Heartbeats in the Dark

Archie followed Hiram into Pop's, where JP was. He walked over to JP. "What can I help you with, Hiram?" JP asked, setting his cup down and looking at Hiram, then nodding at Archie.

"I'm not here for a fight, JP!" Hiram said, sitting down across from the former Southside leader. "We need your help, Mr. Jones," Archie said, looking at his best friend's dad. "Help with what?" JP asked, sitting up straighter.

Archie exchanged a look with Hiram. "I would usually call some people I know, but I don't trust them with this," Hiram said, looking at JP. "Nick St. Clair has kidnapped my daughter!" Hiram said.

"And you want my help to find her and get her back?" JP asked, looking between Hiram and Archie. "Please, JP, help us find Veronica. Whatever issues you have with Mr. Lodge, don't let them hurt Ronnie," Archie said, knowing JP would help.

"I'll stay away from Southside for a while if you help me find my daughter," Hiram said. "I didn't want to ask Keller for help since he hasn't been able to catch the Black Hood." Hiram continued, "My daughter is innocent of anything I've done."

"I'll help," JP said, looking at them. "Archie wants me to, and Veronica is just a kid. Did Nick contact you yet? Maybe we can track his call."

Archie nodded. "He called Ronnie's phone before we came here. He said he'd call again and send a live video of Veronica."

JP nodded, leaning forward. "Okay, we'll wait for Nick's next call, and I'll try to track the video." Hiram nodded. "But not here. Let's go back to Pembroke and wait. I have a feeling we'll hear from St. Clair soon."

Archie nodded, his hands clenched. "Nick said he'll let Cheryl and Josie go," he said, checking his phone. Toni had texted him, letting him know Cheryl and Josie were at Thistle House and unharmed.

Relieved that two of his friends were safe, Archie sighed. Now, he only had his girlfriend to worry about. "Cheryl and Josie are at Thistle House."

"Good. Now, let's head to the Pembroke and track Veronica," Hiram said. Archie and JP nodded, and the three of them headed out. "Did Cheryl and Josie say where they were taken?" JP asked.

Archie shook his head. "Cheryl told Toni they were blindfolded," he replied. JP nodded as they went to the Pembroke.

- Veronica & Nick- 

Nick walked back down the basement after Tim and Mitch took Cheryl and Josie back to Thistle House, blindfolded so they couldn't see where they were and reveal Veronica's location.

He had a laptop with a camera attached. "I'm back, sweetheart," he said as he saw Veronica on the bed, wearing only a tank top and underwear. He put the laptop on the table in the middle of the room and opened it.

Veronica turned towards him, trying not to run. She didn't want Nick to change his mind about letting her friends go. She knew she probably couldn't run anyway, because her body was weak from the drugs, and her legs felt warm. She tried to rub her legs together.

The girl with dark hair watched him set up the laptop and camera. "What's this for?" she asked, not trusting Nick. "This is for Archie to watch us," Nick replied as he set up the laptop and camera.

"You're insane! Why would you make Archie suffer?" Veronica asked, getting up from the bed. "Because of what he did to me, and don't worry, Hiram will be watching too," Nick said, smirking as he saw the raven-haired beauty's eyes widen.

Veronica started to back away, wrapping her arms around herself. "You creep," she said, tightening her arms. "Don't cover yourself, babe," Nick said as he walked around the table to move Veronica's arms to her sides.

"There, much better," Nick smirked, placing a kiss on Veronica's neck before going back to make the call. "Now stand there and keep your arms at your sides," he ordered, clicking onto Archie's messenger.

Veronica wanted to fight him by covering herself, but she thought she'd play along. Maybe her father could track the signal, and then Archie and Hiram would come and save her.

"Why don't you take your shirt off? It'll be hotter if you were just in your bra and underwear," Nick suggested with a smirk. "It'll be easier for me to have more fun than to fight with clothing."

Veronica's face flushed at his words, but she didn't argue. She slipped off her tank top, leaving her in a lacy black bra and underwear. She wanted to cover herself, but knew he'd get angry and do something she'd regret. So, she kept her arms at her sides.

"Gorgeous as always, Ronnie!" Nick said with a smirk, licking his lips as he looked Veronica up and down. She was blushing in embarrassment. "I am so going to enjoy this," he said as he waited for Archie to answer.

Veronica swallowed and stood still, staring at the camera. Guilt and embarrassment burned in her chest as she watched Nick smirk. "Hello, Andrews!" she heard Nick say, letting her know Archie had answered his call.

- At the Penbrook with Archie, Hiram & JP- 

Archie, Hiram, and JP sat in Hiram's office, waiting for Nick's call. JP was out of sight, working on his laptop, while Archie and Hiram waited beside it. They expected Nick to call any minute.

