Devil's Prey

{chapter 6, part 3} - Police Station

Here he was again. Sapnap was standing in front of the police station, contemplating his options. Yesterday, Liam forced Sapnap to relive his nightmare. Something that the boy wished wouldn't happen again after Jake. He hadn't seen the boy in a few days, so he had nothing to worry about. He assumed Jake was skipping school or maybe he was sick. Either way, Sapnap was free of Jake. His friends didn't dare look at the boy without him being there. He was safe. But now that Liam had stooped to their level, he no longer felt safe. The man lived in front of him. He could easily walk to the door and open it. Liam's job wasn't far from their street either. He knew where Sapnap's school was, too. How was the boy going to avoid that man?

Sap knew he had to do something about it this time around. He gave up on the idea of the police not believing him. He had to try. "You've got this. They have to believe you..." he thought. Sapnap took a deep breath. He stared at the station's doors, watching people walk in and out. There was a woman with a little girl walking out. The girl seemed terrified. The woman seemed pissed. Something horrible must've happened. Sapnap took one last deep breath before he approached the doors, pushing them open. A wave of overwhelming fear fell upon the boy as he caught the lady at the desk looking at him. She had a stern look on her face. One he often saw in movies. Never did he think he'd find himself in a police station.

"What could I help you with?" the lady asked.

"Uh... I want to report someone," Sapnap said. It was hard getting words out of himself. He felt his voice get caught in his throat. The lady nodded, typing in her computer. "Please fill this in," she said, pushing a clipboard to the boy across the desk. Sapnap gulped, taking the board. He turned to look at the seats against the wall, taking a seat. Multiple people were sitting, waiting.

The boy stared at the questions on the paper, wondering why he couldn't go into a room with an officer and answer them. He didn't doubt for a second that he'd get asked a billion more if they were to take him seriously. Suddenly, a pair of doors were slammed open. "Salamon Rogers. Officer Armstrong is ready to see you," an officer spoke. Sapnap's eyes lit up at the sound of his father's name. "He's here. I have to speak with him!" he thought.

He got up from his chair and approached the front desk. He waited for the lady to look up from the computer. Sapnap turned to look behind him, watching a man, who he assumed was Salamon, stand up and follow the officer. "Yes?"

Sapnap turned to the lady, "Uh... I have a question."

"What is it?"

"Can I please speak to Officer Armstrong?" he asked.

The lady sighed, "You'll speak to whoever is open once you turn in your report."

Sapnap shook his head, "No, you don't understand! I have to talk to him. He's my Dad."

The lady looked up at the boy, her eyebrows furrowing. "Kid, what's your name?" she asked. Sapnap sighed as he picked at his fingers, "Sapnap Armstrong. Please, can you tell him that I'm here?"

"Kids these days... you teenagers are always making shit up. Sit down and complete your damn packet. If you're here to report something, report it. If it seems serious enough, you'll talk about it with whoever is free," the lady groaned, returning to her computer. Sapnap rolled his eyes, turning around.

A tall man appeared behind him, stopping him in his tracks. He wore an army uniform, a gun hoisted in his belt. Troops were standing behind him, wearing the same uniform. However, they held their weapons in their hands. "I think you should listen to the kid," the man said. The lady looked up from the desk, letting out a small gasp.

"Tell the captain and his partner we're here and attend to this kid immediately. Isn't it concerning enough that a teenager is here?" the man asked, leaning against the desk. Sapnap stood there frozen. His face flushed red with embarrassment and fear. The lady nodded, going to the phone sitting on the desk. She dialed a number, holding the number up to her ear. "Captain, General Stanely is here. He wants to see you and Officer Armstrong," the lady said.