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Heartbeats in the Dark	By : Erinlindsay97 Category: M through R > Riverdale Views: 524 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Riverdale or it's characters I only own the plot and my ocs

Chapter List
- 12
- 13
The sterile scent of antiseptic hung heavy in the air of the Riverdale General waiting room. Archie paced, the worn linoleum cool beneath his restless feet. Each tick of the clock on the wall felt like another hammer blow against his already fractured heart. He glanced over at Betty, her blonde hair a soft contrast against Jughead's dark denim jacket. She leaned into him, her face buried against his shoulder, seeking solace in his steady presence. Jughead’s hand rested on her back, a silent promise of comfort.
His gaze drifted to Hiram, a man usually radiating power and control, now slumped forward, his elbows propped on his knees, his hands obscuring his face. The normally impenetrable fortress of his demeanor had crumbled, revealing the raw vulnerability of a father terrified for his child.
Across the room, Reggie and Kevin were engaged in a hushed conversation with Cheryl and Toni. Even Cheryl, usually so composed and self-assured, looked shaken, her fiery red hair seeming to have lost some of its luster. Toni’s arm was wrapped around her, a silent gesture of support. They were all here, bound together by their fear and their unwavering love for Veronica.
It all felt like a nightmare. A nightmare that had started weeks ago, a nightmare he should have seen coming. He should have paid more attention to that hooded figure that had been lurking in the shadows after the Carrie musical. He should have been more vigilant. Now, it was too late. Nick St. Clair had resurfaced, and his twisted obsession with Veronica had culminated in a horrifying act of violence. He’d kidnapped Veronica, along with Cheryl and Josie. Thankfully, Cheryl and Josie had been released, but the damage was done.
They were all here, waiting for news, desperate to know if Veronica would be okay. Archie wished he could rewind time, rewrite the events that led to this. He wished he could have shielded her, protected her from Nick and his depravity. The thought of what Nick might have done to Veronica fueled a white-hot rage within him. He tried to push the images from his mind, but they clawed at the edges of his sanity. Drugged. Maybe raped. The thought sent a shard of ice through his veins.
But Hiram, JP, and himself had found her. That was all that mattered now. Nick St. Clair was safely behind bars in the Riverdale jail, hopefully rotting.
Archie swallowed hard, his throat suddenly tight. He shouldn't be thinking like this, but the image of Veronica as he'd found her in that abandoned hotel basement haunted him. She'd been huddled in a corner, her body trembling, wrapped only in a threadbare, holy blanket, her eyes wide with terror. The memory was a brand on his soul.
The sharp click of the double doors opening snapped Archie back to reality. He, Hiram, and Hermione simultaneously turned, their eyes locking on Dr. Petal as she approached, a clipboard clutched in her hand. Her face was etched with fatigue, but her expression was neutral, unreadable.
Hope and dread warred within Archie's chest. He wanted to rush forward, demand answers, but he remained rooted to the spot, paralyzed by fear.
"How is my daughter, Dr. Petal?" Hermione's voice was surprisingly steady, a veneer of strength masking the raw terror beneath. The question everyone was dying to ask hung in the air, heavy with anticipation.
The fluorescent lights of Riverdale General hummed, a sterile soundtrack to the agonizing hours that had crawled by. Dr. Petal, her face etched with professional sympathy, looked from Archie to Hiram and Hermanie Lodge. They stood stiffly in the waiting room, a tableau of shock and disbelief.
"Mr. and Mrs. Lodge," Dr. Petal began, her voice gentle but firm. "Veronica is going to be okay. We have her hooked up to IVs to help flush her system, to get rid of all the drugs."
Archie nodded, a lump forming in his throat. He swallowed hard, fighting back the rising tide of nausea. He pictured Veronica, vibrant and full of life, and the image was jarringly at odds with the grim reality.
"And we're doing a few tests on her as well," Dr. Petal continued, "but she is going to be okay physically. But… mentally, only time will tell if Veronica is going to be okay."
Hiram Lodge, a man known for his steely resolve, nodded slowly. His hands, usually clasped in a gesture of power, were clenched into tight fists, knuckles white. A question hung heavy in the air, unspoken but painfully present.
"She was raped, wasn't she?" he finally asked, the word a raw, jagged stone thrown into the silence. It made everyone cringe, a collective flinch against the stark horror of it all.
"I'm afraid so, Mr. Lodge," Dr. Petal confirmed, her gaze filled with pity. "I'm so sorry about what happened to your daughter. If anyone wants to go see her, go ahead, but only three people at a time."
Hiram nodded again, his eyes hard and unreadable. He turned to Archie, a flicker of something akin to gratitude in his gaze. "Veronica would probably feel better if her boyfriend comes with us to see her."
Archie met Hiram's gaze, surprised by the gesture. It was a small olive branch, a recognition of the deep connection he shared with Veronica, a connection forged in shared adventures, whispered secrets, and unwavering loyalty.
Archie nodded, a silent promise. He followed Dr. Petal, with Hiram and Hermanie close behind, towards the labyrinthine corridors of the hospital. He could feel Betty’s concerned stare burning into his back.
"Tell V we're all here for her, Archie," Betty called out, her voice laced with worry.
He turned and managed a weak smile. "I will, Betty," he promised, the words catching in his throat. He knew "we're here for you" was a hollow comfort in the face of such a violation, but it was all he had to offer right now.
As they walked, Archie’s mind raced. He tried to imagine what Veronica was going through, but it was impossible. He felt a surge of protectiveness, a primal urge to shield her from the pain, from the darkness that had invaded her life. He didn't know what to say, how to act, but he knew one thing for sure: he would be there for her, no matter what. He’d be the rock she needed, the shoulder to cry on, the safe harbor in the storm.
The air in the hospital grew heavy, laden with the weight of sickness and suffering. Finally, Dr. Petal stopped before a door, a small, impersonal sign reading "Room 217" affixed to it.
"She's resting now," Dr. Petal said softly. "Try to be quiet."
Hiram nodded curtly and reached for the handle. As he pushed the door open, Archie took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he was about to see. He prayed that he could find the right words, the right comfort, to offer Veronica the solace she so desperately needed.
He could only hope that his presence, along with the love of her parents, would be enough to help her begin the long and arduous journey to healing. The journey back to herself.
- 12
- 13
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Heartbeats in the Dark