Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2
“What are you smoking” Maze asked the pink haired girl looking so stressed.
“Hey, I said what are you smoking, can I have a stick?” Maze asks again but she is never answered.
“HEY! I said what are you smoking” Maze asks angrier at being left unnoticed.
“I’m sorry, it’s just that the last thing I want now is an over-jealous someone who is apparently no longer my girlfriend be jealous over someone who is hot and talking to me”
“You think I’m hot? Aren’t you too young to smoke and aren’t you too young to be hitting on me? I mean, I appreciate it and you going for the fairer sex and not stupid guys”
“Oh sorry, I didn’t mean to hit on you, I’m just….”
“Relax you’re too young for me anyway” Maze stops her. “Normally it’s not my problem but you look like you could talk to someone” she offers
“Who are you” Toni asks the stranger offering her help.
“Mazikeen Smith” She answers
“Toni Topaz” she replied back
“What’s wrong, girl troubles?” Maze asks, for a moment she feels an unspoken connection with the pink haired girl, not one romantically, but a care of an older sister to her little sister. \
They did have a little resemblance, more on their skin and their attitude but more than that, she felt like this kid was really like a little sister to her even if this is their first meeting, she just knew.
“My girlfriend, I mean my ex girlfriend, had a fight yesterday. She was jealous over our fans and then we broke up while we were drunk. I didn’t consider that as us breaking up since we were both drunk but here she was flirting with this stupid guy wearing a suit! She’s definitely getting on my nerves, intentionally”
“This guy…. tall handsome with a weird british accent?” Maze inquires.
“Yes that’s the guy, you know him?” Toni asks
“Oh do I? He looks interested on your girl, though” Maze says pointing to them.
“Well I can 100% assure u that she isn’t interested with him”
“Looks otherwise” Maze rebuts.
“Trust me. She’s not into guys”
“Ah. So she’s making you feel jealous. Are you jealous?”
“I don’t know, Maybe yes. I get why she was jealous now” Toni says sadly and Maze concluded that her girlfriend really had the effect on her and that she was really jealous.
“Why are you here, friend of the missing body?” Maze asks.
“Nice way to tag my friend. He has a name, It’s Archie Andrews” Toni says.
“Tomato tomato it’s the same! Listen, you look like you could be fun and could use a distraction. What do you say you help me find your friend”
“Help find him, what??!!” Toni asks in shock. Thing was, Toni knew Archie was supposed to be hidden and not found by Maze or anyone right now.
“I’m a bounty hunter” Maze replies “I find bodies, dead or alive”
“Oh are you now?” Toni asks.
“Uh huh” Maze nods proudly.
“Won’t I get in trouble if I go with you?” Toni asks inquisitively, knowing very well that she needs to come with Maze, just to make sure anyway. She didn’t mind getting in trouble, because she’ll surely get in trouble if Archie is found, well they all would be.
“Don’t worry I’ll vouch for u or are you too scared?” Maze challenges her.
“I was in a gang don’t underestimate me”
“Whatever helps you sleep at night, pinky. So what, are you in?”
“Fine, I’m in.” Toni says proudly. Well it’s better if she comes anyway. She needs to distract this bounty hunter so they had any chance on keeping Archie hidden.
“Great come on, I’ll lead the way”
“This is your ride?” Toni says in shock as she eyes Maze’s bike.
“Yes that’s my baby, Quinn”
“So that’s……. Harley Quinn?” Toni looks at her judgingly but quite amazed she came up with that pun/
“Yeah! Up top” Maze beams with pride.
“Oh how original” Toni laughs but high five’s with Maze anyway.
“Oh well come on, hop in” Maze invites her.
“Wait, I’ll drive” Toni offers.
“No way am I letting u drive, do you even know how to drive” Maze refuses.
“I was in a biker gang! Don’t underestimate me. Or are you scared?”
“Oh now you’re using my line against me, fine wanna drive, here show me what you got” Maze beams with pride over the sass that Toni has, she’s feeling like a proud older sister.
“Be my guest. Hold tight, but not too tight though, jealous ex gf remember” Toni reminds her and smirks.
“Whatever”
They drive away. Toni keeps stalling Maze until they reach a bar. She’s intentionally distracting her so they don’t find Archie.
“Man, do I want to drink” Toni exclaims
“For the record, I know you are stalling” Maze laughs.
