Undeniable || Simon "Ghost" Riley ||

Chapter 8

One Thing At a Time

In the nocturnal stillness, both Hattie and Ghost found themselves in an unspoken tension as both hadn't said a word. Their eyes being their unspoken narrator, knitting together their fears and emotions that words couldn't convey.

"I needed to know." Ghost uttered softly. "I couldn't keep going until I knew it was you I saved."
The only look she had going for her was confusion for the past 30 minutes. It was the only emotion she was feeling. She didn't know where he was going with this whole "talk" and going outside, thing. She was at a loss for words.

"What do you mean you saved me?" She spoke. She just met him, there was no occasion that occurred to her that she could think of where he saved her in any way. Her eyes went back and forth on the ground, hoping that something might spark in her mind to make her remember.

Ghost observed her from above, witnessing the gears in her mind in motion, yet no thoughts seemed to have materialized. He sighed, stepping forward closer to her. He brought out his hand, slowly moving it to the left side of her body.

She shut her eyes, bracing for the pain and anticipating the nightmares that would manifest when she reopened them. She never understood the extent of the stress she endured after her kidnapping until now. Her fears were resurfacing, rising up from the depths of the ocean gasping for air waiting to consume her. But it never came.

The only perception coursing through her was the comforting warmth emanating from Ghost's hand resting on her side. Her eyes fluttered open, staring back at the warm, comforting eyes of Ghost. It was a departure from the typical stern and cold expression he usually wore.   

She gently rested her hand atop his sizable hand. "You rescued me." She breathed out. She finally understood what he was saying to her. All those times she caught him staring at her, he was piecing together the lost pieces of the puzzle, unraveling the ultimate conclusion. He was the one who saved her after she was taken and abused.

She walked over to the rocks they were standing by, sitting on the flat surface by the water grabbing both of her legs and cradling them in her chest. Looking back at Ghost, she invited him over next to her, sitting on the rock overlooking the pond.

"How did you find me? She questioned, putting her cheek on her knee gazing at Ghost.

He cleared his throat, his body shifting uncomfortably uncertain about how much information he should disclose to her. "They left you to die." He trailed off. "You were unconscious when I discovered you, they cut your skin so deep your ribs were exposed." Hattie slowly looked back down at the ground, wincing at the information. "How could someone do that?"

"It's the consequences of war, Sloan"

She looked away, pain in her heart was the only emotion she was feeling.

"Those fuckers will pay for what they did to you." His voice was full of revenge and anger.

Ghost and Hattie sat in a comfortable silence. The surface of the pond reflected the peaceful sky, with rhythmic croaking of frogs in the background. Her gaze wandered to the water, the slight ripples reflecting the moon's light, casting a trance. Surrounded by the calming sounds of nature around them, it became a safe haven where Hattie and Ghost found comfort in each other's company.

Breaking the calming silence, Ghost stood up. "Let's head to bed yeah?" She nodded her head, jumping off of the rock and following behind him, the only sound being Ghost and Hattie's footsteps on the soft ground beneath them.

She jumped into bed, pulling the covers over her body now encased with the warmth of her own body heat. The events of the day started taking a toll on her, her eyelids weighing down as she slowly fell into a peaceful slumber.