A strong bronzed arm reached through the hanging clothes in the dark closet and slowly pulled off the headphones on a little boy. The headphones were playing a loud white noise. "[Huh, smart parents to use these.]" The Officer thought.
He looked at the boy huddling in the closet and crouched down to his height, "Hey buddy, are you okay? Come with me, I'll bring you someplace warm, and we can get you out of this closet."
An innocent looking child of 4 or 5 years lifted his head at him and warily asked, "Where's my mom and dad? Who are you? They said they would come and get me after counting to 100. I can't really count to 100, but I think I've been counting for more than that!"
Staring into the child's eyes, the police officer felt his heart tear apart. With a quick glance behind him, he could see the bloody room scattered with bits of skin, blood, and bone. The bodies mutilated and tore into. A righteous fury and a vow formed in his heart. "[I, Police Captain Wallace, will capture these fiends before dawn.]"
Turning back to the boy he saw him trying to peak around and see into the room, obviously looking for his parents. He quickly blocked his view with his body, and ashamed that he was about to lie he said, "Woah, woah, I'm Captain Wallace, and you won't believe this, but your parents have changed hiding spots, and they want you and I to find them instead. Put this cloth over your eyes and I'll bring you to the new area where your family is playing the game."
"Really? Are you sure? That doesn't sound like them." Glancing about with a fair amount of confusion and hesitation. The shaggy haired child finally agreed to allow Captain Wallace to carry him out of the room with the cloth over his eyes. Blindfold secure, the little boy slowly became excited for the new game, although he was curious why the room smelled so bad as they left.
With the boy in his arms Captain Wallace made his way through the house and down the porch steps towards the flashing cop cars and trucks. He grouped up with four other officers standing next to three police vehicles.
Taking the tone of a commanding officer he said, "Sergeant Rhodes, take this young boy with you to HQ and get child protection services called asap. Officer Bridget and Sergeant Sarah, you called for backup, yes?"
"Yes captain, I'll leave at once." Taking the child from Captain Wallace's arms Sergeant Rhodes jogged to the police truck and started making his way down the gravel road. Wallace then turned to his other people as he awaited their answers.
"Captain we've called them but due to how far into the woods this house is the closest officers are over two hours away." Officer Sarah reported, "The FBI is closer but they're still 45 minutes by helicopter."
"Damn…we can't wait for backup. This is the closest we've come to capturing these cultists. We are going into the woods now. If we let this trail go cold, who knows how many more people are going to die. Everybody full kit, you have 8 minutes!" Captain Wallace barked. Turning on a dime Wallace went to the rear of his police truck and popped the trunk. Reaching in and opening his safe he grabbed his trusty baton, and shotgun. "Officer Patty! Come over here, help me put on my protection, and let's get you kitted out." Wallace said turning to look at his ride a-long.
"Yes Ca-Captain!" stuttered the Officer Patty.
Facing his final officer, Captain Wallace looked him over. He was a young man barely out of the academy and not a hair on his face, or his head for that matter. A genetic disorder he kept telling everyone, not that that had stopped the occasional joke or two about it.
"How are you doing Patty, I understand this is more than what we had talked about for today." Wallace asked.
"Well sir-uh Captain, it's a bit more than I was ready for, but I think I'm doing okay." Patty said as he was cinching the protection in place
"Now that's good to hear boy. How did the task I assigned you go? Also I'm good let's get yours on next." Wallace stated.
"Well, I-I was looking around and found two paths they took. It seems as if they split up." Patty stammered.
"Hmm, impressive indeed. That new academy training sure is something ain't it. Good work Patty." Wallace finished up the touches on Patty's gear. "Alright let's go get the ladies and get them caught up to speed."
Wallace grabbed his baton and attached it to his belt. With his shotgun in hand, Captain Wallace and Officer Patty walked over and joined Officer Bridget and Sergeant Sarah.
"Officer Patty go ahead." Wallace motioned.
"Yes Captain. I went into the backyard of the house and saw torn fabric on the top of a fence post. I walked around and shined my light towards the woods and saw two blood trails and sets of tracks that went separate directions. One North, and the other Northwest."
Nodding his head and giving his thanks Wallace turned and said, "Lethal force is allowed, and truthfully; within our group, it is enforced. I will take on any heat we get for using this and considering how awful that room was it looks to be the serial killers Valarie, and Johansson. Everyone be careful, we know they have a massive fighting mutt so be wary of that." Wallace looked around, "Officer Patty you're with me. Officer Bridget and Sergeant Sarah, you are together. Any questions?"
"No sir!" said the group.
"Good. Standard sweep formation, and if you find anything, do not engage, fire a flare and the group will meet up, and if you engage kill first and capture second. Those fiends don't deserve to live." With a cold glint in his eyes, Captain Wallace dispersed the group.
