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

- TEN -

We didn't ride for long before Alejandro started speaking in Spanish again to Rodolfo. There was chatter through their radios, tension rising in the air as we slowed. More muffled chatter followed.

    "Shadow-1, there's movement at the fuel station ahead...possible cartel. Roping now."

    I replaced my hand over my mouth, willing myself to not give away who I was or where I was. My body hadn't stopped shaking in our drive.

    We stayed still for a while, as if waiting for Shadow Company, up in the skies providing support, to give a signal. There was some radio chatter and then Alejandro looked to Rodolfo in the driver's seat.

    "Copy that, we're moving. Rodolfo, adelante."

    The tires started rolling as we began to cautiously navigate scenery I couldn't see. Hassan muttered something lowly and the huge form of Ghost shifted as if in warning.

    "Shadow-1, we may have a situation here," Soap spoke slowly.

    Rodolfo blurted out fast Spanish and Alejandro replied more abruptly, ending with English that I could understand: "Go around!"

    The SUV lunged heavy to the left and then to the right as Rodolfo aggressively maneuvered by a roadblock that wasn't trusted. There was rapid radio chatter, our vehicle speeding up, and then Soap braced in his seat, moving the bench as he did.

    "On your right—"

    There was a sudden impact. I flew sideways as another, larger vehicle rammed into us from the direction of my head. I couldn't help but screech as the vehicle rolled multiple times, crushing around us like the weaker-bodied thing it was. The men were tossed around a bit too, but not as much as my small form.

    I hit corners and slammed into the glass, feeling it shatter against my skin as we violently rolled. My head smacked into the roof then the side, slamming me down to the floor and back up toward the roof. My hands grasped one of the tiny secondary seats nearby and I pulled myself to it, latching on with everything.

    "Bail out! Bail out!" Alejandro was ordering, shoving open whatever he could to get out of the heat of the people now pressuring the crash.

    I lifted my head, fright making me shake uncontrollably. Ghost grasped Hassan as he shoved him into Soap, who shoved through the opening on his side. I wiggled to follow, my legs even more cut up and tender from the violent roll. Ghost's gloved hand was faster to grasp my forearm, flinging me up and over the seat with an extra hand to my thigh.

    Adrenaline drove panic that made my head spin as I shoved out of the rolled vehicle. Instantly, bullets whizzed by my head and I screamed. Ghost was quick to clutch the back of my neck, shoving me down as he returned fire. One hand gripped my skimpy shirt, dragging us both back to cover.

    "Shadow-1, we're up. No casualties and Hassan is secure," Ghost reported as he released me in cover.

    I was hyperventilating, my head spinning, vision blurry as the four soldiers shot hastily at the attackers. I felt helpless, like a burden and like a blockade. Cowering there where Ghost had put me, I felt hot streaks of tears run down my gritty cheeks, blood from the reawaken gash on my left temple mixing.

    There may have been radio chatter that I didn't catch but suddenly Soap was clutching Hassan assertively again as Alejandro spoke. "Shadow-1, we'll hardpoint in the building behind us, over!"

    Alejandro lead while Rodolfo kept a close eye on Hassan with Soap. Ghost's strong grasp had my arm again as he led me through a doorway and shut the door behind us. I didn't pay attention to what the building was as we rushed through it. There were menacing stairs I stumbled up, Ghost supporting me with a quick hand to my hip, as we reached an open rooftop.