Simon "Ghost" Riley x Reader

Twelve

Smirking, you leaned to the side to exchange a quick glance with Ghost before you turned on your heel and disappeared inside the church that was located at the back of the graveyard.

His eyes followed you into the dark until you were all gone.

You couldn't help but think that he liked to have an eye on everything, almost like a control freak, without actually taking all the control.

He just wanted to know everything so that he was able to react properly if something went south.

Taking a deep breath, you ran a hand through your hair.

The other hand let the knife dance between your fingers. It was a good way to deal with weak nerves, but at the same time kept you on edge and your mind sharp.

That way there was no chance you would run into somebody without being able to slam a knife into their throat within seconds.

Echoes of your steps bounced off the naked stone walls.

This church was different from the one at the entrance.

It was cold, sinister even. Not a single candle lit the way.

The walls were clean and polished, not a single spiders web could be found on the statues that waited in the many niches.

However, what made you frown with a dark suspicion was the floor. It was covered in a layer of sand and dust.

If this place was so clean, a place for worship and prayers, why did no one take the time to sweep the floor as well?

It didn't make any sense to keep the benches, the decoration and the walls clean only for the floor to ruin everything.

It was stupid. Unless the dust was used to track down if somebody entered the place.

Your eyes lowered to the ground to take a better look.

And indeed, there they were. Faint footsteps.

All at once, you froze.

Holding your breath, you looked up to check your surroundings while listening if you could hear something.

Dull noises reached you.

A satisfied smirk lit up on your face.

"Bingo.", you chirped to yourself and moved in as slow as it was humanly possible for you. "Got you, fucker."

You squeezed yourself into a dark niche as you reached the end of the corridor that led right up to the churches main room.

Candlelight blinded your eyes for a moment.

The air warmed up and a strong smell of ashes filled your nose.

Whatever burned as an offering, it caused such thick smoke and a penetrant smell that you almost had to cough. Every breath scratched in your lungs.

Once on a mission, you had almost drowned. Water had filled your lungs and with every breath you had felt it rattle inside your body.

It had been a nerve wrecking feeling, the spawn of pure fear.

This smoke wasn't the same but it was close enough to make you remember that terrifying moment.

Tears of irritation blurred your vision as you stretched your neck to look around the corner.

There was an altar at the end of the room, right underneath a huge window with colourful glass. The picture wasn't religious, at least it didn't seem like it.

Instead, there was the crest of the Las Almas cartel, surrounded by candles and a halo.

A bit too self centred for your taste, but at least you could get behind the aesthetic purpose of it.

In front of the altar stood a man, while a hand full of others sat on the first row of benches to listen to him.

It was hard to tell from your angle if they were armed, but it did seem very likely considering that those men were all members of the cartel.

Otherwise, the man at the altar wouldn't have allowed them to be in his presence.

You weren't able to see his face, but the brightly coloured Hawaiian shirt he wore, combined with two hands decorated with golden rings, gave you a good idea.

Carefully, you slid back into your hiding spot and pulled out your communicator to inform the team.

"100 to 7-1, do you copy?", you asked in such a silent voice that you feared it wouldn't be audible.

A moment of silent hit you.

"I'm listening.", Soap's voice answered.

"Tone down a little, I'm right under the targets nose."

He hummed.

"Where's Ghost?", he asked in a lower voice.

You shrugged to yourself.

"I don't know. Left him outside to check the grounds."

"You shouldn't be there alone."

Annoyed, you frowned.

"Calm your big brotherly feelings, I'm alright.", you threw another glance around the corner. "I've got eyes on the target."

"Confirmed?"

"No. He didn't turn around yet."

"Good, now that you know where he is, go back and get reinforcement.", the impatience was audible inside Soap's voice. "Lt. will cover you."

You rolled your eyes.

"You always do this, Johnny.", you groaned. "I can handle my shit. No need for little spooky."

The tips of your fingers ran along the drawn blade of your knife.

"Don't make mistakes, 100.", Ghost's deep voice suddenly filled your ears. "I'm on my way."

Amused, you smirked.

"Lieutenant Riley.", you let your eyes wander through the shadows in hopes to find his white skull mask somewhere in the dark. "Long time no hear."

"Call me, Ghost, 100. Be there in ten."

"Can't guarantee for anything.", you glanced back at the altar. "Pablo celebrates the day. Is holding a preach or somethin'. If he wants to leave before your here, I'm taking him out."

"Stay put, 100.", Ghost insisted.

"Well then, I hope you run faster than you make friends.", you joked. "I'll be off. Talking's too loud. 100 over."

With those words you flipped the kill switch and let the radio slide back into the hidden pocket on the inside of your jacket.

The smell of smoke slightly faded.

All at once, a breeze of air chased through the large room.

A loud noise cut through the silence.

Alarmed, you glanced back to Pablo again, only to meet his angered gaze.

"Who's there?", he asked in Spanish.