DECODE ~ GHOST

24| Shadow

Blood dripped from the cut on my forehead, it trickled down the crooked bridge of my nose until it dripped onto my lips, and I couldn't stop shaking. Rain drowned the SAS compound, the drains struggled to keep up with the demand of the water the clouds cried, and resulted in flooding. Rain is good, it'll cover your tracks. The words Ghost had spoken to me in Las Almas rang around my head as I thought of everything that had just happened. The blood on the floor was just the start of it, because now I was truly alone, and I had no backup. No one here to save me or tell me shitty jokes. This was Do or Die. There was no option to be captured or killed anymore. This was it, everything I'd been fighting for led to this moment.

My eyes struggled to focus, the cut from my eyebrow stung too much to the point where I wondered if it had done more than superficial wounding. Maybe it had cracked my eye socket. I couldn't see straight out of one eye, and now my list of injuries looked pathetic. Partially deaf in an ear, going blind in an eye, my stupid fucking left leg and all of the injuries it had sustained, my heart and how it had been broken over and over again. It was too much. In fact, if you saw my medical file without seeing my name or rank, you'd think I was in my 80s. Not nearly 26.

I wrapped my arms around my bare shoulders as I sat not too far from the mess hall, I was just far enough away to remain out of sight, but it was still within a hundred metres. If I had to run for cover, that would be my only cover available. My barracks were too far away, and my car was the other end of the compound, but what then? Drive off and leave everyone in whatever state they were in?

And then I thought of him, of Simon.

Breaths turned to sobs, turned into gasps for air as I struggled and heaved for breath. The air in my lungs felt acidic, the cold gas entered my lungs and left in the form of unspoken bubbles of speech as it plumed before my face. I had to lower my body temperature if I wanted to go unseen. I was too warm, too visible. If I wanted to survive tonight, I'd have to dig in deep to Fury, I couldn't let a sliver of Spencer Thompson out.

Simon needed me. Task Force 141 needed me, because right now, as scared as I was, I was their only hope of surviving tonight, too. Oh, Simon.

"I watched you fucking die." Simon spat, his large stature blocked me from the man in front of us. He looked ready to fight, his shoulders were squared and his fists were clenched by his sides. Whoever this was, was a big, big threat. "And, I'll make sure you stay dead this time." he threatened. He was so brave when it came to staring death down in the face, but I didn't know the first thing about him. I didn't know if he had any family, if he had kids. I didn't know what he'd been through to remain a cold, calculated killer.

From the corner of my eyes, a patch I recognised all too well appeared. Shadow Company. I shoved past Simon to reach for the soldier with the outstretched weapon, and my hands shook as I took unsteady steps across to him. My hands were outstretched for the soldier, and when I grabbed his weapon, I heard Simon yell after me.

His voice was... Afraid. "Run!" he screamed at me, "Go, I'll find you!" he promised as he got shoved to the side by someone I never thought I'd see again in this lifetime.

My palms gripped the wet dirt under my knees, and I started to smear it over all of my exposed skin. In the field, we had camouflage cream, that was just like a contour palette for military soldiers. But we weren't prepared for this, and I knew mud would do the trick if I couldn't get something to cover my skin with. I'd left my bedroom window open, that much I know, and my black hoodie was somewhere in there. There must have been some clothes in there I could change into, but it was too risky. If I made a noise, I'd die.

Think, Fury, THINK!

I survived Las Almas. Simon's voice had guided me through it, but I knew he'd taught me some valuable things, things that would, no doubt, save my life tonight. And, maybe, it would save someone else's too.