THE DANGERS OF ISOLATION

Can You Be Quiet?

|Y/N|

A few weeks later, Ghost and I were on our way to a mission in Mexico.

Valeria wasn't convicted of any crimes in Mexico, so the US military were still wary about interfering with the cartel. Especially after the Mexican special forces received one of their k-9's heads in the mail the day Valeria was released. The scary part was that the cartel wasn't even to blame for that. It was the locals. Infuriated that their precious "El Sin Nombre" was put off the streets for so long.

I looked out the window of the plane and started scoping out the area, not that there was much to scope. Most of it was clouds. Ghost loaded his hand-held as I looked forward, trying to close my eyes to take a small nap, but ultimately failing. I groaned in annoyance. Shifting to see if any other positions helped. When it didn't, I let myself daydream.

Ghost kept loading his mag, the clicking interfering with my nap.

Is it too much to ask for a small moment of peace?

I shot him a glare. "Some of us are trying to sleep Lieutenant." He shot me a glare back.

Putting his handheld away as he finally stopped loading it. "Snappy today." He teased with a straight face.

I rolled my eyes. "I'm just tired."

He looked around the ship as he saw that most of the others were deep asleep. "Are you just tired?.." he questioned. "Or are you still-."

"You can stop now." I demanded with a strict tone as I got up from my seat to walk across the holding area. Sitting away from him on the other side. Staring him down as I got comfortable. And when I finally found the sweet spot, I closed my eyes, and dosed to sleep.

When I opened my eyes again I was met with debris and ash falling from the sky. I tried getting up when I was stopped by an arm over me. Ghost.

"Stay still." He whispered before dabbing his fingers in a pool of blood next to him. Rubbing the blood onto my forehead as he whispered. "They don't know we're alive yet.. close your eyes."

I took one final deep breath before closing my eyes and leaning onto the floor.

Ghost stayed up and kept watch, holding onto his handheld when he heard footsteps. Once he knew people were close, he put himself on me. Taking his mask off before acting deceased. I guess it made it more believable.

The men walked close to us. I kept my eyes shut. Ghost looked asleep, as if this was already second nature to him.

The men needed to hurry up, I was already losing air. The men turned around and spoke to each other, and when we were sure they weren't going to hear us, we took a small breath. Exhaling before inhaling sharply as they suddenly turned back around. My heart pounded when they stood directly in front of us. A shot rang in my ears when I opened my eyes. Finding myself back in the plane. I was heavy breathing, almost sweating as I realized it was a dream.

I looked around the ship and landed on Ghost. His eyes staring deeply into me in almost a worried expression. I looked back at him with a scolding look before excusing myself to the restroom. I needed some time to clear my head. Once in the bathroom, I started washing my face. Rubbing my eyes to refocus. At least this nightmare wasn't about John...

I stared at myself in the mirror, waiting for the Erika moment I've been waiting for. But it never came.

When I was done, I opened the door, only to find a chest in my face. I looked up to find a hooded figure with eyes holes.

My jaw dropped, my eyes widened and a concerned look dusted my face.

He looked embarrassed, almost flustered, as I finally noticed how fucking big he was.

"Sorry.. just needed to use the restroom.." his deep voice grumbled in a timid tone.

I let him use the bathroom as I started walking back to my seat. Still with a confused expression on my face. Once I sat down, I started feeling tired again. Still thinking about the absolute giant I had just met, I opened my eyes to face another giant. Ghost, who was still staring at me from across the cabin.

I was curious if he knew the man I had just ran into, so I motioned him over. He gave a little attitude, but soon enough, Ghost was sitting next to me.

"What's with the tall guy?" I whispered.

"Which one?" He questioned back.

"The one with the hood, and streaks near his eyes.."

He looked around and landed his eyes on the bathroom as the man walked out.

He looked back at me. "That's just König."

"You know him?"

"Mhm, he's here on the sex trafficking charges."

"Valeria is a sex trafficker?"

"No, another rival gang has come out against Valeria's rule and they're the sex traffickers."

I gave an 'oh' before putting my attention back on the window. This time, watching as the moon faded behind a few clouds.

I exhaled as I leaned back. Crossing my arms and tilting my head up to see if I could finish my nap when a sudden, loud crash startled my eyes open. I looked over to find that one of the men had dropped their ammo all over the floor as everyone on the ship started laughing. I rolled my eyes trying to sleep again when the laughing became louder.

Now that the men were awake, they were as chatty as ever.

I scoffed when a hand entered my field of view with earplugs.

I huffed a small laugh. "I thought you didn't like it when I sleep too much..."

He stared down at me. Not changing his expression.

I sighed with a soft smile before taking them and putting them in my ears. Smiling wider when they started blocking out the sound. I leaned back and soon enough I fell asleep.

|GHOST|

We had to come up with a plan, Price said he would tell us about his when we landed but I don't really think he has one. Hell, we don't even know if they're even in Mexico and Y/N's starting to lose it.

... could I have done something more to help her?

Looking at her now, she seems on edge, distant, bleak... But she wasn't like this the morning of the attack. Only after the man had grabbed her.. is she mad at me?