"Secrets in the line of duty" (oc x canon)

Against the odds: A night in the truck.

Sun, 29 sep, 2024

⚠️ Smut

The festive sounds that once filled the air were abruptly silenced by a sharp, reverberating blast, followed by a wave of chaos that surged through the plaza. Instantly, the vibrant colors of the festival turned into a nightmarish scene. Flames erupted from the event hall, licking the sky, while the acrid smell of smoke and scorched earth filled their lungs. Screams pierced the air as panic ensued, and people began to scatter in every direction, desperately seeking safety.

“What the hell just happened?!” Soap’s voice broke through the noise, panic evident as he rushed back to where Ghost and Maria had taken cover.

“Bomb! Move!” Ghost barked, his instincts kicking in as he grabbed Maria’s arm, pulling her through the frantic crowd. He felt the heat from the fire even as they distanced themselves, flashes of light illuminating the darkening sky like ominous fireworks.

Maria’s heart pounded against her chest. "We need to regroup with the team!" she shouted over the chaos, but Ghost’s eyes were already scanning the area, searching for their comrades.

“We can’t—they’re gone!” he yelled, his voice barely reaching her through the din. The scene was spiraling into a nightmare, littered with debris and torn bodies. The disorienting sight made Maria’s stomach churn, but she forced herself to stay focused.

They ducked behind a food stall, watching as chaos unfolded around them. The initial confusion gave way to a targeted pursuit; armed men, clearly cartel enforcers, waded through the terrified crowd, their expressions cold and determined.

“We have to move, Maria,” Ghost said, steadying her by the shoulders, his expression serious. “We can't stay here. We need to find somewhere safe and regroup.”

With a single nod, Maria pushed aside the horror brewing within her and adjusted her focus—a soldier's instinct taking over. They darted away from the stall, weaving through the throngs of terrified festival-goers, dodging fallen debris and frantic bodies pushing toward exits.

As they ran, Ghost and Maria caught glimpses of the aftermath: bodies strewn about, some motionless, others writhing in pain, the once-vibrant scenery now shadowed by death and destruction. Each step felt heavier, but there was no time to mourn.

“Ghost!” Maria gasped suddenly, halting briefly to catch her breath, her clothes torn and smeared with dirt and ash. “What do we do? We’re cut off from the others!”

Ghost’s jaw tightened. “First, we survive. We need to find higher ground to get a better view. We’ll figure out where the others went and rendezvous. If we stay here, we’ll be sitting ducks.”

With that, they pressed on, navigating through the remnants of what had been a festive celebration, their hearts racing from both fear and adrenaline. They spotted a narrow alleyway that led to an elevated part of town nestled among the hills. Ghost motioned for Maria to follow as he guided her toward it, desperate for a vantage point.

Once they reached the hill, they settled behind an old stone wall, finally catching their breath. The festival ground below was now a scene from a horror movie; smoke billowed up, and sirens wailed in the distance as first responders struggled against the chaos.

Maria peered down, her heart sinking further. "What if we can't find them?"

Ghost clenched his fists, frustration mixing with disbelief. “They’re out there. Price, Gaz, König—they know how to survive. We just need to keep our heads. For now, we find a way to protect ourselves and gather intel on the cartel’s next move.”

Thankfully they found a Mexican farmer who was driving a truck bed with three boxes of freshly grown crops a few jute bags with hay bales. Ith had a truck bed.