Chalice of Revenge (Ghost X Ruby Laswell)

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"While we wait on Price, Kate, and Gaz to gather intel in Spain, you all can disperse at a safe house until then. Fuel up, get rest- we have a long fight ahead of us," Grave orders. "Just stay low and fall back; we don't want to draw unneeded attention."

We all look to each other, then back to the video.

"Roger," Ghost and I say in unison. We look to each other and Graves hangs up.

"What now?" Soap asks. "It's not like we can exactly go out to a bar and have a few drinks to catch up," he says sarcastically.

"We head back to the safe house, try digging up some information on those missiles." Alejandro says. "Or better yet, El Sin Nombre."

He starts the car, starting to drive it down the street. I look across the street, seeing dead bodies laid out with white cloth over them spelling "El Sin Nombre was here." What did these innocent people do to deserve such a brutal fate? Not even a proper burial, just.. laying there to rot amongst other corpses in the street. I see a few basketballs rolling down the street, unoccupied from children's hands. I frown, knowing there were several children under those sheets and spray paint. They were some sort of fucked up political power message- it wasn't right.

It wasn't a joke. It was reality. Las Almas was the definition of a fucking graveyard.

——

We finally reach the safe house, my mind in a heavy fog. After seeing that shit.. yeah, I did need the break. Sure I've seen worse but usually my missions were too in then out to comprehend the whole thing, let alone see it.

"I have an idea," Soap says as he hops out of the truck. He trots over to a couch.

"Not now, Johnny," Ghost says as he turns around. I look over to him as he unhooks his heavy duty mask, replacing it with a baklava with a skull imprint on it. He turns around, leaving me to my imagination. I could see the same thing, except I now knew the shape of his eyes. They were big, and dark. They almost looked haunted- and I out of all people know what haunted eyes look like. But still empty and cold.

"Uh- Johnny?" I nervously turn to Soap, confused.

"Only he gets to call me that," he gives Ghost a warning look followed by a smile.

I sit down, leaning against the concrete wall looking up at the flickering lights. "What is the idea, Soap?"

He rubs his hands together. "You think I wouldn't come prepared, huh?" He goes over to the truck, pulling out a black bag clinking with bottles.

"What are we, in high school? Escuela? Buenos noches, amigos!" Alejandro laughs as he walks out with Rudolfo. I laugh at his remark, but slowly see Soap's smile fade.

I look over to Ghost, giving him the "great now we have to" look.

"C'mon Soap, sit." Ghost says hesitantly. Ghost takes a seat in the far corner about five feet away from Soap and I, while Soap sits directly across from me.

"How the hell did you pass that with Laswell?" I laugh as he pulls out the bottles and rolling them to us.

"I, uh... hid them per say. Don't tell." He winks at me and I laugh, hitting the bottle too against the ground and seeing beer foam out of the top.

I look over to Ghost who toys with the bottle in his hands. I look over to Soap.

"He gonna drink?" I furrow my eyebrows.

Soap shakes his head. "Nope. For as long as I've known the bastard, he won't show his face- he's faceless. He will do it in his own solitary." Soap groans as he sits back, sipping on the bottle.

I shrug and twist the brown glass in my hand, trying to replay the day through my head. I felt as if my whole world around me was gray.

"You okay, LT?" Soap looks to me, his hand branching out. I recoil a bit, trying to bundle up.

"Trying to be, honestly." I sigh as I set the bottle beside me. I look over to Ghost who wasn't participating but intently listening. "But it's Bull to let it ruin my performance on field. We all have our fair share of trauma now, don't we?" I scoff as I suck my teeth.

"Yeah, but- Red... you saw..-"

"I know what I saw." I put a hand up to stop him. "And unfortunately I cannot reverse it. I have enough scars for reminder. All I can do is wait for it all to fade." I swig the drink, downing it and rolling the bottle away from me.

"They just don't.. fade. You know that as much as I do." Soap looks up at me through his head being down as he fiddles with the bottle.

I stand up, rubbing my hands on my thighs. "They do. When you die." I let out a small laugh. "I'm unsure about you guys, but I signed up for possible death and killing shit to save our country, not for memories and friendship bracelets." I nod to Ghost and Soap, leaving the area. A part of me was about to detonate on them when they didn't deserve it.

I found a corner that was secluded away from everyone. I take my duffel bag, sliding it underneath my head and closing my eyes. My head was spinning- I wasn't a lightweight, but I was stressed to the max. And this mission would help me distract myself.