Unseen | Ghost x Soap

Chapter 8: Hope

Ghost's POV:

The new lead had us on edge. Every piece of intel pointed to a heavily fortified compound deep in enemy territory. We had to move quickly, precision and stealth our only allies. There was no room for error. Soap's life depended on it.

The team assembled at the briefing room, a mix of hope and tension palpable in the air. Price laid out the plan, his voice steady and authoritative.

"This is it, lads. This is our best shot at getting Soap back. We move in under cover of night, take out the guards, and secure the target. Ghost, you and I will lead the entry team. The rest of you will provide cover and secure our exit."

We nodded in unison, determination etched on our faces. This mission was personal, and failure was not an option.

As we approached the compound, my heart pounded in my chest. The darkness was our cover, the silence our ally. We moved swiftly, taking out the perimeter guards with precision. The main building loomed ahead, a fortress of steel and concrete.

"Move in," Price whispered, signaling the team forward.

We breached the outer doors, our weapons at the ready. The interior was a labyrinth of corridors and rooms, each one potentially harboring danger. But we pressed on, the thought of Soap driving us forward.

We reached a central hallway, the sound of machinery humming in the distance. My gut told me we were close. I motioned for the team to halt, listening intently for any sign of Soap.

Then I heard it. A faint, labored breathing coming from behind a heavy steel door. My heart leapt into my throat.

"Johnny!" I shouted, rushing to the door. It was locked, a thick, unyielding barrier between us.

"Ghost, wait!" Price called, but I was already pounding on the door, desperation clawing at me.

"Soap, can you hear me? It's Ghost!" My voice echoed in the corridor, but there was no response. I pressed my ear to the door, straining to hear any sign of life. The silence was deafening.

"He's in there," I blurted out urgently, turning to Price. "We need to find the key."

Price nodded, his expression grim. "We'll split up. Search every guard, every room. The key has to be here."

The team scattered, each member combing the building for the elusive key. I stayed by the door, my mind racing with fear and hope. I couldn't lose him. Not now, not after we had come so far.

"Soap, hang on," I whispered, my fists clenched. "We're coming for you."

Soap's POV:

The darkness was my constant companion, the pain my only reality. My body was weak, my mind teetering on the edge of oblivion. Each breath was a struggle, each heartbeat a reminder of my fragile existence.

I had lost track of time, my days blending into a haze of torture and despair. Karak's visits had become less frequent, but the guards were relentless. They took pleasure in my suffering, their cruelty knowing no bounds.

One night, as I lay on the cold floor, barely conscious, I heard a distant sound. A voice, familiar and urgent, calling my name.

"Johnny!"

I tried to respond, but my voice was a mere whisper, my strength all but gone. The sound grew louder, more desperate, but I couldn't muster the energy to move.

"Soap, can you hear me? It's Ghost!"

Simon. The name stirred something deep within me, a flicker of hope that had long been extinguished. I forced my eyes open, the dim light of the cell blinding me. I could see the outline of the door, heavy and impenetrable.

"Ghost..." I tried to call out, but my voice failed me. Darkness encroached on the edges of my vision, and I felt myself slipping away.

"Hang on," I thought, clinging to the last shred of consciousness. "They're coming for you. Just hold on."

Ghost's POV:

The minutes felt like hours as we searched the compound, every second a torture of its own. My mind raced with fear, the image of Soap lying behind that door haunting me.

Finally, a shout echoed down the corridor. "I've got it!"

I turned to see one of the team members, a guard's keyring in hand. Relief and fear surged through me as I grabbed the keys and rushed back to the door.

"Soap, we're here," I said, my hands trembling as I fumbled with the keys. The lock clicked open, and I pushed the door wide.

The sight before me was a punch to the gut. Soap lay on the floor, his body a battered mess of bruises and scars. He was unconscious, his breathing shallow and labored.

"Johnny!" I dropped to my knees beside him, my hands shaking as I checked for a pulse. It was there, faint but steady. Relief washed over me, but the fear remained. He was alive, but barely.

"We need to move," Price said, his voice urgent. "Get him out of here."

I nodded, lifting Soap gently. His body was light, too light, a stark reminder of the suffering he had endured. We moved quickly, the team covering our exit as we made our way to the extraction point.

Every step felt like a marathon, the weight of Soap in my arms a constant reminder of how close we had come to losing him. But he was with us, and that was all that mattered.

As we reached the extraction point, the sound of approaching helicopters filled the air. The team formed a perimeter, their weapons at the ready, as we waited for our ride out of hell.

"Hold on, Johnny," I whispered, my voice choked with emotion. "You're going to be okay. I promise."

Soap's POV:

The darkness was relentless, but somewhere in the depths of my mind, I felt a glimmer of warmth. The sound of Ghost's voice, urgent and filled with emotion, reached me through the haze.

"Hold on, Johnny. You're going to be okay. I promise."

I clung to his words, the faint hope they brought. The pain was still there, the fear, but there was something else now. Something stronger.

I was not alone.