Devil's Prey

{chapter 2, part 5} - Believe

He couldn't believe it. He couldn't. Sapnap sat on the couch in his living room, staring at the TV. He felt his heart beat slowly in his chest as his blood rushed through his body. The news was playing, but he couldn't hear anything. They were talking about Callahan and his disappearance. They said the Smiling Man took him. Part of Sapnap didn't want to believe that this "Smiling Man" was real and took his bed friend, but the other part of him couldn't find another reason why Callahan suddenly disappeared.

It isn't like Cal to run away. It also isn't like Callahan to suddenly speak. There was no other reason but the Smiling Man. What other reason could it be?

Sapnap gasped as he felt himself struggle to breathe. His mind was in shambles. He didn't know what to feel but hatred. The raven blamed himself for Callahan's disappearance. He thought many things: what if he got there sooner? What if he wasn't stupid and drank with Liam? What if he didn't believe it was all a joke?

There were so many possibilities, so many what-ifs. "Sapnap, honey... please," Abigail said. She sighed as she sat beside her son on the couch, wrapping her arms around the boy. She felt his body begin to shake as he broke into uncontrollable sobs. "Why..." he cried, covering his face with his hands.

"It's okay... it's not your fault! We'll find him," she whispered, running her hands softly through Sapnap's hair. The boy lay on his mother as he cried, shaking as his head began to hurt. Liam walked through the door, frowning as he closed it behind him. "Hey... how are things holding up?" he asked.

Abigail shook her head, kissing Sapnap's hair. "Ice cream?" he offered, showing the two buckets of the tasty dessert he had brought. The raven turned to look at the man, staring at the buckets with hunger and sadness. What was he going to do without Callahan?

—

"I can't believe it..." Sam sighed, running his hands through his green hair. The now trio sat in their Math class, staring at Callahan's desk. There were flowers, letters, and hand-made gifts for the poor boy who had been kidnapped. Sam had been taking it rough, but he didn't show it. George stared blankly at the table, letting his thoughts run wild. He had already grown suspicious of a few people in his school. He knew someone among them was the Smiling Man in secret. He knew! But he didn't know who.

Sam would always ask for proof, which George couldn't give.

Sapnap sighed as he shrunk in his seat, looking anywhere but at that table. He turned to look at Dream, who sat still in his chair, tapping his pencil against the wood. George sighed as he turned to look at the blonde as well, humming in determination. "I think I know who SM is," the Brit said, crossing his arms.

"Who is 'SM'?" Sam asked.

George rolled his eyes, "The Smiling Man! I think I know his real identity."

Sapnap turned to look at his friends, wondering what George was thinking. "Who?" he asked. George and Sam turned to look at the raven. The boy had been silent since he stepped on the school campus. He hadn't spoken to anyone, even the two before him. "I think it's..." he began. He whispered so nobody could hear. "I think it is Dream."

"What's your problem with Dream?" Sapnap asked, feeling his face grow hot. George shrugged, leaning against his chair. "My 'problem' is that he is a weirdo! He's the most suspicious person here. He is unphased when others mention the Smiling Man. He gives off creepy and stalkerish vibes! You can't tell me he doesn't have the same figure as the Smiling Man."

Sam shook his head as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "George..."

"What?" the brunette asked, turning to look at Sam. "He can't be the Smiling Man."