“Whatever do you mean” Toni asks defensively.
“I’m not just a bounty hunter, I’m THE best bounty hunter, they give me a name, I never miss anyone, I track them good and I know very well you are trying to keep me away. Not that I’m not having fun with you but don’t try to circle me around because I’m more dangerous than I look, and I don’t want to hurt you because you are like the little sister I never had”
Toni looks nervous, trying to thread the waters on how to get away from this.
“Damn, you are so much like me, I’d do the same thing to be honest. Who are you protecting? Your girlfriend, come on spill you better, you have no choice” Maze laughs
“Fine. You caught me red handed, I was stalling.” Said nervously.
“Ha! I knew it! I still haven’t lost my touch. You know where Archie Andrews is? Wait…Are you the killer??? Wait wait don’t tell me I don’t want to turn you in”
“What? No! I would never. This is going to be a long conversation, at least let me buy you a drink?”
“You’re not afraid of your ex girlfriend being jealous” Maze teased
“She’s not here isn’t she? Besides, you’re not my type”
“Ouch, I could hurt you, you know” Maze laughed
“I mean! She’s my only type. Not that you’re not attractive but I’m only attracted to her. Okay? And you said so yourself, I don’t want to date my older sister” this time it was toni’s turn to laugh.
“Where’s that drink you owe me for making me go round and round” Maze asks
“Fine. Fine. What’s your poison?”
“xxxxx”
“1 asdfasdf and 1 adfsasdfa” Toni ordered in the bar as she presented her fake ID, Maze, yet again, beamed with pride as she saw her “little sister” present her fake ID.
“Wow, didn’t know you were fancy”
“When you’re with Cheryl a lot, your taste buds get used to the things she like. Besides, I miss her and she always tasted like this whenever we drank and I really hate that we are fighting”
“Woah too much info! Don’t want to hear who my little sister is kissing” Maze jokes and toni chuckles
“So Archie Andrews, what’s the deal?” Maze changes the topic.
“Sssshhh don’t use his real name, he’s the most popular in our band you don’t want anyone hearing about him, let’s call him Red Paladin.”
“Red Paladin? What a joke!” Maze judges.
“Okay fine. Red?”
“Better.”
“So, Red. We came to LA to perform and then had an after party.”
“And???” Maze asks, impatient to get to the end of the story, and by end of the story she means, know who the killer is.
“Betty is so going to kill me when she finds out I told you everything.” Toni slams her hand on to her head.
“You can trust me, I promise. I just want to know you aren’t a killer, truthfully” Maze reassures her.
“Okay, we really don’t remember anything during the after party. But we were the only ones in our air bnb. We were celebrating a packed night! Things got a little crazy, we were so drunk and high. We just wanted to escape the stressful pressure of college and we were missing highschool” she explained.
“You did this shit in highschool?”
“Oh yeah, and more. We used to do drugs before! This thing called jingle jangle and fizzle rocks. Last night was drinks only kind of night but maybe we took it to far ang got really…..wasted”
“You’re not so bad after all. So…?”
So… when we woke up…….. Red was really okay. But there was foul play written all over. There was blood everywhere and on the three.
And not only that, Sweets and Reggie was inside a coffin, Kevin, Josie and Fangs had blue lips, and Cheryl received a fucking pig’s heart!
I woke up and I felt an arm around me. It was weird though, the last thing I remember is that Cheryl and I were fighting, but why would she have slept beside me and I know she was the only person who would sleep beside me…. Unless.
My eyes opened straight right up and to my relief, it was Cheryl sleeping soundly. I smiled looking at her utter bliss, she looked innocent when asleep. Until we heard Veronica’s voice shouting for Archie’s name.
Cheryl woke up to the sound and stood immediately but she noticed that she slept right beside me. She was about to shriek right at me but I covered her mouth.
“I don’t know we slept besides each other, too, Cher. We’ll talk about this later, for now let’s see what’s the ruckus is about. Plus the yelling wouldn’t be good for our hangovers. I’m sure you have one” I told her calmly, she on the other hand threw a tantrum and just stood up and went straight outside.
My head was pounding badly, how much did we drink anyway.
I followed Cheryl outside. And we both saw Jughead, Betty and Veronica all covered in blood. Archie, on the other hand, was lying on the floor, under his head is a pool of blood.
