Mission type: Retrieval Part 2

I left the Medical Department, the bag with my items slung over my shoulder, and made my way back to Zalthorion.

When I entered his office, he was seated behind his desk, signing a stack of documents. The moment I stepped inside, he glanced up, setting his pen aside.

"Good. You're ready. Follow me."

Without another word, he stood and led me out of the office, down the hall, and toward a massive building marked "Nexus Directorate."

As we approached, he gestured toward the structure.

"This is where they will open the rift to Riverdale for you," he explained. "Also, wear your MTD now."

I nodded, slipping the bracelet onto my wrist. The moment it made contact with my skin, it shifted, adjusting itself into the sleek form of a high-tech watch.

Satisfied, Zalthorion pushed open the doors to the Nexus Directorate, and we stepped inside.

The place was a whirlwind of activity scientists rushed back and forth, some carrying stacks of papers, others hauling strange, humming devices that sparked with energy. The air buzzed with a mix of chatter, mechanical whirs, and the occasional alarm blaring in the distance.

We wove through the chaos, eventually reaching a secured chamber at the far end of the facility. The doors slid open with a hiss, revealing a circular room lined with glowing consoles, a towering machine humming at its center.

This was it. The gateway to Riverdale.

A scientist hurried into the room, barely sparing me a glance as he checked something on his clipboard.

"Alright," he said briskly, "you'll be dropping into Season 3 of Riverdale. You'll arrive mid-transit driving a 1980s Dodge Challenger. Try not to crash immediately."

I blinked. "Wait, why a Challenger?"

"Because," he muttered, adjusting his glasses, "we thought it would look cool. And the show's logic is so broken that a random muscle car appearing won't raise any red flags."

I sighed. Of course.

Shaking my head, I unzipped the bag, pulling out the suit Dr. Wagner had given me. As I slipped it on, it adjusted perfectly to my form, the material sleek and comfortable.

Zalthorion watched silently as I stepped toward the rift. The swirling vortex of unstable energy crackled before me, distorting the space around it.

Just before I stepped in, he spoke.

"Best of luck, my friend."

I glanced back at him.

"I think I'm going to need it."

And with that, I walked forward. The rift flared then swallowed me whole.

It was bright for a few seconds, and then I appeared, disoriented, gripping the steering wheel of a 1980s Dodge Challenger. The engine rumbled to life beneath me, its growl cutting through the air like a warning. I blinked rapidly, trying to shake off the dizzying sensation of the multiversal jump.

The surroundings around me were strange this was Riverdale, but it didn't feel like the quiet town I had read about. The air was thick with tension. I could feel it in the pit of my stomach. Something wasn't right.

I glanced around quickly. The streets were dimly lit, shadows creeping across the sidewalks, and the faint hum of the city echoed in the distance. The world around me was quiet, but it had a certain unease, a pulse just below the surface. I was in the middle of what appeared to be a run-down section of town, but it was far from empty. People moved in and out of the alleyways, their faces obscured by darkness.

I put the car in gear and revved the engine, easing down the street. The rift had landed me at night, right in the heart of Riverdale's troubling underbelly. I could already feel the weight of the mystery surrounding this place, the chaos that clung to it like a second skin.

Turning a corner, I noticed a group of teenagers, no older than sixteen or seventeen, gathered around outside a diner, whispering nervously among themselves. They were wearing dark clothes, looking as though they'd just come from some kind of confrontation. Their eyes flicked up to the car as I passed, but no one dared to stop me.

I pressed my foot harder on the accelerator, trying to push the unease from my mind. This place felt off, like there was something watching from the shadows.

I needed to find my objective the device I came for and I needed to figure out just where it was hidden. The world of Riverdale was full of surprises, and I was prepared for whatever chaos awaited me.

I finally reached a quieter stretch of road and pulled over to the side. There, I took a moment to collect myself. The MTD on my wrist hummed faintly, syncing with the rhythm of my pulse. I couldn't help but feel the weight of Zalthorion's mission pressing on my shoulders.

The last thing I needed was to get caught up in this town's strange and dangerous undercurrents. But as I looked up, I saw a figure standing in front of a nearby alley, cloaked in shadow. His posture was tense, like he was waiting for something or someone.

This town had a way of pulling people in, whether they wanted to be here or not. And now, I was part of its twisted game.

The headlights of the car cut through the darkness, briefly illuminating the faces of those lurking in the corners of Riverdale's quiet streets. From the shadows, Jughead Jones observed the newcomer someone who clearly didn't belong in this town.

