How to Love the Stars | Ghost (Simon Riley)

Chapter 52

Ghost

Suddenly, a deafening explosion rocked the room, the force so powerful that it threw Carlos off his feet, sending him flying over Ghost and crashing into a wall. The shockwave rippled through the room, shattering glass and sending debris raining down from the ceiling.

The blinding light seared Ghost's vision, a stark contrast to the dimness that had cloaked the chamber moments before. For a moment, all he could hear was the high-pitched ringing in his ears, drowning out everything else.

Then, through the haze, the sound of footsteps and urgent shouting reached him. His senses gradually returned, and he felt strong hands grasping his arms, lifting him upright.

"Get him on his feet!" a familiar voice laced with a strong Scottish accent barked, cutting through the chaos. Ghost blinked, trying to clear his vision as he was pulled upright, his head still spinning from the blast.

As his eyesight returned, he recognized the team that had come to his rescue.

"Easy, Ghost. We've got you," Gaz said, cutting through the ropes that bound him to the chair. The binds fell away, and Ghost rolled his shoulders, wincing at the stiffness that had set in.

"What took you so long?" Ghost rasped, his voice hoarse but laced with relief.

Soap gave him a toothy grin. "Traffic," he replied with a wry smile, throwing Ghost's arm over his shoulder.

"Didn't realize there was traffic on cruise ships."

"That's the joke, ya fuckin Gowk."

Ghost surveyed the room, his eyes landing on Carlos, who lay dazed amidst the wreckage. The explosion had taken him by surprise, leaving him temporarily incapacitated.

Ghost's head throbbed as he struggled to piece together his surroundings. The explosion had left him disoriented, and it took every ounce of effort to focus. His vision swam as he tried to stand on his own, but a hand on his shoulder steadied him.

Price loomed over him, his grizzled face etched with urgency. He gave Ghost a rough shake, forcing him to snap back to reality.

"Simon, listen to me," Price barked, his voice cutting through the fog in Ghost's mind. "I'd love to give you hell for your mistakes this time—for the insubordination, for running off without backup, and for nearly getting yourself killed—but we don't have time for that now."

Ghost managed to meet Price's gaze, confusion and a hint of irritation flickering in his eyes.

"You need to get your head in the game," Price continued, his grip on Ghost's shoulders firm. "Althea is alive."

The words hit Ghost like a bolt of lightning, shocking him into full awareness. Althea's alive? The thought raced through his mind, disbelief mingling with a surge of hope. But he had seen her drown... if there was even a sliver of truth to Price's words...

He only needed one word. "Where?"

Price nodded towards the chaos outside, where the sounds of battle and destruction still echoed through the corridors. "Mission control room. She's holding down the fort there."

The world snapped back into focus for Ghost, the haze of pain and confusion replaced by a fierce determination. He couldn't afford to waste another second.

"Go get her, bring her back alive for us."

Price released him, and Ghost pushed himself upright, shaking off the last remnants of dizziness. His training took over as he assessed his surroundings, formulating a plan even as adrenaline coursed through his veins.

"Meet us at the boats right after," Price ordered, his voice a steady anchor in the storm of chaos. "And let's get the hell out of here."

Ghost nodded and turned towards the exit.

With each step, his resolve hardened. Althea was out there, fighting just as fiercely as he was, and he wouldn't let anything stand in his way. Carlos's words echoed in his mind, fueling the fire within him.

__________________________________________

Althea's fingers danced over the keyboard. She accessed every available system, attempting to regain control over the spiraling missile. The seconds were precious, and she fought against time as the destructive force hurtled toward an uncertain destination.

As Althea delved deeper into the system, a realization dawned upon her. The sabotage was deliberate. Someone had infiltrated the launch mechanism, injecting a flaw that would trigger precisely at this critical moment. The identity of the saboteur remained a mystery, but their intention was clear – to divert the missile from its intended course.

Althea's mind raced, torn between the urgency of the situation and the need to uncover the saboteur's motive.

The control panel resisted Althea's frantic attempts to regain authority over the rogue missile. Every command she input was met with defiance as if the very systems she had once navigated with ease had turned against her. The missile arced through the sky, before plunging into the water.

Then, the water erupted in a violent burst of foam and spray. The whole boat was rocked by the explosion, nearly sending Althea tumbling across the room. Her head banged against the back table, sending a bright flash of stars into her vision. She heard the distant screams of the guests, almost a dim echo in the background, as she watched the sky erupt in steam and debris. As the water fell in a gentle mist back into the ocean, the whole world seemed to have been rocked, suddenly silent. Silent, like the water after a storm. Silent as a heart that has stopped beating.

Althea finally breathed a sigh of relief, and she felt the edges of her vision blur. The adrenaline from before had started to wear off, and now she was feeling the cold seeping in through her skin, crawling through her veins. She heard the door bang open, but couldn't comprehend enough to turn around. She told herself to just walk it off, but as she took a step, her legs could suddenly no longer support her, and she was falling. 

A/N: HEY EVERYBODYYYYY!! Sorry I'm super late pookies, thank you for your patience! I've been super busy grinding python and C++ lately and thinking about the perfect ending. I finally got around to writing this chapter, and decided to split it into two! I hope you all enjoyed this! See you all soon. <3333 , AUTHOR!!