“Oh my god, what the fuck happened guys????” I exclaimed in worry and rushed straight to them who were all kneeling were Archie was.
“Is he okay????” Cheryl asked in worry no longer having this bitch façade. Who would even keep up a front on a situation like that anyway.
As if right on cue, Archie’s eyes opened and slowly, he tried to lift himself up. Jughead assisted him while Veronica hugged him immediately.
“Careful, V, he might be hurt” Betty reminded.
“Oh Archiekins, you’re alive, I thought you’re dead!!!!” Veronica exclaimed, worried, tears running under her eyes.
“What the hell happened, guys? Why am I bleeding? Why are you covered in blood?” Archie asks.
“I don’t know too, bud”
“Where are the others???” I asked.
“I’ll go look for them” Betty said running upstairs.
“I’ll help you” Cheryl says
“Toni, help me tend to Archie’s wound” Jughead says.
“You mean, you’ll help me, I’m the only one who is capable of doing such” I remarked
“Yeah yeah, Archie, can you stand?” Jughead and Veronica helped Archie to the couch where I went to check up on him. This was pretty usual when you’re in a gang and it’s not any different tending to yourself when you’re wounded.
“Jug!!! Help!! Reggie and Sweet Pea are inside a coffin” Betty ran back.
“Inside a what?????” Jug asked. “Where are they???”
“I found Josie, Kevin and Fangs” Cheryl came back followed by three who were drenched in water.
“It didn’t help that you threw water at us, Cheryl” Kevin saying annoyingly.
“Have you seen yourself? I thought you were dead.” Cheryl retorted.
“Why would you even think that???? We were just asleep” Fangs said.
“Uhm, you three, have you looked at a mirror?” Veronica questioned.
“Do we really look that bad??” Josie said as she approached a mirror “Holy Shit, why do we have blue lips”
“Exactly, because of that, that’s why I thought you were dead.” Cheryl said with pride.
“Fangs, Kevin – A little help upstairs please” Jughead shouted
“What happened upstairs?” Fangs asked
“Sweets and Reggie are inside a coffin” Cheryl said as if it was normal information
“Oh shit.” They both exclaimed and helped Jughead.
After Reggie and Sweet Pea got out of the coffins, Josie, Kevin and Fangs were still removing the blue tint on their lips but failed. I also finished patching Archie up, good thing there weren’t any more damages. Betty, Veronica and Jughead took their showers and cleaned up.
I wanted to talk to Cheryl badly but I never had the chance but I thought the situation right in front of us was more pressing than our lovers quarrel so I let it slide for a moment. That was until Sweet Pea came back bearing a box and handed it to Cheryl.
“What is this, you lunatic?” she asked in a not so decent matter to Sweet Pea. I guess we’re back to her bitchy façade
“I don’t know, I didn’t open it’s got your name on it. Oh my gosh, tame your girlfriend tiny”
“Uhm, I-“ I was supposed to explain but I didn’t even know how to. How was I supposed to say it anyway, I can’t be like Cheryl and I broke up and still are not okay, at least for her we are broken up.
Cheryl proceeded to open the box, there were a lot of wrappers in that box so it took time before it was unboxed. I was curious myself, who would send Cheryl a gift, on a time that we are on LA even.
Not long enough, Cheryl finally unboxed it and shrieked at the contents of the box. She dropped the box and ran straight in to the nearest bathroom where we heard here audibly throw up.
The contents of the box was examined by Kevin. “Oh god it’s a pig’s heart”
“Why the fuck would you even hand her that, sweets???” I exclaimed and ran towards the bathroom where Cheryl was, hell be damned but I needed to comfort her.
“I just delivered it to her!! I didn’t give it to her!” Sweet Pea shouted.
I knocked on the door “Cheryl, please open the door”
After a few moments the door opened and revealed Cheryl. From a stranger’s point of view she didn’t look like she cried or threw up. But I know her very well to know that she was crying and was not feeling well.
“Cheryl, sweet pea said he didn’t give…”
“So now, you’re fans are sending me pig’s heart, to threaten me???? Well played, Cha cha. Tell them we are over”
“Cheryl wait that’s not it”
“Save it, I don’t want to hear any more excuse.”
And as if it nothing happened, she strutted back to the living room.
Everyone asked how she was, and she said she’s all good, she can live with a stupid prank.
But one look at her, I knew, she was shaken up and she will never admit that.