He leaned against the brick wall of Pop's diner, a cigarette hanging loosely from his fingers, eyes narrowing at the unfamiliar car speeding through town. It wasn't like anything Riverdale had seen before, especially not in the hands of someone who looked like they had just stepped out of a science fiction movie.

"Well, well," Jughead muttered to himself, flicking the ashes off his cigarette. "Looks like we've got a new player in town. And trust me, Riverdale's never kind to strangers."

He watched as the car sped down the street, the engine's rumble fading into the distance. Jughead had a sense about these things something was off. The world had been strange for a while now, and this newcomer? Definitely an anomaly.

Nyxia, still gripping the steering wheel, pressed the pedal harder, the car jolting forward, and yet the tension in the air seemed to follow him like an omen. He couldn't shake the feeling that something dangerous was just around the corner something worse than Riverdale's usual dark underbelly.

He finally reached a quieter stretch of road, and as he pulled over, he took a breath, trying to steady his thoughts. He was here on a mission, not to get wrapped up in the chaos of this town, no matter how familiar it felt.

But before he could process it further, the sensation of being watched gnawed at him.

From the corner of his eye, he saw the figure standing in the shadows of a nearby alleyway. Jughead had long learned to read the streets and the people who inhabited them, and this one he didn't look like any typical Riverdale resident. Tense, alert waiting for something. Or someone.

The MTD on Nyxia's wrist pulsed once, a reminder of the weight of his mission. But that feeling in the pit of his stomach? It wasn't just nerves. Something was about to change in this town, and he could feel it in the air.

Nyxia hit the gas once more, intent on getting to his destination. He didn't know how, but the pieces of Riverdale's puzzle were starting to fall into place, and for better or worse, he was now a part of it.

I parked my car in front of my new house, the engine's rumble still echoing in the quiet night. The house loomed ahead, its windows dark and unwelcoming. My hair prickled at the back of my neck, a strange sensation of being watched creeping over me. I glanced around, the uneasy feeling intensifying when I saw a shadow flicker across the window of the nearby house.

Jughead. I was sure of it. His eyes were on me.

I tried to shake off the feeling, gripping the handle of my car door tightly before stepping out. My boots clicked against the pavement as I walked toward the front door, my mind racing. This place, this town, felt too familiar, yet so foreign at the same time. Something was off.

As I reached for the door, my wrist buzzed. I looked down at the sleek MTD on my wrist, surprised to see a new message from Dr. Wagner. I tapped the screen to read it.

"Good evening, Nyxia. This is Dr. Wagner. I trust you've settled into your new residence. I've enrolled you as a new student at Riverdale High. You are to meet with the principal after you've had a chance to check out your new home. They'll be expecting you soon."

I let out a low sigh, trying to steady myself. A new student? Just another layer to the mystery I was already tangled in.

I stood there for a moment, processing the information, before finally pushing open the door and stepping inside my new home. The air smelled musty, the walls creaked as if the house was alive. It was quiet, almost too quiet, and I couldn't shake the feeling that someone, or something, was lurking just out of sight.

I would check out the house, but I couldn't ignore the nagging pull toward Riverdale High. And the principal? Whoever they were, they were probably going to have some answers about what the hell I was supposed to do next in this bizarre town.

I beneath the surface, and I was being thrust right into its tangled mess. If I wanted answers if I wanted to find the MDFG I had no choice but to follow the breadcrumbs and unravel the mystery that Riverdale had set in motion.

With a final glance at the hidden compartment, I closed it and turned toward the front door. The weight of the situation pressed down on me. I had a mission to complete and Riverdale was going to be my starting point.

As I walked through the crowded hallway of Riverdale High, I felt the weight of countless eyes on me. Whispers floated in the air, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being sized up, judged, or worse monitored. Of all the times for this to happen, I hadn't expected it to be today.

Then I saw her. Cheryl Blossom.

Of all people. The last person I wanted to deal with right now. Her eyes locked onto mine, and there was no avoiding it. Her confident stride and piercing gaze were already aimed directly at me. I could feel her presence drawing closer, every step a reminder that I was standing out in this town, and not in a good way.

I cursed under my breath, trying to steady myself. I was still getting used to being here, trying to blend in, but Cheryl's sharp eyes made that nearly impossible.

What the hell did she want with me now?

Without missing a beat, I straightened my back, adjusting my fake identity. "Jake Magnio," I muttered to myself under my breath. The name felt strange on my tongue, but it was all I had. A clean slate, a fresh start, at least for now.

