The search was on as the group scattered to find their missing mammal. It was hard enough to find him in a crowd filled with animals due to the festivities. Luckily Raphael was able to scout around when he was busy with his performers. He had just called Martin, informing him that there was no suspicious characters or any activity occurring at the moment.
"Alright. Thanks Raphael." Martin hung up and used his com to call in Randal.
"Randal, see anything yet?" Martin spoke in his com as the wolf and his friend looked around.
"Negative," Randal responded, "there's no activity here. How about you?"
"Same here."
"Maybe we're not looking in the right place."
"Well, keep looking. We'll call if there's anything." Martin dispatched and walked towards Sapphire. She was currently looking out in the open area, where there was nothing but the lavish, tall trees and plants. A riverbed was in front of her, the water flowing freely as it trickled when hitting the rocks. The human hummed to herself.
"You seem out of it," Martin stood next to her.
"Oh, just thinking..."
"By the way, what you did earlier was impressive. How did you know the cases were connected?"
"Actually, I use the method of deduction."
"Really? That's quite old school."
"Old school can be the new," she smiled at him, "you see when I gave the photo to Oswald, his expression was depressed, regrettable even...meaning that he knew exactly who he was because he himself was there at the scene. Also, I noticed how his right paw had a dented claw. That proves what he said about picking the lock was true, eliminating him as a suspect and was actually a victim. I try to use all my senses, so I won't overlook any little detail."
"Wow...you're amazing," Martin smiled, "a genius like you shouldn't need the test and just become an officer already."
"You know that's not how things work," she smirked, "no matter what or who you are, its not fair if everyone was treated differently. Whether I pass the test or not is their decision."
"Well I think you will...so far you convinced me you can handle your own."
"Whatever you say," she laughed, "anyway, while you were talking with Randal, I just thought of something. When Oswald said that he was in a dark and wet place...he might of meant that he was in a cave."
"A cave...of course! Why didn't we think of that? There should be some out of town."
"Great. Then I guess we're off," Sapphire jumped over the rail and landed in the shallow water.
"Wait, what? W-wait a minute! Sapphire?" Martin followed her as she took the lead, heading to the off-road path. Martin caught up to her.
"Where are we going?"
"There might be a cave off road if we follow this path." They walked on the path for quite a while, and all was quiet as they went deeper into the forest. Just then, they hear a noise.
"That sounds like water," Martin had his ears in front. Soon enough, they were in front of a waterfall. The rush of the water falling down to the stream, hitting the rocks in a violent sound. Sapphire examined it, and then took pictures of the waterfall. She tapped on Martin's arm and caught his attention.
"Over there," she and the tiger saw an entrance, a cave behind the waterfall.
Meanwhile, Randal and Daniel were in the crowds during the festival. Just then, Daniel received a call from his com. He picked it up and spoke into it.
"This is Officer Blizzard..."
"Officer Blizzard, this is Officer Hopps calling. Over."
"Hopps, what is it?"
"We found something that our suspect dropped when escaping. I'm sending a message to your phone."
BEEP
The polar bear picked his phone up and swiped it open. When he looked at it, his eyes shot open.
"Judy...what does this mean...?"
"What's wrong?" Randal looked at Daniel's phone, "...what the..." On the screen, it was a photo of Sapphire. Her face had a red circle around it.
"Why is there a photo of her? What's going on?"
"I'm not sure..." said Judy, "we're heading back to the station. You and Sapphire need to leave, now." She dispatched after that. Randal pulled out his com and contacted Martin.
"Martin, can you hear me..over...you and Sapphire need to come back..." nothing came from the other end.
"Martin, come in...over..."
"He's not picking up his cell," Daniel tried calling him, but just went to voice message.
"Where are they?"
Sapphire and Martin walked right in. The water dripping down the stalactites, and then dropping on the stalagmites. Further and further they went into the cave, the darkness filling the area. Suddenly, they heard a faint groan. It became louder as the two came across the corner of the cave. They saw an open area all lit with lamps hanging on the walls. Inside, there was heavy equipment; metal crates and a desk filled with chemical equipment. Across from it was where the faint groan was coming from. An antelope was cuffed on a lab table, while two leopards were wearing lab coats. Sapphire took pictures of the place and then pictures of the leopards. One had a needle and was pushing the liquid into a chemical tube. The other was mixing chemicals with another substance.
"What are they doing?" Martin whispered.
"I'm not sure..." she whispered back.
"Enough already," a male voice echoed. A big cat entered from the other side. He had on black clothing, including his coat and hat. Only two things that differed from everything, the paws and the mask. His paws were covered with metal gloves, while his mask was shaped into a metallic feline skull with emerald eyes. Sapphire took a photo of him and kept an eye on his movement.
"We have plenty. Fetch the other one." The leopards walked into the other cavern, leaving the masked feline with the antelope.
