Chalice of Revenge (Ghost X Ruby Laswell)

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"Clear!" Ghost waves us into an abandoned school, with me and Soap following behind. It only felt courteous to let the first lieutenant take this mission- I may also be in charge, but I had enough respect I suppose.

"Any sign of Hassan, LT?" He asks Ghost as he peers around a corner.

"Negative. Not yet." Ghost responds, crouching down.

I crouch over to him, loading my gun.

"How long?" Ghost asks.

I look over to him, my head about to stop operating. And I hoped it wasn't a personal question I would refuse to answer.

"How long..?" I repeat quietly aiming.

"How long have you been lieutenant, Laswell. Kate never seems to mention it." His British accent was thick and deep, making me wonder who he was under that stupid piece of thick plastic.

I sigh, standing up and leaning against the wall. "She doesn't mention it because she wants to protect me- didn't know I'd be this good at what I do, you know. 4 years.." I say as I bite the inside of my lip.

I look over to Soap who is stationed in a crouching position alongside the others. I peer around the wall with the scope.

No response.

"Movement 10 o'clock, LTs," Soap whispers.

"I'll take left," I aim and put the suppressor on the muzzle, taking a shot while Ghost takes the other. The guards drop down immediately, their life ceasing to exist.

"Drag their bodies, can't have evidence." Ghost says.

Soap and Alejandro run out into the room, taking the men by their feet and dragging them back to behind the wall.

"What now?" Alejandro asks.

"Town hall by the greenhouse- I spot a chopper to our 3; several guards, as if they're planning on flying Hassan out." Alejandro repeats as he looks through his googles.

"Shadow-1, greenhouse and town hall coverage." Ghost says info his vest walkie.

"Shadow-1 copy. Over,"

We all start to crouch run around the small town dodging the line or sight by going through bushes, behind brick walls, and frail buildings.

Through my scope I could easily spot guards talking and loading weapons into the chopper.

"Any sights?" Ghost asks me.

I peer through the left window, seeing slight movement and then a familiar bald headed man dressed semi-formal.

"Hassan is spotted, left wing of the building. I have a clear shot- we can't kill him?" I look to the rest of the group.

"No, Graves and Shepherd want intel of where he's getting those missiles and what he plans on doing with 'em," Soap says as he joins beside me. "But I wish," he scoffs.

I look out my scope again to see Hassan walk outside, towards the helicopter.

"Shadow-1, avoid any civilian causalities and take out those guards. Keep Hassan alive," Ghost speaks to the radar. "If things go south start to bomb while we run."

"Shadow-1, copy."

Within moments, the guards around Hassan drop like flies, causing us to run out and open fire on any person inside of the building. Hassan starts to book it in the opposite direction.

"I'll get him!" I yell. I throw down my heavy gun and whip out my pistol, running at full speed towards Hassan. I start to fire shots at the guards firing at me, successfully shooting a few down.

I run at my hardest, feeling my chest collapse in on itself. I feel acid come into my throat, but all I could do was keep running. I start to close distance on Hassan, and within moments I take a chance to launch myself forward.

I grab fabric, Hassan falling down with me face first on the ground. I manically laugh as I try to gather myself, trying to rummage through the leaves for my gun.

Shit, I can't find-

I feel cold metal up against my back, and I tense up. It was the barrel of a gun.

"Move or talk and I shoot, puta." I look around and see one of Hassan's men onto me. There was no way out of this struggle if I had no way to move without having a gaping hole blown through me. I look over at Hassan, who immediately gets up and starts booking it again. Fuck.

I close my eyes, waiting for the inevitable to happen.

Within seconds, the sound of a body hitting dry ground sounds. I open my eyes, seeing Ghost stand behind where he was standing. He lowers his gun, walking over to me.

"Almost, LT." His hand reaches out, and I reluctantly take it standing up.

"Almost fucking had him," I hiss as I look out into the wooded clearing.

"We'll get him." Ghost says short. "Just need everyone alive."

I look to him, looking him up and down. I guess I never truly realized how intimidating Ghost can be to some people- I was around military men so much, but Ghost was tall, muscular, and broad. He was the definition of the terminator in another skin.

"Uh... thanks.. for.. that.. But I didn't need it. We should get to the car and find Hassan's next move." I quietly say as I walk down the hill.

How embarrassing was that?