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MIDGE'S FUNERAL WAS A FEW days later, and the entire town showed up for it. The teen Serpents were there too, because even though they barely knew Midge, she was still brutally murdered. Emilia liked Midge, she thought she was sweet and pretty and kind. It broke her heart to hold her dead body, but it certainly wasn't the first time she had cradled a body.
Livvy was in Emilia's arms, her head tucked into the collar of her Serpent jacket to hide from the winter cold. Claudia stood between their grandparents, who were beside Emilia. Sweet Pea and Fangs were on Emilia's right, behind FP, all of them looking sadly at the beautiful school picture of Midge that was framed in the cemetery. The River Vixens had on black uniforms and were singing a song for Midge, while the women at the cemetery held white roses.
Towards the end of the song, everyone placed their roses on Midge's casket, Emilia placing one for her and one for Livvy. The murders and violence of Riverdale had now caught up to the little six year old, who was having nightmares about seeing Midge's body that caused her to crawl into Emilia's bed in the middle of the night. But Emilia didn't sleep. The threat Julia had made echoed in her mind constantly. To others, it would have been nothing to worry about, but Emilia didn't mess around when it came to Claudia and Livvy's safety.
Sheriff Keller was working day and night to find the person who murdered Midge, and that included interviewing all of the people involved in the musical. "Were you involved with the cast often?" Sheriff Keller asked Emilia. Her crappy attorney stood in the back of the room, just in case.
Emilia shook her head. "I wasn't there every day, and when I was there, I just hung out with Fangs between songs." she explained, knee bouncing up and down. She had been in this office, in that very chair, a few too many times for comfort.
See AlsoMombasa billionaire Hasmukh Patelβs last journeyWhy Do You Need a Casket for Cremation?Body composting an eco-friendly alternative to burial and cremation - MarketplaceFour Reasons for a Pandemic Funeral - Christianity Today"Were you close with Midge?" Sheriff Keller wondered.
"Not really. She asked to practice her songs with me, so we were together in the music room a few days a week for a little bit. I liked her, but I didn't really know her." Emilia said calmly.
Sheriff Keller nodded. "Did you notice anyone lurking around backstage, someone who shouldn't have been there?" he questioned kindly.
"Uh, Betty's brother was there. And, my... no, just Chic." Emilia said, pausing, then recollecting her thoughts.
"You were going to say another name. I need you to be completely honest with me, Emilia. Who else was back there?" Sheriff Keller eyed Emilia's attorney while he spoke.
Serpents didn't betray each other, but Emilia didn't count Julia as a Serpent, or as a sister. "My sister was there, trying to talk to me." Emilia admitted quietly.
Sheriff Keller frowned. "Claudia? Or, Livvy?" he questioned, confused.
Emilia shook her head. "No, my older sister, Julia. I'm not saying her last name, because you know it, Sheriff." she revealed quietly.
"What was she doing back there?" the man wondered.
"She first showed up back in town a few weeks before Christmas. She keeps popping up, trying to talk to me, to make amends, or whatever. I've been ignoring her, blocking her calls and texts. At the show, she came backstage, insisting on talking to me. She said it would be bad for me and our sisters if I kept ignoring her. She called me by the other name, Sheriff." Emilia explained. The fact that her sister referred to her as the person she used to be was the most sinister part.
Sheriff Keller wrote everything down. "I'll look into it, okay? If she tries to contact you again, call me." Emilia nodded at these words.
Livvy wasn't the only one terrified these days. Claudia was worried that maybe it was the real Black Hood, like the one Sheriff Keller shot wasn't the actual murderer. Emilia didn't entertain the idea, because she didn't want Claudia to get roped into this mess again. They went to therapy together three days in a row, having separate sessions, talking, thinking.
Cheryl and her Vixens raised their black pom-poms. "I also feel it is my duty to say that... Like the Furies of Ancient Greece, who ceaselessly pursue blood atonement when a crime's been committed, the Vixens and I vow that we will not rest until those responsible for the murder of our sister is rightfully punished." Cheryl said darkly, staring at Sheriff Keller.
The entire drive home from the funeral was Claudia talking nonstop about how the note written in Midge's blood meant that their grandfather would be attacked next. Emilia reminded her, over and over, how James wasn't even an intended target. He was safe. Emilia was trying to convince herself just as much as Claudia. "Get changed out of these clothes, I'll have lunch ready." Mary directed her grandchildren, and the three nodded, going up to their bedrooms.
As the days passed by and Midge's killer wasn't found yet, a scathing article about Sheriff Keller written by Cheryl was all over town, and Kevin's father was being replaced by a new sheriff, appointed by the Lodges. It was intense in Riverdale, and it was terrifying to live in a town like that.
Sweet Pea tried to come over to Emilia's house every day, so she didn't have to leave her family alone and unprotected to go see him. They laid on her bed, Emilia half-asleep on top of Sweet Pea, face smushed into his neck. Livvy was lying beside them. She had come into Emilia's room to play, but had fallen asleep almost instantly. "Has Julia tried to contact you again?" Sweet Pea asked quietly so he didn't wake Livvy.
Emilia shook her head. "I feel like she's watching me, though. Everytime I leave the house, look out the window, I feel like someone's there." Emilia admitted, gripping Sweet Pea's dog tags, running her thumb across the printed words.
Sweet Pea's fingers were comfortably in her hair, his rings getting caught against her scalp. Before he could say anything else, Livvy woke up, rubbing at her eyes. "Hi, Princess. Did you sleep good?" Sweet Pea asked in a soft voice, Livvy gripping her stuffed animal.
Livvy nodded, and then she left, trekking down the stairs. "I swear she likes you more than me." Emilia said, her eyes falling shut. She only really slept these days when Sweet Pea was there. It's where she really felt safe.
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