. Her short hair framed her face in soft strands.

As if she felt the two Serpents staring at her, she turned her face away from the older woman F.P. had introduced her to. Her dark brown eyes ran over the new Serpent next to Jughead.

His tall  figure. His confident stance as he leaned against the counter. The way his dark eyes held a storm inside. Everything about him screamed danger. 

At least her alarm still worked when it came to boys, Nellie thought as she returned to F.P. a second too late.

Her reaction caused F.P. to follow her stare. An idea hit him as lightening. His features blew open when he relished in the prospect of his plan. He threw an arm around Nellie's slender shoulders and pulled her along, straight towards the two Serpents at the bar.

As they manoeuvred through the crowd, F.P. called out,

"Hey Sweet Pea, is your brother still in jail?" and with that he knew he had Nellie Hearst exactly where he wanted her to be.