The Devil's Puppet

≪•◦Chapter 1.1❈General's Rule◦•≫

What would you do if your best friend was stripped away from you? To George, that question is difficult. Ever since his best friend, Sapnap, was kidnapped, he hasn't been able to live. Since Sapnap moved to Florida, he hasn't gone a day without him and their other friends. George always had Sapnap stuck to his side. Sapnap would wake up and send a message to their group chat. He would always make plans for the group, wanting to spend time with his friends. However, now that Sapnap was gone, George didn't know what to do anymore.

He didn't wake up to any messages from Sapnap. Now, he had no energy to get out of bed. He couldn't handle hanging out with Sam and Callahan. Whenever he did, George would break down. They had left things on the wrong foot. He lost his best friend once for keeping Dream's secret. Now he truly lost his best friend because of the army's general.

Beside himself, he couldn't help but think about Sapnap's parents. It's been two months since Sapnap disappeared and his parents were all over the news. Abigail and Jackson have been begging their community for help, wanting answers and clues. They wanted to know something, anything. George wants to tell them terribly that he knew who took Sapnap and where. But with all the risks and danger he'd put them in, he couldn't. Sapnap wouldn't want that.

"George!" Mrs. Davidson called out.

George sighed as he looked away from the ceiling. He frowned as he sat in bed, staring at the blanket wrapped around his body. He has been lying in bed all night and all morning. His parents have grown worried for him but couldn't do anything. George pulled the blanket off, leaving it on the bed as he stood up. "George!! Come downstairs now!"

The Brit shut his eyes. He took a deep breath as he grabbed his phone and approached his bedroom door, slowly turning the knob. He could hear his parents downstairs, bittering among each other as they got ready to run errands. George reluctantly made his way down the stairs, keeping his head down. "George, a friend of yours is waiting outside--" Mrs. Davidson said, grabbing her keys from a bowl in the middle of their kitchen table. George lifted his head as he turned to look at his parents. His father had his reading glasses on as he read the list of errands his wife handed to him. "Which friend? Sam and Callahan are busy today--" George said.

"Busy with what? You three always hang out," Mr. Davidson said.

George shrugged, "Sam is on a family trip for spring break. Cal is off in speech therapy to be able to regain the ability. You know he hasn't been able to speak with our friends ever since he was... let go."

His father hummed, holding the paper and shoving it into his pocket. "That's good for him--" he said. George sighed as he nodded, turning to his mother. "Which friend is waiting for me, Mom?" he asked.

Mrs. Davidson shrugged, "Some blonde boy. He didn't give a name."

George's eyes widened. He cleared his throat as he nodded, looking down at his clothes—a wrinkled t-shirt and worn-out jeans. "I should change--" he thought. George frowned as he turned to look at the stairs, disregarding his thought. He quickly turned to their front door, stepping out onto their porch. In the driveway, Dream stood. "Took you long enough," the blonde grumbled.

"Sorry--I was asleep," George lied.

Dream rolled his eyes as he stood up straight. He had been leaning against his car, waiting for his "partner in crime." George sighed as he approached the blonde, crossing his arms together. "My Mom said you came for me. What do you want?" he asked.

"Can't a guy ask to hang out with his friend?" Dream smiled.

"Since when were we friends?" George scoffed. Dream kept his smile as he tilted his head. The Brit tried to read the teen's thoughts through his eyes. However, those emerald greens seemed to never hold a single thought or emotion behind them. "What do you want, Dream?"