In The Company of Your Shadows || Phillip Graves x OFC

3 - Mirage

A few days had slipped by since my unsettling encounter with the mysterious man, and I had chalked it up to nothing more than drunken hallucinations fueled by the ache of missing Graves.

That man... it couldn't have been Graves, could it? But he's dead. I must've been imagining things, the alcohol and the conspiracy theories Leen talked about must've played tricks on my mind.

I should just focus on my job and move on. I'm not paid to mope around and shit, and the sympathetic looks the other soldiers are giving are starting to get on my nerves.

I headed towards Oz's new office to deliver my newest mission reports. I approached his door with purpose as I intended to knock on his door to announce my arrival. However, as I neared, I noticed that the door was slightly ajar, and Oz's voice drifted out from within.

"Yes, sir, everything's clear here... Selene? She's doing well. She's on a mission right now, but I'm sure she'll be fine," Oz's voice resonated through the crack in the door, causing my ears to perk up at the mention of my name, frowning as I strained to catch every word of the conversation.

"The TF141 already dealt with the terrorist in Chicago a few weeks ago... And thankfully, they don't seem to pry much about us after that," Oz continued, his tone tinged with amusement. "Yeah, they seem too preoccupied with apprehending Hassan to inquire about anything else. Quite convenient, ain't it?"

My heart sank as his words sunk in, a wave of unease washing over me.

Why had he mentioned me? Why was Oz discussing about the mission that took Graves and a lot of our men's lives ? Who was he talking to behind closed doors, and what else were they discussing that I wasn't privy to?

The pieces of the puzzle began to click into place, forming a disturbing picture of secrets and deception lurking beneath the surface of the Shadow Company I though I knew.

Oz never mentioned a name during the call, simply addressing the person on the other end as 'sir'. After the conversation concluded, I waited a few moments before tentatively knocking on the door, careful to conceal any indication that I might have overheard something I shouldn't have.

"Ozzy, here's the mission report," I announced as I entered, maintaining an air of nonchalance as I placed the papers on his desk.

Glancing around the office, I noted that it remained unchanged from when it belonged to Graves. You would've guess that after nearly two months since Oz assumed command, Oz would've changed something, but there were no discernible alterations or personal touches, save for the new occupant seated behind the desk.

"Thank you, Sel. You always do excellent work," Oz acknowledged with a warm smile, setting my report aside and clasping his hands on the table. "Are you holding up alright?" His inquiry snapped me out of my reverie.

I returned his smile, though a hint of uncertainty lingered beneath the surface. "Yeah.. I'm managing," I replied. "And you? I imagine the workload must be tough, but I see you managed it pretty well."

Oz shrugged casually, downplaying any suggestion of individual achievement. "I'm fortunate to have everyone's support. After all, it's a team effort." His words rang with a sense of camaraderie, but I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to his demeanor than met the eye.

After some contemplation, I decided to broach the subject with Oz, feeling that I trusted him enough to confide in him and hoping he might offer some insight.

"Oz, have you heard about the rumors circulating regarding a supposed 'lost' mission? Y'know, the one that seems to have been erased from records? I heard about it and got curious."

For a brief moment, I noticed a flicker of surprise cross his expression, as if my question caught him off guard. He shook his head and let out a sigh. "I've heard about it, yes, what of it? It's nothing more than idle gossip among the soldiers-nothing to worry about," he replied in a friendly tone, though I sensed an undertone of dismissal in his words.

Despite his attempt to downplay it, my intuition insisted that there might be more to it than met the eye.

"Oz, is there any truth to these rumors? I understand that covert missions happens all the time, and I'm not stupid nor new to this shit," I persisted, before cutting to the heart of the matter. "Did Graves have knowledge of this? Did he sanction a mission that resulted in the loss of numerous lives?... And could he have been the one to conceal it?"

There was a moment of silence as Oz grappled with his response, his hesitation betraying his uncertainty. He knew that I was a smart woman. Eventually, he spoke again, his words veiled in ambiguity. "Selene, we both understand the reality of our situation. I can neither confirm nor deny any of it," he replied cryptically. "Besides, why do you care so much ?"

Well shit. He got me there.

Why am I so invested in uncovering the details of a covert mission, especially when such operations happened all the time? And why did I find myself so fixated on Graves' involvement? What the fuck am I trying to prove here?

Yes, I loved Graves, and maybe I thought that I was doing something to save his name. But a part of me wondered if it was merely a desperate attempt to cling to something tangible, a distraction from the pain of his loss while keeping his memory close.

As Oz approached and placed his hand on my shoulder, his words carried a sense of gentle wisdom. "Selene, I understand it's difficult, but sometimes you've gotta let go of the past. Everything happens for a reason," he advised.

His words struck a chord within me. Why was I struggling so fiercely against the inevitable? Graves was dead, and nothing could change that harsh reality..

Pushing his hand away, I let out a heavy sigh. "You're right... Hey, Oz? I've been contemplating something for a while now... Can I take a few weeks off?" I confessed, feeling the weight of exhaustion and grief bearing down on me.

I desperately needed a break, a chance to step away from the chaos and gather my thoughts, from everything, really. The constant cycle of missions that I've purposely put myself into in an attempt to disassociate had left me with little time to properly mourn or rest.

Oz's expression softened, seemingly relieved by my decision. He returned to his seat and nodded approvingly. "Consider it approved. Just stay out of trouble and rest," he advised, offering me a brief respite from the relentless demands of our profession.

With a smile, I nodded, leaving his office with a new realization that I hid beneath my innocent facade.

Oz knew something. I wasn't overthinking this and he's trying to softly push me away from whatever it is underneath the scene.

And unfortunately for him, I won't be staying out of trouble any time soon.

I'm going to find out what it is... With or without anyone's help.