Safer With A Ghost | Simon "Ghost" Riley

Chapter 18

Alejandro's POV

As he stood in the hallway listening to Ghost, Soap and Gaz talk, anger spread in his chest. Walking into the kitchen, looking Ghost in his eyes, he spoke, "Ghost, what the fuck?" Meeting his stare, Ghost's body tensed before responding, "Alejandro, I.." interrupting Ghost, Alejandro raised his voice, "You realize how lucky you are, pendejo?" His brows were furrowed, and his eyes were dark as he continued, "You have Ivy, and you just want to leave her like that? Como nada? Meanwhile I have to bury the love of my life?" Ghost sighed as he looked down, "I'm sorry Alejandro, I really am, but it's just not possible for me and Ivy," he paused as he shook his head, "she's not safe with me..." "She's not safe without you either," Alejandro hesitated, "Valeria wasn't safe without me, and look what happened." A tear escaped his eye rolling down his face until hitting his trembling lips. Ghost looked at Alejandro with sympathetic eyes and nodded. "Ivy probably doesn't even want to see me anymore... she kicked me out of her room earlier." "Then make it right, Lt." Soap said as he put a hand on Ghost's shoulder. Alejandro spoke quietly, "Make it right," trying to hold back tears but failed, "before its too late." His voice cracked as the emotions took over.

Ivy's POV

Pacing around her room, Ivy fought the emotions that flooded down her face. Toxic thoughts had begun to bombard her mind. He doesn't want me anymore, so why should I stay here, around him for another night. Ivy's chaotic thoughts had taken over her rational thoughts. Ivy grabbed a bag from under the bed and silently began packing it. After throwing what she could into the bag, she opened the window in her room, and quietly crawled out, climbing into the tree that stood near it. Climbing down the tree, she landed on her feet and went silently around to the backyard where Toast was. Once she unhooked Toast's lead from the stake in the ground, she began running towards the road as quietly as she could, Toast running beside her. As they made it to the road, Ivy's feet kept moving as quickly as they could, blocking out the voice in her head telling her to go back. After running until her chest felt like it was going to implode, she stopped down the road a way away from the house, looking at her surroundings. Endless trees, and evenly endless darkness. Ivy listened for a moment and heard nothing except the nightlife of the forest around her. Chirping and leaves being scurried over by small critters of the nights, and what seemed to be countless owls in the distance. Looking down at Toast, she looked for signs of her alerting to danger, but Toast was wagging her tail and panting heavily. After catching her breath and letting Toast catch hers, Ivy continued to walk. With only dim light bouncing off the moon, it was difficult to see into the forest. Ivy cautiously walked with Toast down the road until she came to a junction in the road and turned right.

She'd been gone a few hours before realizing she had made a mistake. She didn't know where she was and didn't know where she would end up. Not even aware of what time it was, she silently began to panic. Ivy continued to walk, hoping to see some signs of life, but it was just darkness for miles.

Ghost's POV

After talking to the boys about Ivy for a while, Ghost still wasn't convinced she was safe with him. Giving up, the rest of the team went outside or to bed, Ghost slowly walked up the stairs to Ivy's room, hoping to talk to her about their situation. Standing outside her door, he knocked softly. When there was no answer, he knocked again slightly louder. He grew anxious when there was still no answer. Maybe she's asleep. Slowly opening the door he was met with no sight of Ivy and an open window. Panic raced through his body and turned around, running down the stairs. "Boys! Ivy's gone, we...' Gaz interrupted him as he came into the house from the backdoor, "Toast is gone too, I'll get Alejandro and Rudy. Soap's already outside getting the ATV's ready." Ghost rushed outside as he dialed Price. It rang once before he answered, "This is Price." "Ivy's run off; don't know how far she's gotten." "I'll be there in 15." Ghost hung up without responding. As he walked up to Soap, his voice sounded frustrated, "She's a real pain in the ass, Johnny." "That she is, Lt." Gaz and Rudy came running out of the house before Gaz spoke, "Alejandro's staying in case she shows up. Bloody girl is a riot, eh?" "Where do you think she went Ghost?" Rudy asked as he hopped on the ATV behind Gaz. "Not sure, my guess is down the road. She's smart enough to avoid the forest. We'll start there and if she's not there, at the junction we'll split up." Starting up the ATV's, the team sped off down the road.