THE DANGERS OF ISOLATION

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When I woke up, I found myself over Ghost's sleeping body. Being hugged from underneath as I lifted myself up to check the time. 2:34 in the morning. My eyes widened when it suddenly hit me. I did things with Ghost last night... the Ghost

A look of panic rinsed over my face as I looked down at his sleeping body, he was so peaceful, but would he still be this peaceful when he realizes what we have done?

We were drunk, I tried to rationalize, tipsy at least.

I got up to a sitting position on his lap, carefully trying to find a way to get off without waking him up. When I got a leg off the cot, the rest was easy as I slowly slipped my boots on and cautiously left his room. Walking out to see a few men still partying. I scanned around to find my cot, walking to it slowly as to not make a sound. When I was finally inside I took off my boots and dove into my cot, trying my hardest to fall asleep. Maybe, in the morning, I could convince myself this was all just a dream.

When I woke up, I decided to take a shower. Clean body, clean mind, I told myself. Washing every last bit of myself til it hurt.

I don't know why I was ashamed, it's normal for adults to do this sort of thing, but I guess it was the fact he was my brothers friend. War buddy in fact! But also because he was my superior, almost supervisor.

I left the shower and got ready for my day. Skipping my morning jog to get breakfast. I hiede Ghost's warning from last night and ate by myself. Catching a glimpse of John and others walk past me to grab their breakfast. Ghost wasn't there though, I guess he was eating by himself too.

I sat down at a booth and took a deep breath, you're overwhelmed and overreacting, just act normal! Nothing happened last night.

..nothing happened last night.

I looked at myself through the reflection of the window beside me.

Last night, Ghost won against John and after I finished my drink, I went to bed.

Yeah, that's what happened, I nodded to myself. Nothing else.

But soon enough, that lie would be tested as Ghost came over to my table and sat down in front of me. Pulling up his mask up to eat his sandwich. I looked around in confusion, Ghost's not eating in the hallway? He caught me looking as I didn't shift my eyes away, if I did, it would just be that more suspicious.

"Do you need something?" He asked.

I shook my head. "Just not used to seeing you eat out here."

He shrugged, "thought you would've liked the company."

I smiled, going back to eating my breakfast when a sudden bang stopped my eating. When I opened my eyes, I was met with blurry vision. Coughing filled my lungs as I tried getting the wind back into my airway.

I thought I had just choked on my food, but when I looked around, I found that I was on the floor now with bits of debris from the mess hall surrounding me. A bomb? I questioned. Turning onto my stomach to crawl away from the direction the blast came from when I felt a yank on my forearm. My body fell into the yank as I looked up to see Captain Price.

I furrowed my brows. "W-."

He silently shushed me with his finger before nodding over to the exit. I nodded back with realization hitting my face before he started leading the way. I kept looking around for people when I laid eyes on the rest of the 141. Unconscious. Including John.

Meanwhile Ghost was near my body after the blast. I reached over to touch his shoulder and shook him awake. It took a second but once he was up he quickly startled awake to see me holding a finger to my lips. Price gave him a cold stare and once he knew what our plan was, he swiftly got behind me. Keeping crouched as we used the tables as cover.

But when there was an open gap between a table and another, we got nervous. Quickly going one by one to get across. Taking a sigh of relief when no one saw us. There was another gap across from us a few feet away when we held our heads up high. Doing what we just did to get across again. But only this time, we actually did get caught. Well.. I did.

I was in the middle of passing when a hand came out from the fog. Lifting me by my neck as I struggled to be let go.

"Well well well, aren't you a cutie?" A male's voice echoed.

Making another man's voice come out of the walkie on his chest. "-this isn't a dating site solider. Just hurry up and kill the ones you find, they'll be irrelevant sooner or later."

Shepard.

My blood ran cold as I watched the man turn off his walkie. "I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that." He whispered. Chuckling under his breath. Reaching to touch my boob when the two men I was with finally stood up to cover me. But it wasn't really needed as I used his now extended hand to go full cockroach on his ass. Sliding in and out of his grasp to get around his neck and shoulders. Grabbing his chin and the back of his head to twist his neck a so comfortable way. Once he was down, I was able to grab his gun, grenades and knives. Giving the gun to Price and the knives to Ghost. Keeping a knife and grenades to myself. I gave them dirty looks as I whipped back around, kinda pissed they didn't help sooner.

I knew I could handle it, but seriously? We're supposed to be a team. And how could I trust them now?

I walked into the dust to turn on the fan. Leaving us faced with five other men standing in our way to get to Soap and Gaz.

I took out the one closet to me with a shank and stab in the neck as Ghost and Price went to town with the others. Once they finished we collectively walked over to the rest of the crew who were now..gone.

I exhaled in frustration and worry as I looked around for my brother. Not finding him of course.

"It's clear, let's head out." Price instructed.

"Roger that." Ghost replied.

I stayed quiet, still looking for John. But when I realized there was nothing to look for, I took another sigh and responded. "Roger."

Turning to leave with the two men that I had previously thought had my back.