Behind The Mask (Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 [2022] Fanfiction)

- NINE -

Rodolfo, the other Mexican Special Forces besides Alejandro, was my designated babysitter as the three other men split from us to take a truck to wherever their mission landed them. Though I barely knew Soap and Ghost, fear leaked through my veins imagining them heading into danger. I was relieved, though, that I would not be a burden or distraction. 

    "They just got to the compound," Rodolfo glanced at me in the back seat, his face more polite and softer than the other three's. 

    To break the silence, I'd asked if he could relay information that he was allowed to. Rodolfo had chuckled and said there was nothing to hide about this part, except who the men were so determined to get their hands on.

    "So what is our purpose...I mean yours?" I questioned lightly, clasping my hands between my bare knees. 

    "On Alejandro's signal I'll take this big bestia and provide exfil," Rodolfo's Spanish was smooth and quick whenever he laced it with English. "Once we get closer, I'll need you to hop in the very back and stay hidden." 

    Whoever the person these soldiers were after was dangerous...and highly valuable. From what I'd gathered the cartel were also involved and smuggling them along in secret. The team of special forces that had teamed up with Ghost, Soap, and Alejandro had been mentioned once: Shadow Company. They were all going for this smuggled piece of gold of a person. 

    "Ghost's hit," Rodolfo reported, face twisting as he listened. 

    I leaned forward, trying to hear in his ear what was being said through their communications. My heartrate picked up imagining seeing the giant man withering in pain and taking a bullet. He'd saved my life twice already and, for a stupid moment, I wished I was able to be there to assist him. 

    "Just his plate carrier." I breathed out loudly as I sat back against the bench seat of the old SUV-like vehicle and Rodolfo cocked his head to shoot a confident smile toward me. "They are well trained and know what they're doing."

    "Doesn't make it any less...dare I say nerve-wracking." 

    Rodolfo smiled again. "Haven't you seen Ghost? His very presence makes men squirm in fear. Imagine him shooting at them, chica. Your saviors are safe." 

    Saviors. Right. Soap and Ghost were exactly that. Soap first with his CPR, then Ghost in his epic save times two. I felt indebted to them. 

    "They're getting closer to the villa," Rodolfo adjusted his stance where he sat and turned on the loud buggy. "Alejandro has ordered exfil." 

    I gripped the edge of the cloth seat as Rodolfo expertly maneuvered out of the trees we'd been hiding in and got onto a smoother part of the road. The windows weren't tinted like the truck had been and I felt incredibly exposed with my brighter blonde hair waving in the breeze through the windows. Carefully, I rolled up either side and then tucked my hair closer to my neck.

    "I look like a glowing target," I caught Rodolfo's confused glance. 

    "The cartel are more focused on protecting the target right now," Rodolfo nodded, remembering the backstory I'd told him earlier in our waiting around.

    "I doubt none of them would pass on the opportunity to get me dealt with." 

    There was no response and I knew my words held truth. 

    To a murmur of voices in his ear, Rodolfo shifted the vehicle up and sped quicker. The trees and sloped green landscape was a blur as we raced through them, closer to where loud, ground-shaking thuds were taking place. 

    "Get in the back. Keep your head down and back against the seat." 

    I obeyed to Rodolfo's curt orders, flinging myself over the back of the bench seat in haste. I plopped harshly onto my wounded arm and let out a grunt as I adjusted. My back pressed into the seat lightly as I hugged myself and bent my knees. 

    The booms and shakes got louder as we neared the compound. I tried to lean up without compromising my position to get a better view, but Rodolfo's turning made it impossible to not hit my head or roll out of place. I hugged myself tighter, hearing shouts of men and gunshots—so loud and thwapping to whatever came into contact with bullets. It made my ears ring, my chest tighten in terror. 

    I'm in the middle of a damn warzone!

    The ride lugged to a stop, sliding on the gravel beneath us. There was a slam on the outside of the window closest to my head, a loud "shut the fuck up" from Soap, and then the doors, passenger and two back, launched open to expose more sounds to the battle going on. What I didn't mistake when I glanced upward was Ghost and Soap sliding into the backseat with someone between them. Ghost's eyes quickly darted to where I peeked up and shot a dark warning. 

    "You will pay dearly for this!"

    That voice. That accent. It sent chills through my body as I scrunched up tighter to the backseat. I knew that voice. I questioned if I was imagining things.

    Alejandro praised Rodolfo in Spanish as the doors started slamming shut, the latter responding in rapid Spanish as well. They continued in rapid orders, keeping their native language present with the package in the backseat. Rodolfo started off more aggressively when he began driving again.

    "You have no idea—"

    There was a huff as Soap swiftly socked the prisoner in the gut. "Shut up, fucker."

    The second time he'd spoken more shock rippled through me. I shut off my whine of fear by putting a shaking hand to my mouth. Tears started pricking at my eyes as my body soaked in the words. 

    Hassan. The prisoner was Hassan. The target was the same man who'd pinned me to a glass wall, trying to get me into his bed. The same man who'd led myself and my group of friends into a death trap. 

    Emotions rushed through my body as I quivered—anger, panic, sadness, more anger—and pushed deeper into the back of the bench seat. The killer, the reason for my friends' death was right behind me. We shared the same damned air. I wanted to puke, but I forced my trembling mouth closed with my dirty palm, pressing as hard as I could.

    A more dangerous idea crossed my thoughts. How easy it would be to sit up and lock the disgusting man's throat within my arm and squeeze. I had never killed a human—just animals hunting—and never wanted to, but for the heat flaring in my gut, for the avenging of my friends, for the shit he'd indirectly put me through...I had never been more tempted. Yet I also knew Hassan was important to the four soldiers sharing the space with us. I wouldn't ruin their mission more than I already had. 

    So in a disgusted, sickened silence I continued to hold my mouth closed. I continued to shake in the back of that tin can vehicle and endure the ride to wherever we were going with a dangerous man who had ruined my vacation by murdering my friends and who had drastically shifted the direction of my life.