Dog Man: 🗡 Kidnapped 🔪

Chapter 4: The Kitten Knows

Eventually, Dog Man, Chief and Sarah got to the news reporter's house. "The heating is on, so make yourself cosy. Just don't get my cushions wet," Sarah explained, as Dog Man leaped onto a cushion on cuddled it tightly. Chief, who had been in Sarah's home before, started to light the fireplace. Sarah sat down next to Dog Man and started stroking him on the head. "So.. what happened to Petey? I knew he was pardoned, but he was kidnapped..?" Sarah asked. Dog Man sat up straight and leaned towards Sarah "A cat called Darwin had kidnapped Petey. Apparently, Darwin was also his best friend.." The half-dog half-human explained.

"Yup. Indeed so. He would never do that on his own, though. Someone must be with him.." Chief continued.
"No! There wasn't! It was just Darwin! I swear!" Dog Man yelled a bit.
"I know Darwin.. he's the one who tried to set the Bank on fire, wasn't he?" Sarah asked. Chief nodded his head, whilst Dog Man game and sat down next to him, so he could warm up. "He was.. but he's gone off and kidnapped Petey; since he wasn't there this morning, god knows where he could have gone over night," Chief explained, whilst he lent his head on Dog Man. The officer started to whine a bit.

Petey could have died and nobody could have told him. Or Darwin came back and kidnapped him again. Or something! "The van drove off. But it could have come back. You never know," Chief continued. Dog Man rested his head on his knees, but immediately regretted it as it had the stitches on— and it hurt.

But his feelings were hurt more.

A little while later, a news reporter rang Sarah and told her to update the news about the accident. She knew what to talk about. "Ok.. I'll tell everyone it's Petey who went missing.. but.. what about Li'l Petey?" She asked, after she put the phone down. She stood up and put her coat on. Chief helped Dog Man up, and put his coat on. "You need leggings," Chief told Dog Man, as he tried to find some spare ones in his bag (yes, he had a bag. I probably should have mentioned that before)

"Li'l Petey! I forgot! Him and 80-HD are probably still at the house! I have to go tell them!" Dog Man rushed towards the door. Chief chased after him with Dog Man's police uniform in his hands. "Dog Man!! Put this on before you go!!" Chief yelled.
"Oh, yeah. Of course."

Ten minutes later, Dog Man, who was in his uniform, was rushing over to Petey's house (or lab) to check if Li'l Petey and 80-HD were there. His coat wasn't even zipped up, nor did he have any gloves on. Nor a scarf. It was just Dog Man running, in his uniform, with an unzipped coat. He made a screechy half in front of the lab, which had been covered in snow, as well as the ground: it had started to snow again.

Dog Man put his hood up, and went to open the door. It was unlocked, and someone had shovelled the snow out the way so it was easier to open. They must be here! Dog Man thought. He opened the door and went inside. He could hear the TV playing a movie, which 80-HD was probably watching, as it wasn't a kid's movie.

"Do you think Papa and Dog Man are ok?" He heard Li'l Petey ask. Dog Man took off his boots, and rushed to the living room "I'm here!" Dog Man introduced.
"Dog Man!!" Li'l Petey exclaimed. He went and hugged the half-human half-dog. Dog Man hugged back. "Your ok!" The kitten smiled, and that made Dog Man's insides feel warmer.
"I'm ok.. yeah.. now switch the channel onto the news channel: Sarah's doing the news about last night. You better see it," Dog Man ordered.

80-HD turned the channel to the news channel, where indeed Sarah was there, at the blocked off road doing, again, a live news report. "This is Sarah Hatoff with a live news update: I have found out that the person getting kidnapped last night was.." she paused. It was like she new Li'l Petey and Dog Man were watching. "Was who?" Li'l Petey asked the screen. Dog Man gulped. "P..Petey the cat."

Li'l Petey dropped the crayon which was in his paw. He felt like the world stopped moving; A volcano erupted; a tsunami hit the city; the one he loved the most died. What if Petey DID die?

"Papa.. I.." Li'l Petey sniffed, as he felt a tear roll down his cheek. Dog Man came and hugged him, but the kitten didn't hug back. He felt like he should have been the one who got kidnapped instead.

Meanwhile, at the FLEAS' old base, Crunky and Bub were back. "Boss.. there was no cake. 🥺" Crunky sobbed, as he pulled the same facial expression as the emoji.
"No wonder! You went down the wrong arm!" Piggy lied. This time he hid his smile. "Oh really? Silly us!" Bub laughed, whilst him and Crunky ran down to the other arm. When they were gone, Piggy smirked. "Anyway.. Darwin.. I want you too take Petey out and hide him somewhere. He's gonna be presumed dead.." Piggy explained, whilst laughing.

Darwin didn't. He took Petey out then put him back in the bag, and put the bag into a cargo box. "He's staying there," Darwin demanded. Piggy was mad, but how will he malfunction the brain? He had to stick with it. "Fine, that'll do.." He muttered.
"What did the lever even do?"
"Oh, it sent a little message.."

Outside, Sarah was interviewing Chief about the night and what happened. "And he and Petey fell to the ground, and were knocked out. I called the hospital and they fetched Dog Man; I don't know what happened to Petey though. I really, for some reason, can't remember," Chief explained. Sarah nodded, but her face was in a sad expression.
"I see.."

Dog Man, Li'l Petey and 80-HD were all snuggled together on the sofa, watching this. The explanation of what happened hurt Dog Man, even though he had witnessed doing it. Li'l Petey was the most hurt— he didn't even want to listen, as the explanation already burned his heart. The little kitten covered his ears and started to cry. 80-HD and Dog Man saw this, and started to hug him.

"Shh.. It's ok.. he's gonna be ok.." Dog Man comforted. Was he though? He thought.