The Devil's Puppet

≪•◦Chapter 1.3❈Captain Mendez◦•≫

Daniel Mendez sighed as he took off his hat, staring at the text message from Jackson. The man wouldn't be able to join the officers and fellow residents in the community to search the forest in which Sapnap was last seen. He looked at his phone sitting on his desk, deciding to give someone a call. If they were going to search the forest for a missing teen, they might as well get another man who was great at his job--General Stanely. He grabbed the phone and dialed the man's number, waiting for his old friend to answer. "Hello?"

"Stan! Hey--are you busy at the moment?" Daniel asked.

Stanely chuckled, "No, I'm not. What's up?"

"A search party and I are heading out to search the Highland forest for Armstrong's kid, Sapnap. We got some anonymous tips from students in his high school talking about how he had gone there to meet the Smiling Man the night he disappeared. We believe that once his friends left the scene, the Smiling Man took his chance and took the kid--we're thinking that he's being kept somewhere nearby. Maybe a hidden area?" Daniel spoke, grabbing his hat. Stanely hummed.

"Of course, I'd love to join--are you leaving now?" Stanely asked.

Mendez looked at the clock: 8:21 PM. "Yeah. We wouldn't want it to get any later than it already is. We need a chance to be able to search the forest well to see if we want to get closer to finding Sapnap," Daniel answered. Stanely hummed on the other side of the phone line. "I'll meet you at the forest."

"Thank you--See you soon," Daniel smiled, hanging up the call. He sighed as he rubbed his temples, grabbing his gun and hoisting it on his belt. He hummed quietly as he left his office, tilting his head in a slight nod as he walked by his officers. "Clarissa, please notify Officer Armstrong that we are heading out on the investigation. Remind him and Abigail to stay home tonight. They can join the investigation tomorrow."

"Yes, sir--" Clarissa said, typing away at her computer. Mendez looked at his officers standing near the door, signaling them to begin heading out for their cars. He followed closely behind, fiddling with his keys inside his pocket. He began to feel nervous. He had a feeling he was going to find Sapnap that night. However, he knew it wasn't going to be easy. Even with all the help he has and General Stanely, Mendez knew it could take all night.

He took a deep breath as he got into his car and drove out of the police station parking lot. "Here I come, Sapnap. I'll find you--" he whispered, driving down the familiar roads of Orlando.

--   --   --   --   --

General Stanely smiled as he saw Daniel approach him. "Are you ready for the investigation? I thought you were going to bring your troops?" Daniel asked, patting the man on the shoulder as he entered the Highland forest. Stanely shrugged as he pulled out his flashlight, turning it on. "They partnered up with the search party. I figured you and I could search together. Two great minds think better when brought together, no?" Stanely chuckled.

Daniel laughed as he led the way down a rocky path. "Yeah, you're right. According to the teens Sapnap was last seen with, they walked along this path. They entered the forest through the same entrance we did--" he said. Stanely nodded as he followed, keeping quiet. "We should find an open space eventually. Maybe something of Sap's or the Smiling Man was left there. We could use it to track them down."

"How are you sure that we could use it if there is something, to track them down? It's been two months, Mendez--" Stanely said.

The Captain sighed. He looked at his friend with confusion. "First, we've been friends for years. We should've been on first-name terms from the get-go, don't you think?" Daniel asked.

Stanely smiled, nodding. "Yeah. Daniel--Jeez, I haven't called you that in years."

"As have I. Sometimes I forget your first name is Michael--" Daniel chuckled, continuing to lead. Stanely sighed as his mind trailed off. He watched as his friend walked along the path, following what a group of teenagers told him. Stanely didn't feel a single ounce of remorse or sorrow for lying to his friend. He felt as if he were helping the world by getting rid of the bad people. Not only that, he got money out of it. Sending off a few hostages every week to people on the dark web was easy money for Stanely. He was power-obsessed and money-hungry, but he would never admit that.

Since he had started as General, he knew he was going to get what he wanted. However, he couldn't do it alone. His troops weren't enough. They needed someone smart and swift. He originally wanted Dream's parents as they had a history of working for people with vile fantasies. However, since they had their son, they quit. They wanted a new life for Dream. But, of course, Stanely refused to let that happen. Since the Taken's refused his offer, he took Dream by force. They had no choice but to let it happen, they didn't want their son to get hurt. Now it was the other way around. Dream had no choice, all to keep his parents and sister safe.

"Michael?" Daniel called.

Stanely looked up at his friend, "Yeah?"

"What the hell is this?" Mendez asked, holding up a piece of cloth. It had a symbol that Stanely and his troops wore on their uniforms. Stan's eyes widened, lowering his flashlight. "Stanely. Did you have something to do with Sapnap Armstrong's disappearance?" he asked, slowly turning to look at the man.

General Stanely chuckled as he shook his head, dropping it low. "Ah... you caught me. I wished you wouldn't--" he said. Daniel shook his head in disbelief. "You were there for him when he was assaulted, Michael! You were the reason Liam died, weren't you? You've been working beside his father for months! You've kept his son away from him... for what?!"

Stanely groaned as he lunged toward Mendez, tackling the man to the ground. Daniel struggled beneath his friend, trying to reach for his gun. "Oh, no you don't--" Stanely laughed, grabbing the gun and throwing it to the side. "Sapnap is fine. The Smiling Man refuses to let me do anything when that kid gets out of line. I swear... he's just like his parents. Stubborn--" he chuckled.

Mendez grabbed onto Stanely's uniform, "Let him go."

"I think not. He's found out everything. Almost everything. He knows who the Smiling Man is and he knows about our partnership--Do you think I'm going to let him go with that vital information?" Stanely smiled. "Until I'm sure he won't say a word... and until I get what I want, he'll be set free."

"You're a horrible man!" Daniel spat.

Stanely shrugged, keeping the Captain down. "You're not going to say a word about this. You are going to return to the search party and tell them you searched every bit of this forest and found nothing. You're going to tell Jackson and poor Abigail that their son is nowhere to be found and there is nothing you can do."

"And if I don't?"

"Well, then I guess you won't be seeing your wife and baby Samantha any time soon. The same goes for the whole Armstrong bloodline. Including that stubborn kid and every bit of family in Texas--" Stanely said. Mendez's eyes widened. "Choose carefully, Daniel. Their lives depend on your decision."

Stanely shoved Daniel deeper into the dirt. He got up and began to walk away, leaving Mendez in the forest. He couldn't let another person roam free with his secret. "Fuck..." Daniel sighed, staring up at the moon. "What the hell am I going to do?"

To Be Continued. :)