“Everybody, gather round here, please” Reggie shouted as we huddled towards the living room
“I called our brother, he’s on our way to help us figure this out” Jughead explained and not any moment longer, there was ring on the door and Charles was there.
“I came as soon as I heard” Charles said as Jughead explained everything that happened that morning and that no one could remember even one thing that happened last night.
“So it’s somewhat clear then, it’s a plausible explanation that the blow on Archie’s head was not intended to kill him but rather scare him….or all of you by extension” Charles explained.
“What can you suggest to do, Chuck” Jughead asks.
“The same thing you did back in highschool, we pretend that Archie is dead and lure the killer to you” Charles explained as if it was just a walk in the moonlight. “Archie you’re gonna have to hide from here, pretend that you are dead.”
“How is this going to lure the person responsible?” Veronica asks.
“If my guess is right that they are trying to scare all of you, that person is going to want to come for the person they were intending to hurt or scare. Of course, they are going to know what has happened, that Archie died. We’ll keep the news buzzing, have them intrigued which will be easy since you are in a band” he says as he points to Archie
“I need Veronica to call 911, this can no longer wait, we must act fast or it will not look believable, sound as convincing as you could be, that you lost your boyfriend. And then Archie is coming with me. Soon, the LAPD is going to come here, with a murder on scene but a missing body, they are not to know about the other things that happened.”
“Wait, we’re getting LAPD involved? Why not just the FBI???” Betty questions.
“Yes, what else. If this is a person close to home, they’ll know you are both related to me, so we’re getting the police involved instead so it looks more real to the killer”
“What do we tell them?” Kevin asks.
“A fabricated truth. Hide from them other things that happened, only tell them about not remembering anything and waking up to find Archie missing and you being covered in blood and that there was a pool of blood. This will help us see what the police think happened. Tell them you were all wasted drinking. Did you kids have drugs?”
Everyone shook their heads “We are way past drugs, Chucks, we’re clean”
“I’m guessing you were drugged and roofied, the police will suspect that too, let them run tests, that will give us more time too, to see every angle.
“We are also going to tamper the evidence.” Betty suggested.
“No need betty, it already looks like murder happened they’re just going to think that someone hid the body. All of you do your best to look like you are all grieving. Okay?”
Everybody nods and thinks it’s for the best. Charles and Archie were about to leave, and Veronica to dial 911 but Jughead stopped them.
“Wait chuck, don’t you suspect any of us?” Jughead asks
“Do you suspect any of your friends??” He counter-asked and all of us shook their heads.
“Well, that’s worth everything, besides, I could see that you were all wasted, I could tell, I doubt any of you could plan something as elaborate as this whilst drunk. Don’t worry guys, you got this, we’ve been through worst. We’ll get to the bottom of this”
“Thanks, chuck” Jughead says
“That’s everyone and everything?” Maze asks
“Yes.”
“So everybody was effected, except…for you… are you sure you are not…”
“Yes, that’s it. That’s half of why I was worried. I was the only one not targeted, what if I did that??? And I didn’t even know or remember? What if I was responsible for this?” Toni said sadly to Maze
“I was asking if you are sure you are in no way hurt?” Maze continued.
“Oh that. No, besides my broken heart I am not”
“I trust and know you wouldn’t be capable of that” Maze assured Toni
“Psh why so? You just met me” Toni said in disbelief.
“Because you are so in love with that ginger girl. I know you are.”
“That is one thing I am sure of”
“And you would never do anything to harm her even if you broke up for the most insane reasons.” Maze added
“Yeah…”
“Why did you break up again?”
“She was jealous she said, and I think she wasn’t just jealous, I think she hates the idea of spending time away from me.” Toni explained
“Why is that?”
“Because some agents are scouting for our band, wants to sign us up in a label.”
“Don’t you want that? I mean, that’s a big opportunity for you. Shouldn’t she support you?” Mazed wonders.
“Truth be told, I don’t think I’d want it for me you know? I want to major in photography as well, and she gave me that, she helped me get to a good school for that. I would never throw that away. And the band, it’s there to stay, there’s a future with them but I want my present and my future to be with Cheryl. But I never want her to think she’s the only reason and that she’s stopping me because this is all on me. Sadly though, she thinks otherwise”
“You got it that bad huh” Maze teased.
