Simon Riley

“We have to help her.”

Ghost had his heart set on going to rescue her, but Price was more reluctant. Upon showing him the message, instead of the same burning concern that was nagging at Ghost, Price just sighed, taking a deep breath.

“We have to lock down this missile. Hassan has many allies aboard this ship. If we let them get hold of this missile, hundreds, even thousands of people will die. And look at this message-” Price gestured to the screen. “This could very well be a trap.”

Ghost knew he was right. Of course he knew the consequences. Of course he knew the chances it was a trap. But he didn’t care.

Soap put an arm on Ghost’s shoulder, but Ghost just shrugged him off.

“Ghost, she can take care of herself.”

Clenching his fist, he resisted the urge to react. “I know that.” He gave him a hard glare. But it all made sense. He wasn’t supposed to have anything. He didn’t deserve anything. His whole family was dead, why was he pretending that the same wouldn’t happen to her? Everyone around him got hurt.

No. Not this time. I won’t let her go this easily.

And in that moment, he made a decision. He would let no one, take anything from him ever again. He would not let Althea suffer the same fate his family did.

Soap continued. “Ghost, this is the way things are. Sometimes we lose good men.” Ghost clenched and unclenched his fist. “Althea was-”

“Was? Johnny, Althea wasn’t just someone.” He ran a hand through his hair, taking a deep breath.

“She isn’t one of us. She never was. She’s better than us.” He thought about the way that she insisted on returning the favor after he had helped patch up her wounds. He thought of the effortless kindness that poured from her like a reservoir. He thought of the way her eyes gleamed when he showed her the stars.

Just the thought of losing her, just the thought of being able to tell her how much she had changed his life, changed him, drove him insane.

His voice was like a suicide, dropping down and landing with a clunk at his feet.