Call of Duty Ghosts: The Aftermath

Chapter 19

SLATE

As we descend down into the trees a bit away from the Federation base, I can't help but feel a deep feeling of dread in my chest. There's just something that fills me with fear, and not knowing what makes it worse.

It's not my fear of the Federation, because I have none.

It's not my fear of Rorke, because that bastard doesn't intimidate me.

I don't know what it is.

Loading my gun, I look around at the other three. Merrick touches the chopper down and immediately flings off the headset, jumping into the back to get his gun, Spike following him shortly. Match elbows me a bit and I snap out of psyching myself out, turning to face him.

"What?"

He shrugs.

"You just looked a little....on edge. I don't blame you. Thomas is nuts. But...I think that maybe....just maybe....we can pull this off." He says with a hint of optimism, and I smirk, nodding.

Merrick meets our eyes as he pulls his mask up.

"Ready?" He asks, and I nod along with Spike and Match. We all jump out of the helicopter and run through the trees, making sure to stay out of sight. The base soon comes clearly into view, and we stop at the treeline.

Sweeping my eyes around the area, my eyebrow raises, as does my stress.

"This isn't right. There are no guards. Anywhere." I remark, and Spike shrugs.

"All the more easy for us." He says, and I take a deep breath of anxiety. That feeling of fear rises again, but I push it down.

Merrick looks back at us, and motions with his hand to stay low.

"On me." He says quietly as we slowly make our way to the wall of the compound.

"Stack up." He says, and we all stack next to one of the entrances.

"On three," Merrick says quietly, and We all look at each other with anxiety and adrenaline in our eyes.

"One..." I grip my gun tighter, readjusting my handle on it.

"Two..." Taking a deep breath, I raise my gun at the ready.

"Three!" Merrick spins and kicks open the door, and we all run through, weapons ready. Immediately, we're met with a barrage of fire from the end of the hall, and my eyes widen.

"Get to cover!" I yell as we all dive behind the ammo crates stacked in the hallway. Standing up to look over, I fire into the soldiers at the end, felling them quickly. Spike turns and fires rapidly, taking out more and more.

Merrick spins away from the crates.

"Reloading!" He shouts, and Match nods.

"Got you!" He fires towards the soldiers, and the bullets flying past us slowly thin out, then stop altogether. Federation soldiers lie dead at the end of the hall, and I peer over the crates carefully, then nod.

"Clear!"

We all step out and meet each other's eyes. Merrick starts down the hall, looking around.

"This way." He says, pointing up a flight of stairs.

"How do you know?" Match asks, and Merrick moves his gaze to meet Match's eyes.

"Because this is the way they took us when we were here." He answers flatly, then turns to go up the stairs. I catch Match's eye uneasily, but shortly turn to follow Merrick. Reaching the top of the stairs, a closed door meets us, and Merrick glances back at us.