Call of Duty Ghosts: The Aftermath

Chapter 15

CODY

I look down the hall towards the stairwell, and I sigh.

"I need to talk to him," I say, and Match and Spike look up at me.

"Uh, NO," Match disagrees, and I turn around.

"Why?! I need to apologize! I feel horrible!" I say harshly, and Slate turns around.

"Cody, Logan said that Hesh is super unstable right now. You heard him! He's about ready to kill you!" He remarks, and I shake my head.

"Slate, I honestly don't give two shits right now. I need to talk to Hesh, and I'm going to." I start down the hall, and Spike calls after me.

"You know, if you don't come down in less than half an hour, we'll assume you're dead." He snickers and I roll my eyes.

"Thanks for the compassion, asshole," I mutter, and I hear Spike and Match laugh as I open the door.

"No problem!"

I walk up the stairs slowly, pausing about halfway up.

What am I even going to say?

It's my fault that his best friend was almost killed.

I take a deep breath and open the door to the roof.

The early sunlight shines down on a shadow on the far wall, leaning against a vent.

Slowly I walk over, trying not to make too much noise on the gravel.

I can see Hesh's head hanging down, and as I get closer I can see him holding Keegan's rifle tightly as if it were the most important thing in the world.

I stop and sigh. Taking a step forward, I kneel down next to him, then hesitate.

"....Hesh?" I say quietly, putting my hand on his shoulder.

His head immediately snaps up, and I jump back a little in surprise.

He meets my eyes, and his own widen, then narrow in hate.

"What the hell do you want?!" He growls harshly, and I sigh.

"I came to say I'm sorry," I say, and Hesh's eyes widen, softening a bit.

"You...what?" He asks softly, and I close my eyes.

"You were right. It was my job to keep them safe. We know this area much better than you. I should have kept a better eye on Keegan. It's my fault." I say with guilt, and Hesh sits up a little, still staring at me, his brown eyes searching my face.

"I know how much Keegan means to you, and I'm sorry."

Hesh's eyes widen, then he puts his hands on my shoulders.

"Is he okay? Is he even still alive?! Is Keegan-"

The radio on his belt beeps, then a voice crackles through.

"Hesh.....Hesh, are you there?" It asks, and Hesh's eyes widen.

"Keegan..." He drops me and fumbles to get his radio off of his belt. Immediately he holds it up and flicks the line.

"Keegan!" He shouts, looking up at me, and I hear a faint chuckle.

"Yeah, hey. If you could come down from the roof, that'd be great." He says, his voice gravelly.

Hesh's eyes soften completely, and a smile breaks out on his face.

"Of course." He says, and I grin.

"I'll be right there."

He says, then he flicks off the radio, clips it back to his belt, and stands up, slinging Keegan's rifle over his shoulder.