Keep Me In The Dust (Chapter 2)
Summary: Thanks to the truthful but bitter words of a personal essay, the poor and used to be innocent land of Riverdale is the most guarded and treacherous region of the world. Knowing such, a search has been commenced by Governor Clifford Blossom for the illusive and free spirited Jughead. But everything spirals out of control when undercover officer and leader of the Opposition Betty Cooper is at a loss for words, for she finally stumbles upon the mischievous runaway.
A/N: Sorry this one took a long time to make too. I'm not really good at planning :/ And it wasn't really the difficulty of writing this chapter, it's just that I had a crap ton of swim meets to attend. Anyways, I hope you enjoy :)
“Take it easy,” I tried to assure Elizabeth in a steady voice, my hands slowly going up in fake defeat.
“Don’t tell me what to do,” Elizabeth replied, her voice just as smooth.
“You have no right to call me by name you...you scumbag,” she hesitated.
We stood in silence as Elizabeth’s heavy breathing became apparent, the crossbow still pointed straight at me.
“Are you going to shoot me?” I finally asked. “Because I will gladly pull the trigger for you.”
To my surprise, Elizabeth dropped her arm, uncocking her crossbow with a swift flick of her hand. “I finally found you!” She exclaimed, her sudden cross demeanor gone. “You don't understand how relieved I am that you’re alive and well!”
I dropped my hands to my side. “What’s your deal? And yeah I wouldn't really say I'm ‘well’ but I guess I'm holding up.” For all I know she could be trapping me.
She ignored my sarcasm. “I'm Elizabeth Cooper, but you can call me Betty.”
“Betty,” I repeated, her name sounding more fitting for her character now that I've said it. But despite that, I began to reach for my switchblade in my waistband, still doubting her swift mood change.
“Yes,” she assured. Betty squared her shoulders, attempting to look more professional. “Listen, I'm the leader of the Opposition and---”
“Hold your horses, Betty,” I cut her off as I held onto the leather handle of my not that strong but durable weapon. “What the hell is the Opposition?”
“Oh right. You have no idea what that is don't you?”
“Well I guess you shouldn't.” She scratched her arm and looked up. Clipping her crossbow to her belt, Betty began to climb a tree. “But I’ll give you the basic rundown before I have to leave.”
“Alright, blondie,” I replied, my eyebrow slightly raised and my legs settling into a crevice in the branches.
She glared at me and rolled her emerald green eyes. “The Opposition is a rebel group against Governor Clifford Blossom. It was created after your paper against the government went public. At first, a couple of people protested against Governor Blossom, stating that they took a stand with you. I was tempted to join them but my mother refused and kept me inside as much as possible. But as you know, those first protesters were--”
“Exiled?” I cut in, my voice wavering. “Yeah don’t remind me.”
The corner of Betty’s lip quivered ever so slightly, her eyes meeting mine again once more. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“But go on,” I persuaded.
Betty nodded. “By the time you left, Governor Blossom issued the search for you and the set the Writer’s Ban. Your absence upsetted those who followed you, including me”—her eyes dropped—”so I decided to take matters into my own hands.” She took a breath. “Thus the Opposition was born.”
I scratched my chin in consideration. “So,” I began. “You and some folks have been rallied up for a year and a half, latching onto my words to use as fuel against Governor Blossom?”
“Precisely,” Betty agreed.
“Huh,” I breathed as my hand left my switchblade. “That’s commitment, I’ll tell you that. But I’d never imagine that my words could’ve riled up so many people.”
“Practically all the Slums are on your side,” Betty assured, her eyes filled with concern. “All except some brainwashed ones.”
Riverdale works in a class system. This is how they’re ranked:
Sovereigns - Governor/Vice Governor
Tycoons - Entrepreneurs, the Rich
Wrights - Constructioneers, Engineers, Officers
Slums - Grave Diggers, Janitors, Caretakers, Maids, Food Servers, Headsmen and Serfs
Runaways - People who are considered “missing” from Riverdale, people who have escaped Riverdale and into the Otherlands
And it didn’t surprise me that most of the Slums were sided with me. They’re treated, well, exactly what their name says. Slums are treated to the lowest degree possible. They have the scummiest jobs known to Riverdale. Thankfully for me, I ran away when I was sixteen, two years before Vice Governor McCoy could assign me my permanent role in our little society of Riverdale. But anyways, they must’ve been inspired by the fact that a (former) Slum, aka me, had stood up against Governor Blossom, the worst thing someone of our kind can do. Right now, I'm simply put in the very small but still populated Runaway class.
“Oh,” was all I could come up with.
“Well at least you know the basics.” Betty dug the tip of her boot into the ground. “But I should get going now.”
“Uh yeah,” I mumbled as my head buzzed.
“Meet me here again and I'll go into more detail ok?” She patiently waited for my response before taking a step away.
Without thinking I murmured “Uh yeah,” once more. After a few seconds had gone by, I realized Betty was gone.
The Opposition, eh? My words finally got to someone willing to make a statement. Thank goodness for that.
I stayed hidden in the forest the whole night. I didn't dare light a fire, not even so I could see. It would've been a waste anyways, as I was too busy in thought. I still couldn't believe there were people, let alone a rebellion clinging onto the words I wrote. I never thought that that would've been possible. But somehow it got to a lot of people and they've all clearly reached their breaking point. But what does Betty expect of me? To join the Opposition? To lead them? I'd be nothing to them in terms of leadership. I couldn't even lead my sister home on time from First School. As for joining them, well maybe I can manage that. But only time would tell.