Devil's Prey

{chapter 5, part 5} - Rescue

George paced back and forth in the living room. He was waiting for Sam. He had sent the boy the address to Dream's cabin. It was risky. But their plan was much more risky. However, it was their chance to get Callahan back. Dream and Punz hadn't returned from a meeting with their boss, which meant George and Sam still had time to get Callahan and a few others and run.

Not long ago, he had checked on the hostages after feeding them. He locked both hands for each hostage, ensuring they were left exactly how Dream had left them. "Okay, George..." the Brit sighed, "This will be easy. Sam will get here, sneak into the basement, and free Cal, Quackity, and Niki. Just don't get caught!"

He sighed as he thought more, stumbling onto the couch. He groaned as he covered his face with his hands. "I can't believe we're doing this. Dream's going to kill us if he catches us!" he exclaims, throwing his hands down to his lap. George shook his head as he looked at the cabin, staring at everything. The sink was empty of bloody tools for once. The table was clean. Everything was well kept. "Damn. He may be a murderer, but at least he's tidy," he thought.

Knock! Knock!

George jumped, abruptly turning to the front door. "Oh my god... here we go." The Brit stood up from the couch, nervously approaching the door. He turned the knob, biting his inner cheek. "Hey!" Sam happily said. However, nothing on his face said he was happy.

"Hey, come in—" George said, stepping aside to let the other in. Sam nodded, walking in. The Brit witnessed his friend begin to shake as he stood in the living room, staring at the interior. "What's wrong?" George asked.

Sam shook his head, "So, this is where Dream keeps everyone he doesn't kill, in a cabin in the middle of a secluded forest. A forest nobody is supposed to enter. Creepy."

George nodded, standing beside his friend. "Yeah... everyone is downstairs in the basement." Sam turned to look at the Brit, "How is Callahan?"

"He's good. Dream makes sure he and some others are taken care of well. Which was surprising," George said. Sam nodded, catching the door to the basement. "So, what's the plan?"

George shrugged, approaching the basement. He sighed as he gripped the doorknob, turning to look at Sam. The green-haired boy shoved his hands in his sweater, picking at the inside. George opened the door, motioning for Sam to follow. "We'll get the people we want and leave," George whispered, reaching his hand behind him. Sam took it, squeezing it tightly with fear. "Dr—" Sam began.

"Shh... they don't know who he is under the mask," George said, stopping before reaching the bottom of the stairs. Sam nodded, "So... the Smiling Man's gone? Where is he?"

George shrugged, "He's meeting someone. He isn't supposed to be back for a couple of hours." Sam nodded, following the Brit to the bottom. The boy took a deep breath before looking at the hostages, gasping as he saw Callahan at the far corner. "Cal..." he smiled, waving at the brunette. The silent boy smiled, tapping the others with his leg to wake them up. "Woah, what the hell happened to Jake?" Sam asked, staring at the boy in the center of the basement.

"Mm!" Jake mumbled, trying to wiggle out of his chair.

George shook his head, "I don't know. The Smiling Man was probably pissed by what Jake did."

Sam nodded, "Makes sense. Anyway, how are we going to do this?"

George took a deep breath before pulling Sam toward Callahan, Quackity, and Niki. "We're going to free them and take them out of the house through the back. Did you bring your car?" George asked, beginning to undo and unlock the restraints keeping Callahan in place. "No, I didn't. I thought someone would see me if I drove here," Sam said.

"Okay, good. You guys will run out of the back of the cabin. Don't go the way you came. Take a different route. I'll run to Puffy's place and have her help me with something," George said, pulling Callahan up from the ground. The brunette tightly wrapped his arms around the Brit, not letting go. "Hey, Cal..." George whispered, quietly laughing with relief.

Callahan let go of George, immediately running to Sam. "Hey! Oh my god, you have no idea how hard it's been without you," Sam said, squeezing the life out of the boy. George kneeled, unlocking and removing the restraints around Quackity's arms. "Why are you going to Puffy's?" Sam asked, noticing the glimmer in Niki's eyes at the mention of her friend's name.

"I have to look like I was beat up or something. If the Smiling Man shows up and I'm unharmed, he'll assume I set them free. I'm working for him, and he trusted me to watch them while he's gone," George said, pulling Quackity up.

The boy smiled, thanking George. The Brit hadn't known Quackity for long, only knowing of him due to the couple of classes they shared. He noticed the boy's bright personality. He never failed to make his classmates laugh. He'd curse in Spanish when he struggled or got scared. Quackity would go all out to make his friend, Karl, feel cared for, too. George, at times, believed Sapnap and Quackity would get along because of how similar they were personality-wise. "Do you think he'll believe you?" Sam asked, keeping Quackity and Callahan close.

George shrugged, "I hope so."

"Who else knows that we're here?" Quackity asked. His voice sounded hoarse. George sighed, "Nobody else but me and Sam know. Sam isn't supposed to know, though. Only me."

"What if the Smiling Man returns before we can leave?" Puffy asked once she was free. Her white, beautiful hair was knotty and dirty. Tears began to stream down her face as she began to overthink their plan. "What if he hurts us because of this?!"

George shook his head, helping her up. "He won't. He won't be back for a while," he said. "You guys have enough time. Now hurry, we have to get out of here!"

Sam grabbed a hold of Puffy and Quackity's hands. Quackity grabbed Callahan with his free hand, pulling him along. George sighed as he looked at the rest of the hostages. The hostages that Dream said deserved to be there. George took the lead, opening the basement door. He turned to look at the others, ushering them to hurry. "Come on!" George said, turning to look at the living room.

"Hey, George!"

The Brit's eyes widened, "Oh shit."

"What?" Sam asked. They were all still on the stairs, unable to see what George saw. "George, what is it?" Sam asked again, pulling everyone up. They all entered the living room, finally realizing what made the Brit stop.

The Smiling Man shook his head. Punz was nowhere to be found. George thought he must've been outside, aware of what was happening. Dream wore his mask and coat, hiding his identity. "I..." George choked, feeling his body freeze. Callahan began to panic, shaking Quackity and Puffy in fear. Puffy turned to him, calming him down. "George! What are we going to do? I thought he wasn't going to be here!" Quackity said, pulling the Brit's sleeve.

Sam's breath began to shake, "George?"

George stood there, unable to answer. "Yeah, George. What are you going to do?" the Smiling Man asked. George could tell there was a wicked smile underneath the blonde's porcelain mask. "What did I just get them into?" he thought. "What did I just do?"

To Be Continued. シ