"Hey there," Cheryl called out, her voice dripping with that signature confidence. She was too close now there was no getting out of this. "New guy, huh? Jake Magnio, right?"

I forced a smile, doing my best to seem casual. "Yeah, that's me."

She tilted her head, studying me for a long, unsettling moment. "I don't think I've seen you around before. You're not from here, are you?"

I played it cool. "Just moved in. New to town."

"Riverdale is... interesting," she said with a sly smile. "But it's good you're here, Jake. We could use someone like you around."

I couldn't quite figure out whether she was being genuine or if this was just another one of her games. Either way, I couldn't let her see that I was rattled. I was here for a reason, and I couldn't afford to let distractions like Cheryl Blossom derail my plans.

"Thanks," I said, trying to keep the conversation light. "I'm sure I'll fit right in."

She paused, as if weighing something in her mind. "Oh, I'm sure you will. Everyone does... eventually." There was something in her tone, an undercurrent of something unspoken. "You'll find your place here."

And then, without another word, she turned and walked away, her heels clicking sharply on the floor. I exhaled, letting the tension drain from my body as I watched her disappear into the crowd.

That was too close. Riverdale was full of people like her dangerously charming, always with an agenda. But I had my own agenda now. Cheryl Blossom wasn't going to distract me from what I came here to do.

With a deep breath, I pushed forward, my eyes scanning the halls again, aware that the real challenge was just beginning.

I made my way through the maze of hallways, the whispers of students fading behind me as I approached the principal's office. The door loomed ahead, polished and professional, a stark contrast to the chaos I felt swirling inside me. The note from Dr. Wagner had said I needed to meet the principal, but what the hell was I supposed to expect here? What was Riverdale hiding, and why did it feel like everything here was connected to something bigger than me?

I reached the door and knocked, trying to calm my nerves. A voice from inside called out, "Come in!"

I turned the handle and stepped inside. The office was spacious, neat, and orderly, filled with dark wood furniture and shelves of books and awards. Behind the large desk sat the principal, a tall man with sharp features and an air of authority. His nameplate read Principal Weatherbee, and the look in his eyes told me he wasn't one to be easily impressed.

"Ah, you must be Jake Magnio," he said, his voice deep and measured. "I've been expecting you."

I nodded, trying to keep my cool. "That's me. You wanted to see me?"

"Indeed," he replied, standing up and gesturing for me to take a seat. "We've been informed of your... transfer. Welcome to Riverdale High. I trust you're adjusting well so far?"

"Yeah, everything's fine," I answered, forcing a smile as I sat down. The feeling of being watched still lingered, like invisible eyes were boring into my back. Was it just me, or was there something off about Weatherbee? His calm demeanor seemed almost too practiced.

"I must admit, Jake," Principal Weatherbee said, leaning slightly forward, "not many students transfer to Riverdale High mid-year. It's... a bit unusual. But I'm sure you'll fit right in." His eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "I trust you're here for the right reasons?"

His question hung in the air, the unspoken weight of it making my throat tighten. I wasn't sure what he was getting at, but it didn't sound like an innocent welcome.

"Of course," I replied smoothly, my mind racing for the right words. "I'm just here to finish school and get settled. No trouble, just trying to find my place."

He studied me for a long moment, his gaze piercing. I could feel the weight of his scrutiny, like he was trying to see through my carefully crafted persona.

"Good," he finally said, leaning back in his chair. "Riverdale can be a... complicated town. But if you're here with good intentions, you'll do just fine. Now, let's get down to business. We've got a few formalities to attend to."

The conversation drifted into the expected paperwork and school policies, but my mind couldn't fully focus on that. Weatherbee's words had stuck with me. "Complicated town"? What did that mean? And why did it feel like he was watching me just as closely as everyone else?

I wasn't sure what I was walking into, but I knew one thing for sure Riverdale wasn't just any small town. And something was definitely off about this place.

After a few minutes, Mr. Weatherbee finished his long-winded explanation and led me to my classroom. As I stepped through the door, the realization hit me like a shock to the system. The room I was walking into wasn't just any classroom it was the very same one where the Riverdale protagonists sat.

The moment I looked around, I saw them Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead all of them right there. I froze for a second, heart pounding in my chest. This was no coincidence. I was about to be part of the story, not just an outsider observing it.

I quickly masked my surprise and walked toward an empty seat, trying to act casual despite the whirlwind of thoughts racing through my mind. I was no longer just an observer in Riverdale. I was embedded in the heart of it, and I wasn't sure what that would mean for me yet.