Captain Gargle

Chapter 10

It was a quiet afternoon at The Daily Tribune, but Michael felt restless. Things between him and Belle had finally started to improve after their honest conversation, but something was off. He couldn't shake the nagging feeling in his gut, the one that told him trouble was just around the corner.

As he sat at his desk, tapping absentmindedly at the keyboard, his phone buzzed. It was Belle.

"Hey, I'm heading out to meet a source. I'll be back in a couple of hours. Text you later!"

Michael frowned, a sense of unease creeping up his spine. He had learned to trust his instincts, and right now, they were screaming at him. Belle was an excellent reporter, but lately, Blaguda's forces had been more aggressive, more dangerous. He had to make sure she was safe.

Just as he stood to leave the office and check on her, his phone buzzed again—but this time, it wasn't Belle.

"Captain Gargle, if you ever want to see your little reporter friend again, come find me at the abandoned airfield. Come alone. - Baklang Lawin"

Michael's blood ran cold. He had heard the name before. Baklang Lawin—one of Blaguda's most dangerous lieutenants. Known for his aerial prowess and brutal tactics, Baklang Lawin was a winged villain who ruled the skies with sharp talons and lethal speed.

Michael didn't hesitate. Grabbing his jacket, he bolted from the office and transformed mid-run into Captain Gargle. His body glowed with minty energy as he shot into the sky, his heart pounding. Belle had been kidnapped because of him, and there was no way he was letting anything happen to her.

The abandoned airfield lay on the outskirts of the city, a sprawling wasteland of rusted hangars and cracked runways. As Captain Gargle approached, he scanned the area, looking for any sign of Belle or Baklang Lawin. His mind raced, worry gnawing at him. Belle was strong and smart, but she was outmatched by a villain like Baklang Lawin.

As he landed on the cracked pavement of the airfield, a gust of wind swept over him, carrying with it the sound of flapping wings. High above, perched on the edge of a decaying hangar, stood Baklang Lawin. His wings, sharp and metallic, gleamed in the fading light, and his talons scraped the metal beneath him with a high-pitched screech. His eyes, sharp as a hawk's, locked onto Captain Gargle.

"You're here, just like I expected," Baklang Lawin sneered, his voice cutting through the air. "I knew you'd come for her."

Michael's heart raced. "Where's Belle?"

Baklang Lawin chuckled darkly, flapping his massive wings as he swooped down, hovering just above the ground. "She's safe... for now. But if you want her back, you'll have to get through me."

Captain Gargle clenched his fists, the familiar minty energy surging around him. "I'm not playing games, Lawin. Let her go!"

With a sinister grin, Baklang Lawin stretched out his talons, and from behind him, Belle emerged—bound and gagged, her eyes wide with fear. She struggled against her restraints, but Baklang Lawin's sharp claws kept her in place.

Michael's breath hitched in his throat. Seeing Belle in danger was enough to send his mind into overdrive. He had to stay calm, stay focused, but the rage building inside him was nearly overwhelming.

"You want her back?" Baklang Lawin taunted, his wings flapping as he took to the air, dragging Belle with him. "Then come and get her!"

With that, Baklang Lawin shot into the sky, soaring higher and higher with Belle in tow. Captain Gargle's pulse quickened—this was a trap, but he had no choice. He couldn't let Baklang Lawin get away.