“I love her, so much. And I don’t want any shortcuts for my career. It’s a part of my dreams yes, but I think it will be a nightmare if she wasn’t in it. I mean yes, we can work long distance but it wouldn’t be the same”
“Just promise me something, pinky” Maze says
“What’s that?”
“That you wouldn’t pass out on the chance on becoming famous one day so I can tell the world that a famous drummer bought me a drink” Maze smirks.
“I wouldn’t, I promise, you could even tell I was like your little sister. It’s just not the time for me now. And I think the whole band agrees with it anyway, we want to perform not to make money out of it but to have fun”
“You have your whole life ahead of you, don’t waste any of it.” Maze assures me.
“Wouldn’t dream of that, anyway what’s with you, why are you bounty hunting” Toni asked
“Trying to make myself useful, trying to find a purpose”
“And you found purpose in bounty hunting?”
“Well yeah, I find people to find my purpose is that so bad?”
“Just sounds lonely” Toni commented
“I know, but you get what you’re given. Well, that’s enough stalling now and my sad life story, would you take me to your friend?”
“Come on, maze.” Toni grinned as she led the way knowing very well that Charles is going to give her a handful for revealing and compromising things.
“Decker, we found him” Maze spoke through her phone
“Oh my god, finally. How is he.. is he…” Chloe asks
“He’s very much alive, say hi red” Maze grinned while Toni giggled.
“Hello there” Archie says through the phone while Charles palmed his face.
“I’ll bring him there” Maze says
“Wait maze, how about the other….” Chloe asks through the phone pertaining to Toni
“She’s with me, she helped me find him” Maze smiled thoughtfully to Toni, and maze, she doesn’t really smile like that. She turned the call off not waiting for Chloe to speak again.
“Wow you just hang up on her, badass” Toni chuckled.
“Meh, that’s nothing”
“Wait, I’m confused, toni, why did you ruin the plan?” Archie asked.
“One I didn’t ruin the plan, even if I didn’t tell her anything she’ll find your ass Andrews” Toni rebutted.
“Then why did you still tell her?” He asked back
“Bec I trust her? Simple as that” Toni smiled towards Maze.
“Really toni?” he said in disbelief.
“REALLY, no questions asked. You don’t remember anything from that night as well right?” Toni challenged. And Archie shook his head and before he could say anything toni shot right up “So shut the fuck up and let’s accept help when we need it” she answered
“She’s right, Archie. Right now we compromise and accept that help that is right in front of us. I trust you’ll take care of these kids?” Charles said to Maze and she just nodded.
“Who is she anyway” Archie asked
“A new friend” Toni said
“She’s Mazikeen Smith, one of the best bounty hunters, the FBI knows her, she works with the LAPD” Charles explained
“Won’t Cheryl get jealous” the redhead was curious
“Cheryl has nothing to be jealous about” Toni scoffed.
“But….” Archie was about to say something again
“Shut the fuck up, Archie. I only love Cheryl and you better stop yapping anything”
The ginger was taken by surprise and decided not to bother anymore
“Finally, he stopped talking” Maze whispered to Toni and Toni giggled.
“Mazikeen, a word” Charles called Maze and maze followed “So, the FBI will still be lending its eyes and ears for you but please, let them know that everything is their call, it’s a lot safer that way, especially for the kids, it’s not actually safe for them”
“Yeah not to worry, I’ll make sure Chloe gets your message”
“Thank you”
Maze went back to the two to tell them that they are heading back now.
“Wait, how we going back to LA?” Archie stupidly asked.
“And he opened up his mouth again” Maze complained
“We rode maze’s motorcycle to get you” Toni said.
“But we wouldn’t fit in that” he said.
“Hate to break it to you but we are catching a cab” Maze said in annoyance.
“How about your bike?” Archie asked.
“Toni’s riding back”
“What? You’re just gonna let her out of your sight”
“She can handle riding my baby, she’s hella good” she defended toni
“I mean aren’t u supposed to get her back?”
“Oh that, don’t worry I trust her, right toni?”
“Damn yeah, girl” Toni grinned and readied herself on the bike.
“Alright. You know Lux?” Maze asked Toni
“That sick LA bar?” Toni asked back.
“Yeah that one, Lucifer owns that place, you’ll find your girl there.” Maze explained as Toni smiled even more widely. “Race you back there” she smirked at the girl who was about to board the cab they hailed.
“See you pinky”