"Wh...what are... you doing...to me?" the antelope managed to utter those words.
"Don't worry," the cat ran his claw on the table, "the pain will slowly die...but get used to it. We still have use for you later." The leopards came back, dragging a mammal along the way. They unhooked the antelope and replaced him with a cougar. One put the antelope back into his cell, while the other cuffed the cougar down on the table. The mammal struggled to get free.
"Martin, its him," Sapphire recognized him in the photo.
"You! What are you doing?" Tony growled, "what the—" Suddenly, he was injected with the needle and the leopard slowly took some of his blood.
"Deal with this while I tend to some, important matters," the masked stranger left the scene, leaving his henchmen to work.
"Martin we have to do something."
"I'm thinking...oh, okay..." Martin whispered to Sapphire, which she nodded in agreement.
As the leopards were occupied, both Sapphire and Martin snuck up from behind and knocked them out. They hurried themselves to Tony and uncuffed him.
"Tony Clawston...I'm Officer Saber," Martin put his paws on the cougar's shoulders, "this here is Lovell...are you okay?"
"Y-yeah...I'm fine."
"Are there any more mammals down here?"
"Ngh...there are. There's about twenty-three of us, including me."
"Its just like you said," Martin looked at her, "all the missing mammals are here."
"Martin, call the others. I'll take care of Tony." Martin picked up his com while Sapphire supported the cougar.
"Randal this is Martin, do you copy?" He waited for a reply, but nothing cam out but static.
"Shoot...there's no signal..."
"L...Lovell, was it?" Tony put a paw on her arm, "you have to get out..."
"Don't worry, we'll get you and the others too. We just need to—"
"No, you don't understand," he whispered harshly, "he's after you."
"...Who? What are you talking about?"
"The guy in the mask...I heard him saying about wanting you. He's gonna do the same thing to you...like he did to the others."
"I...I don't..."
"He's right my dear."
"!?" The three turned to see the masked feline standing behind them.
"I'm sorry to say this..." he put his claws out, "I can't let you leave here alive."
Without thinking, Sapphire grabbed a metal pole and charged at him.
"Sapphire!"
"Martin get out of here! Take Tony with you!" She kept swinging the metal object, pushing the feline further away.
"I'm not leaving you here!"
"He's injured! You have to get him to the others! I'll hold him off! Just go!"
"...Dammit!" Martin swung Tony's arm around his shoulders. The two ran as fast as they could. Sapphire swung the pole as it clanked on the stranger's metal gloves.
"Who are you!? And what have you done to the other victims!?"
"Now now," he said, "I don't want to give away the big secret." He swung his claws at her as she kept dodging. Both their weapons clanked with each impact. Not one of them was giving up. Just then, the feline used his tail to grab and throw the pole away from her hands. He did a leg swoop, causing her to fall on her back. Sapphire groan as she slowly sat up with her hands. She glared at the masked mammal.
"You know...when I heard news about your arrival, I was quite surprised. You look just like your parents..."
"How do you know my parents?"
"Oh...that stubborn buffalo never told you? I'm the one who ended their lives..."
"..." Her eyes widened in shock.
"For you my dear...I have other plans in store..." His shadow loomed over her body, as she was too stunned to move. She felt fear in her heart when staring at his eyes.
"Martin!" Randal and Daniel were running down the path, where they found Martin and Tony.
"Daniel, call an ambulance."
"Right," the polar bear picked up his com, "this is Officer Blizzard...we need an ambulance...Rainforest district..."
"How bad is it?"
"Minor bruises, but I think he'll survive," Martin handed Tony to Randal, "the other mammals are still in the cave."
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHH~~!" a loud screech was heard.
"Sapphire!" Martin ran back on the path.
The masked feline kept staring at Sapphire. Pieces of fabric were on the ground, her upper left arm exposed from her torn uniform. Sapphire grit her teeth as she shut her eyes and groaned in pain. Three slash marks were embedded on her arm, deep and showed the red liquid forming.
"This is a warning Lovell," he turned his head to look at his henchmen, who were packing up the equipment. They rolled them off and left from the other exit. The iron masked feline looked back at Sapphire. She glanced up and saw the emerald eye sockets glowing at her.
"I will spare the others and leave them here. I have most of my resources," he began to walk away, "but this will be the last time I go easy on you. When the time comes, I'll find you again. You will be my ultimate prize in this little game."
"...Who are you...?" she croaked
"I had a name once...but you may call me, the Iron Beast. So, miss Lovell...I must bid you farewell...but don't worry..." He walked backwards as he bowed to her.
"Starting now...the chase begins..." Just like that, he disappeared into the darkness.
Sapphire slowly breathed, and her vision was starting to blur. She could hear someone calling her name, but her eyes were on the other side, where the mysterious criminal escaped. Then within a few seconds, she blacked out and drifted into a sleep.