Archie bit his lip and bounced his leg nervously. "He should be calling any minute," JP said, checking his watch. Archie nodded, and just then, Archie's messenger went off.

Archie leaned forward and answered the call. Once the video started, he saw Nick with a smirk. "Hello, Andrews, Mr. Lodge," Nick greeted, looking directly at Archie and Hiram.

JP began tracking the call while Archie and Hiram spoke to Nick. "Where's Veronica, Nick?" Archie asked, clenching his fist as Nick laughed. "Oh, Ronnie's right here!" Archie waited for Nick to turn the camera so he could see Veronica.

Archie looked at Hiram, who tried not to look away when Veronica appeared. Archie almost growled when he saw she was only in her bra and underwear. He saw her olive skin, covered in bruises, going from her stomach up to her face.

Archie's heart ached when he saw the scared look in Veronica's eyes. He could tell Nick had given her drugs because her eyes were glazed over, and he saw sweat on her skin.

"Nick!" Archie said angrily as the camera showed Nick again. "What? Don't you like what you see?" Nick asked with a laugh. "Let her go!" Archie demanded, but Nick just laughed. "I don't think so, Andrews."

Archie glanced at the laptop to see how far JP was in tracking the call. JP, the former Serpent leader, shook his head as he kept trying.

"Nick!" Archie's head snapped up when Hiram spoke. "Let my daughter go, and I'll give you anything!" Hiram offered, his hands clenched. "I don't think so," Nick said with a smirk. "Tempting as it sounds, Mr. Lodge."

Archie took a deep breath. "Can we talk to Ronnie?" he asked, hoping Nick would give him some time with Veronica. He wanted to see if she was okay before whatever Nick had planned.

"I'll give you five minutes, and then the fun begins!" Nick said, nodding towards Veronica. "You've got five minutes, Ronnie, to talk to Andrews for the last time," he added.

Archie watched as Nick shoved Veronica into a chair. He growled when Nick's hand squeezed her breast and placed a kiss on her neck. "I'll be back," he whispered against Veronica's neck.

The redhead glanced at JP and saw the same feeling on his face. Hiram and JP didn't get along, and JP usually didn't want anything bad to happen to Veronica. Archie watched his best friend's father nod, to keep talking to Veronica.

"Archiekins! Daddy!" Veronica said, her tone sounding strange. "Ronnie, we're here," Archie said, giving her his full attention. He could see tears forming in her eyes.

Archie put his hand on the screen, and Veronica followed, their fingers touching. "We'll find you, okay?" he whispered. "Please hurry," Veronica begged, looking away.

"We'll get you out of there, Mija!" Hiram promised, getting his daughter to look at him. "I'm sorry, Daddy," Veronica said as she covered herself. "This isn't your fault," Hiram said as he leaned forward and smiled at his daughter, who smiled back.

Archie listened to Veronica and Hiram talking. "We need you to keep Nick distracted," Hiram said quietly, "We got JP tracking the call, and we'll be there soon." He made sure Nick couldn't hear.

Veronica nodded and swallowed. "All I know is Nick has me in a basement in an abandoned hotel." Her eyes showed she hoped that small detail would help them find her.

Hiram and Archie looked at JP, who nodded. "That will narrow down the search area." JP said. Archie and Hiram both sighed.

Archie turned back to Veronica. "Did you hear that, Ronnie?" he asked. Veronica nodded and looked up as Nick walked back into the basement. "Time's up!" Archie heard Nick's voice, and it didn't sound good.

"I've changed my mind about letting you two watch," Nick said, pulling Veronica out of sight and looking at Archie and Hiram. "Don't think I don't know what you're up to. I have everything recording on my phone." He laughed at Archie's expression.

Archie gripped the sides of the desk. "I'll call back later. Bye for now, Andrews! Mr. Lodge! And Mr. Jones!" Nick said. "Nick!" Archie yelled at the screen as it went black after he heard Veronica screaming.

"Did you get anything, JP?" Hiram asked, looking at JP. "I did." The Serpent answered, giving the address. "Instead of tracking the call, I looked up abandoned hotels, and there are only three."

Archie nodded, hope rising in his chest. "And I wrote down the address where Nick might have her," JP said. "It's very hidden and out of view."

"A perfect place to hide Ronnie," Archie said, clenching his fist. "Exactly," JP agreed. "Thank you for the help, JP. Archie and I got this." Hiram said.

JP nodded but shook his head. "Let me help. I can get us in there without alerting Nick!" he said. Hiram nodded, "I guess you're right."

Archie listened to the plan. "Let's go," Hiram said, checking the time. It was 9 PM, meaning they had gone through a whole day in just a couple of hours.

"Hang in there, Ronnie," Archie whispered as he listened. "We're on our way, and I will make Nick pay for ever coming back to Riverdale and hurting you!"