The Devil's Puppet

≪•◦Chapter 1.4❈S.M.◦•≫

Dream sighed as he walked through the long corridor. He stared at the white walls and bright lights hanging from the ceiling. He groaned as they induced a headache, making his already sore body worse to deal with. The blonde had just returned from his duties as the Smiling Man. General Stanely ordered the teen to track down a man named Rodrick Miles. His family and friends call him "Rod" or "Rick" for short. Rod is a family man—he has a wife and two kids. Both are teenagers and go to Hillcrest High with Dream. According to General Stanely, Rod is a businessman with a famous company who abuses his consumers and workers. He steals money from his workers and makes them work endless hours without sufficient pay and breaks.

Stanely went ahead and told Dream that Rod also abused his family. After no longer trusting the General, Dream went out of his way to investigate himself. With the help of George, Punz, Sam, and even Callahan, he figured out that the man did no such thing. He went to Rodrick's house and told him to get his family and move as far away as he could. Dream knew that if he returned to the underground facility with Rodrick still in the public's eye, Stanely would hurt Sapnap. The poor boy has already faced the consequences of Dream's rebellions--the blonde couldn't bear doing that to Sapnap. He knew that letting Rodrick go safely was a big risk. It was hard enough convincing the man and his family that Dream was no harm, especially since he was dressed as the Smiling Man. However, they believed him eventually and began to pack.

All he had left to do now was worry if he would be able to make it past Stanely. Dream took a deep breath as he looked around the corner of the hallway, finding the usual security guard watching over a random room in the middle of the empty corridor. Dream began to suspect that Sapnap was being kept inside that room--however, if he wanted to check, he would have to get rid of the security officer somehow. "Hmm..." he hummed, beginning to think for a moment as he turned the other way, approaching the basement door. There, another security officer stood. He had his arms crossed in front of him as he stared into the void of his dark glasses. "Hello?" Dream called out, fixing the hood of his coat.

The security flinched, turning to look at him. The man stared at the porcelain mask, clearing his throat. Dream quietly chuckled. He knew the man was afraid of him. Afraid enough to do anything the blonde wanted without saying a word to General Stanely. "Why don't you do me a favor, yeah?" Dream asked, tilting his head to the side.

The man immediately nodded, "Yes, sir. What do you need?"

"I need you to get that security guard away from that door. I need to get inside--" Dream said.

The security officer hesitated, "Sir... it is prohibited to enter that room. Even us securities can't go inside without specific orders from General Stanely."

Dream sighed, "I need to get inside. I think the kid that Stanely took a while ago is inside. Is he?"

"You mean Armstrong? Uh..." the man trailed off. Dream straightened himself up, getting closer to the man. He got close enough that the tip of the officer's nose touched the mask. He spoke ever so quietly, grasping the man's shoulder with a tight grip, "Is Sapnap Armstrong being kept in that room?"

The man nodded, "Y-yes! He is. I... I'll find a way for you to get inside."

Dream patted the man's shoulder. The security hurriedly left and approached his fellow guard on the other end of the corridor. The blonde sighed as he turned to the basement and entered. He pulled out his pocket knife and began to play with it as he walked down the stairs, turning to look at the hostages. They all sat against the walls, some were tied to the poles holding the basement up. 

"Have you all been fed yet?" he asked, twirling the knife in his hands.

The hostages shook their heads. "Hmm... that's too bad. I'll make sure you're fed--a security guard will come in with food in a few minutes."

He looked at every last hostage in the basement before leaving, trailing the wall with his fingertips. His fingerless gloves hugged his hands tightly as he grabbed the doorknob, shutting the door as he left the room. The security officers were gone. "Great. I knew he'd listen--" he smiled. Dream quickly approached the mysterious door. With every step, he checked every corner of the corridor to ensure he wasn't seen. "Let's see if you're in here..." he trailed off, turning the doorknob.

Lucky for him, the door was unlocked.

Once inside, Dream closed the door, staring at the single metal bed in the center of the room. Sapnap was sitting there, facing away from him. The boy was staring at the white cushioned wall, pulling at his dirty jeans. He still wore the same thing he had on the night he was kidnapped. He had been picking at his jeans, ripping them at the knees. His shirt was wrinkled and the small design in the middle and back were wearing off.

"Sapnap...?" Dream called out.

Sapnap flinched, sitting up straight. He quickly turned around, his eyes shiny and red with tears streaming down his face. There was dirt and dry blood on his face. The blood was from small cuts made on his skin. Dream stared in distraught at the state in which the boy was in. "G-get away from me..!" he cried, turning away. He pulled his knees to his head and wrapped his hands through his hair.

Dream took a deep breath as he pulled off his mask. He threw off his coat, letting it fall to the ground. "Sapnap, it's me--it's Dream! Oh my god...what has he done to you?" he whispered, carefully approaching the weeping boy on the bed. He held out his hand, reaching for the raven. Sapnap took a deep, shaky breath as he turned around, looking at the blonde. "Dream.? Is that you...?" he asked, looking into those green eyes.

The blonde smiled as he got down on his knees, planting his hands on Sapnap's knees. The raven quietly laughed as he wiped away his tears, "I guess I forgot you're the Smiling Man... and how many days I've been locked in this damn room. Ugh--it's too bright!" He complained, shielding his tired eyes from the white light in the center of the room. Dream sighed as he let his head drop, resting them on the boy's legs. "I'm so sorry."

Sapnap tilted his head, "It's okay. You didn't know he was going to take me. Is everyone else okay? Did they get taken too?"

Dream looked up with a smile, shaking his head. "No, they're safe. Are you okay? Has anyone come in to see you?"

Sapnap shook his head, "No. I think it's been a couple of days since I saw the General last. But Dream... why me?"

The blonde sighed as he cupped the boy's face, sitting down beside him. Sapnap smiled as he rested his forehead against Dream--feeling his emotions calm down. "Because you know too much," Dream said.

"I don't think knowing who you truly are and that you are working with the army is 'too much.' Knowing the reason why you're doing what you're doing would be 'too much,'" Sapnap sighed, closing his eyes as he relaxed into Dream's touch. The blonde frowned. He leaned in, planting a small kiss against the raven's lips. Sapnap flinched as he pulled away, staring at Dream with wide eyes.

Dream sighed as he pulled away, "Sorry."

"It's okay... I just haven't felt that in... I can't remember--" Sapnap whispered. Dream smiled as he ran his thumb in circle motions on Sap's cheek. "I'm going to explain everything, okay? Do you think you're ready for that?" Dream asked.

Sapnap smiled as he nodded, "Yeah."

To Be Continued. :)