With a plan set the two groups of officers started to crunch their way through the woods and fallen leaves on the ground. Each person trailing the blood trails and tracks with nothing more than the flashlights and the full moon above their head.
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"Hey Captain…why are you so dedicated on finding these people? I mean I get that we should chase after them because of them committing murder and it's our job, but these guys have killed over a dozen people and 5 other officers. Aren't you scared?" whispered Patty.
With a side glance at his partner he could tell he wasn't asking totally out of ignorance, but rather fear and curiosity. "Well, what we're doing here tonight isn't just stopping murderers or preventing more murders. What we are doing is bringing justice to those who have lost their lives and loved ones. Bringing closure to everyone that has suffered these past four months from these serial killers. That's why we should be stopping them…and as to why I'm doing it? It's simply because I know that I am the right person to bring justice to those that need it."
Stopping in his tracks at hearing such sound faith, officer patty could see the broad shoulders of his captain leading the way in the darkness. Each step his captain took forward shook away that little bit of fear that was in his heart.
"Cap-."
"AWOOOOOO." Bursting from the foliage to the left of Captain Wallace, a massive beast slammed into him knocking both to the ground and out of sight.
"D*mn it!" Barely holding the massive beast away from his face with its jaws snapping shut inches from his face, he was just able to get a grip on it and threw it away. Jumping to his feet he scanned for his gun and found it a couple feet to his right.
Taking a step towards his shotgun he froze at the cracking of branches to his left. Without hesitation he whipped his baton out and swung in a controlled manner striking a spiked baseball bat and forcing it to miss him by inches.
Seeing a wicked mask in front of his face decorated with fresh blood, fury ignited in his heart he struck a quick jab with his left hand cracking the mask and knocking the assailant to the ground.
Catching his breath, he turned to face the beast when it crashed into him again this time with its jaws wrapped firmly around his forearm.
Searing pain assaulted his mind while hot blood dripped onto his face. Losing the baton in the second crash he reached for his final weapon. A personalized revolver that had a peculiarity to it. It was engraved with the word Justice on it.
Putting the barrel against the thrashing beast he unloaded all 6 of the bullets into its chest before it was finally put to rest.
Pushing the beast off of him, he attempted to get up when he saw a man standing above him with a wicked smile and crazed eyes holding his spiked club above his head. A strangled scream escaped the man's mouth, and the club whistled down, but before he could smash Wallace's head in three clear shots rang through the night striking him right in the side and causing the club to smash the dirt next to him.
With labored breathes and no time to think Captain Wallace reached behind him and yanked the assailant's leg out from under him bringing him crashing to the ground. With practiced moves Wallace mounted the man and with his monstrous physique he threw four devastating punches with each one blooding the man's face and loosening teeth.
After the fourth punch Wallace knew the man's life was over or at least quickly coming. Jerking his head up and looking around he saw Officer Patty laying on his back with blood pooling around his head and a gun in his hand.
Scrambling to his feet he slogged his way over, "No, no, no! Patty get up, you can't give up yet!" Ripping a piece of his shirt off he placed it on his head attempting his best at stopping the bleeding from happening
"Ugh, Captain what's going on. I can't see anything. It's so dark." Whimpered Patty.
"Shhhh, don't speak you'll waste your energy, just stay here and recover. Everything's gonna be okay." A shudder went through his body as he saw the jagged crack on his head. White bone shards and blood pooled on the ground. It's amazing that Patty was even able to save his life.
Struggling to lift his head, but not even able to get it off the ground Patty smirked, "Ca-captain…I don't think I'm going to make it, but I-I want to say today's been an honor working with you. E-Even if it's just been this little bit." Patty's words started to scramble and become incoherent, his eyes started to flutter and they slowly started to stop.
With bloody fingers on his pulse, and feeling the heart's final thumps, Captain Wallace sat in solace of the brave young man. "[I'm going to have to tell his parent I got their son killed.]"
"Officer Patty, you've truly done the duty of an Officer. There hasn't been an officer as fine as you in our department in years. Thank you for your service and thank you for saving my life." Glancing at his face one last time, he could've sworn that there was a hint of a smile playing at his lips.
With his silent vigil over he rose and retrieved Justice, the baton, and the shotgun. Locked and loaded once again he walked to the corpse of the man bleeding all on the ground. Officer Patty's picture-perfect shots had ripped through the de-masked man's chest giving him that little bit of time to save his life.
Knowing that at least one of the murderers were killed brought a smile to his face, quickly replaced with a frown, because the price for just one was too much for Captain Wallace.
"I guess it's time to go get the other one. Question is how am I supposed to find em."
As if his prayer was answered a flare soared into the sky not too far away from him. A grim smile graced his face before settling into a determined look. He took off at a brisk pace, and if anyone could see him right now, they would see a man that would not be easily trifled with.