Dark roots

Chapter 3

The early morning sun began to rise in Las Almas, making it uncomfortably warm. Ghost and Soap were on their way to meet back up with Alejandro near the gate of the base where multiple cars were waiting and ready to leave.

More marines gathered outside near the convoy, readying up to assist on the mission to find Hassan. Rudy took the wheel with Alejandro in the passenger seat, Soap and Ghost both sat in the back. 

The cars made their way through the city of Las Almas, making their way towards a cartel safehouse where Hassan had last been seen. On the way, Alejandro told them about the city, how it operated and about El Sin Nombre. Warning signs were carefully placed on the sidewalks, yet nobody seemed to talk about it. The streets were packed with playing kids but also soldiers. Alejandro explained how most of them are paid off by the cartel.

After a short drive, they arrived at the village across the river. They waited at the gate for everybody to gather before infiltrating the village in dead silence. The people in this village were working for El Sin Nombre and wouldn't hesitate to shoot back, so they had to be careful.

They moved up further into the village, making quick work of killing any hostiles in their way. Once they reached the large white building at the back, they stopped. Lots of people were inside, all of them shooting recklessly at the team.

After clearing the first house, they pushed further up. They moved silently through the streets, eliminating hostiles who had their guns aimed at them. The team managed to sweep through the village quick and swiftly. 

They reached a big white house at the end of the village. Two marines pushed in first, followed by Alejandro, Ghost, Soap and Rudy, eliminating the enemy. The team pushed up the stairs toward what seemed to be a bedroom. 

There was nobody in the room, but Soap noticed one of Hassan's coats hanging around the back of a chair, as well as some paperwork that still laid on the desk. Behind the desk, his signature flag was pinned against the wall. He was here. From the looks of it, they must have moved him recently.

The sound of vehicles approaching made the team stop and move up to the windows, only to see five armored trucks arriving. Soldiers came running toward the building, their guns pressed tightly against their bodies.

"Good, we have backup." Soap said, letting his guard down for a second.

"Negative. They are working for El Sin Nombre. They are here to protect Hassan," Alejandro explained before taking his own gun and aiming it toward the window.

"You want us to engage the Mexican army?!" Soap asked, shocked but still copying his movement and getting closer to the window.

The rest of the team quickly took cover behind a wall next to the window, peaking outside while the army came closer. Once they got close enough, Alejandro started to fire at them, and the rest soon followed after him.

Grenades were thrown into the building by the Mexican army. Alejandro, Soap, and Ghost fought off the army while Los Vaqueros made their way outside through a window at the back of the building leading toward a mountain. Once they were all clear, the others followed the team as they rushed down the mountain, trying to escape the army that was hot on their trail, hunting them like prey.

They continued to make their way down the mountain while still having to fight off the army. Bullets flying everywhere, the team had to take cover behind trees. They fought back, slowly making their way down the mountain, until they had to take cover again when the army got closer. They lost a few good men in the process. 

They came to a stop when they reached the end of the road. Pieces of stone crumbled down the cliff. There was no way to go, and the army was getting closer to them.