𝕺𝖚𝖗 𝖒𝖊𝖒𝖔𝖗𝖎𝖊𝖘

~ 14 ~

< Flashbacks >
5 years before

"I'll see you tomorrow yes?" I said to Steele before getting up from his bed.

"See you tomorrow." Steele replied.

We had been at Task Force 141 base for 1 year now. It was all a dream come true. While it wasn't all rosy, being part of this team is something that counts a lot to me personally and I have had to sacrifice a lot of things. Like having a social life.

My only social life is based on working alongside my teammates and having my mental health depend on them.

We are all poor sods. No girlfriends or wives that I known about.

I left his room, walked down the hallway to go to my room, I left the building where the men slept to cross over to the building where the women slept on the base. When I opened the doors the strong cold whipped my face with a strong punch in the face, the night was illuminated by the poles of the base, the noise of helicopters and soldiers were not lacking. It was never quiet, there were always soldiers on night shift as well as helicopters arriving or leaving.

I started to walk but felt the presence of someone behind me. I turned around to meet the cold, blank stare of Ghost...my superior. He was leaning against the wall of the building, with his left leg supporting his body against the wall while his mask was up to his nose as he was smoking.

"Sneaking around with Steele, sergeant Russ?" He asked me in his deep, husky but empty voice.

I interlocked my arms through the cold against my chest.  "Excuse me, sir?" I asked him.

Ever since I arrived at the base, I was not well received by Ghost. He always excluded me and humiliated me in front of the recruits or my peers. It made me feel like I was in hell and he was my punishment. I hated him and he hated me.

His only act of 'kindness' was when he helped me pass the physical exam to join Task Force 141, after that, he continued to make my life miserable.

"Don't try to deny it, I saw you getting inside his room earlier." He said in a stern tone, his British accent dripping in annoyance.

"Okay...and what does that have to do with you?" I asked him.

He narrowed his eyes at me, I knew his annoyance was growing. "And what were you doing in his room at this hour?" he asked me as he threw his cigarette on the floor and stubbed it out with his boot.

"As I recall, it's none of your business." I said as I stared at him.

Ghost let out a sarcastic laugh as his hands were in his pockets and his face was staring at the ground...but as he looked up I noticed his mouth was smirking.

His smile is...flawless.

He clenched his jaw...as he moved closer and closer to me. But, I didn't move from my spot.

"It is my business." He said.

Now we were face to face. We were so close together that his height made my head lift up a bit to look him in the eye...our height difference made him look more intimidating.

"Your business? LT, with much respect...how is your business? Explain, please." I asked him with more sarcasm.

"Im your superior officer and it's my job to keep an eye on my team, so ya' it's my fucking business." He stated firmly.

We stared at each other in silence...his eyes showed me an inexplicable fire.

"If you want to know so badly, then the reality is that I was doing big girl stuff." I told him with a sarcastic smile.