Call of Duty Ghosts: The Aftermath

Chapter 14

HESH

I sit and lean against the vent next to the edge of the roof, the raindrops that have just started to fall running down the side of my face in cold streaks.

Clouds cover the sky, and the wolves howl from the street below.

Keegan's rifle lays in my lap, my hand resting on it, the other holding it tightly.

I sigh as the rain grows heavier, and my pants turn a darker shade as the water seeps through them. My jacket sticks to me, and I close my eyes, leaning my head back on the edge of the vent, tilting my head up to the sky.

More rain splashes onto my face, and the cold of it matches my heart now.

I've done so many things wrong.

I couldn't save dad.

I couldn't save Logan.

I killed Kick.

I almost killed my brother, and I just attacked another Ghost.

Now my best friend is bleeding to death, and I'm up here on the fucking roof.

I'm not a real Ghost.

How could I be?

I screw so much up, and I just run off when I can't deal with something.

That or I just start swinging.

But still....why do the people I love the most get hurt the most?

What did I ever do?

Think hard. Maybe you'll get somewhere.

The rain drips down my face, masking the tears that join it.

"Why...." I mutter quietly, opening my eyes to feel the sting of the rain in them and see the dark dreary sky.

"Why me?"

The door behind me opens, and I tilt my head back a little to look upside down a bit, trying to see who it is.

"Hesh."

I sigh, and drop my head back to its original position, closing my eyes.

"What do you want, Merrick?" I ask coldly as I hear him walking over to me, the gravel on the roof crunching under his boots.

"You should come inside." He says, and I take a deep breath, then open my eyes and tilt my head to the side to see him standing above me.

"Why?" I ask with a bite, and Merrick sighs.

"Because you can't just keep doing this. Segregating yourself from us. Ghosts are supposed to stick together-"

"WELL, MAYBE I'M JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO BE A GHOST!" I shout, snapping my head up, and Merrick stops, looking at me with wide eyes.

"Hesh, don't say that..." He tries to repair the now broken peace.

There. Now he knows what you really feel. Well done.

Taking a deep breath, I try not to scream at the voice in my head. I clench my hand around Keegan's gun and grit my teeth.

"Merrick, I've messed up so many things and failed so many people...I can't deal with that. I run instead of facing my problems. If I get angry, I either run or start swinging. Like earlier. Did Cody tell you I punched him?" I ask harshly, and Merrick sighs.

"Yes. But Hesh, you don't mess up. You're a great Ghost. Elias would be-"

"MY FATHER IS DEAD!!!" I yell, and Merrick steps back.