Hunted | Simon "Ghost" Riley

Chapter Nine

The elevator came to a stop and Ghost lifted Evie back up and she wrapped her legs around his waist. The bell dinged as the doors opened. During their recent hunt, Ghost and Evie didn't hear the alarms blaring until the elevator doors parted. As the alarms hit Ghost's ears, he heard a gunshot, loudly echoing in the small elevator as Evie flinched. As blood covered his mask, panic rose in his chest as he looked at Evie. Her eyes stared past him, and blood fell from her lips and neck as she struggled to breathe. He lowered himself and Evie to the floor as he quickly put his hand over the hole in her neck and looked up. Staring back at him was the soldier who he had sent away for Valeria for correction; Niles. "Hi, Boss. " His tone was vicious. Ghost saw red and moved towards Niles but he aimed the gun at Ghost more precisely, "Ah, I wouldn't unless you want to join your whore." he whispered as he motioned his gun towards Evie. "Hitting her wasn't my intent, but I've got plenty more for the both of you." Ghost spotted movement behind him, but didn't draw attention to it. Konig slowly snuck up behind Niles with a gun drawn, getting closer as he spoke. His words were almost drowned out as he heard Evie gasping for air. "See, I was going to just kill you and take her for myself, but seeing the panic in your eyes is too good to go to waste." He pointed the gun towards Evie once more, pulling back on the trigger. But before he could pull it all the way, Konig shot Niles in the back of the knee, sending him to the floor. Niles dropped the gun as he hit the floor and Konig rushed him, grabbing the gun before Niles could. As Konig restrained Niles, Ghost turned his attention to Evie. She was breathing harshly, small gurgling sounds escaping her as she tried to catch her breath. "It's alright, baby, I got you." he said with a panicked voice, "Keep your hand there." he said as he lifted her again, one arm under her back and the other under her legs. Evie weakly pushed against the wound, blood seeping through her fingers. He held Evie in the blood soaked elevator, "Put a fucking bullet in his head." Ghost said brutally as he pressed the button for the floor of the infirmary. "I've got a better idea." Konig said as his demented eyes stared down at Niles.

Ghost rushed down the hall, carrying her quickly to the main door and kicked it open. "Horangi!" he shouted. "Set her down here." Horangi said hastily as he pulled a gurney next to him. Ghost set her down gently, "It's alright, I'm here Evie." he said as he looked down at Evie, eyes panicked as she still couldn't breathe a full breath. Tears fell from her eyes, "Gh-o" her voice was raspy and gurgly. "Don't try to talk, Ms. Evie." Horangi said softly yet urgently as he placed a hand over her wound. Evie thrashed slightly at the pain. "Wait here," he said as he pushed the gurney away and into a room, leaving Ghost standing there covered in Evie's blood. His chest heaved as the adrenaline soothed, the rage inside him grew to a dangerous limit.

Konig had dragged Niles to a room similar to the one Valeria used to torture him. He was restrained to the wall, bleeding and brutally beaten by Konig. As he paced in front of Niles, Kong wiped his hands of the blood that was spattered over his skin. Niles' eyes were swollen, his cheeks nearly sunken in from the blows of Konig's huge fists. His breathing was ragged from the broken ribs from the crowbar Konig violently smashed his torso with. "You really thought you could take on this entire compound? Dummkopf. " Despite his injuries, Niles released a painful laugh. "No," he spat out blood, "I just wanted Ghost dead." he said under his breath. Konig exhaled a small laugh, "You're dumber than you look." Niles coughed, "You people think you're so untouchable." Konig placed himself in front of him with his arms crossed, " Das liegt daran, dass wir es sind ."

Ghost had been waiting outside the main doors of the infirmary when he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. "What?" he answered sharply. "This piece of shite is nearly dead, would you like to finish the job?" Konig said with a weirdly positive tone. "Where are you?" Ghost asked as he began walking towards the elevator. "Same place as always." Ghost hung up without responding, pressing the button in the elevator as the doors closed. Once he reached the floor, Ghost walked out quickly, making his way to Konig and the man that shot Mae. As he approached, Konig stepped aside. The rage inside Ghost's chest grew more and more the closer he got to Niles and the panic grew along with it in Niles' chest. Without saying anything, Ghost began beating Niles with his bare fists, grunting wildly as he landed each blow. Niles tried to yell out in pain but his throat seemed to have shattered, his quiet screams went unheard. As Ghost grew tired, Niles' body went more limp. Ghost's chest heaved brutally, the rage and exhaustion from the beating making it harder to breathe. "If she dies, your entire bloodline ends tonight." Ghost said in a terrifying tone as he got in Niles' face.