The night sparkled like beads of jewels in the forest, where I had transmigrated. The night was unusually quite, except faint sounds of gunshots and insect noise.
Oh.. I have to be dead.. I.. no no.. Simon Riley can't be real.. he's a game character.. it can't be.. I thought to myself as I was dragged by my arm towards wherever we were going and I was too much in my head to protest.
His gloved fingers digged in my arm as if someone who's already ziptied and caught will run away from special forces. Uh.. nevermind.. people might actually do that.. I thought.
"Negative. Unusually calm." His deep British accent snapped me out of my thoughts as I saw him talk in his comm.
I hear static again and again as if his comm is alive and he's choosing to ignore it and say only few words. Typical ghost. But.. but.. why the fuck am I here?? And where is he taking me?? Oh god!! Help me!! I thought to myself.
My shoes that were neither good for walking and now in forest were squishy under the real soil and ground work. Ah.. that's why people buy brands.. but I'm cheap.. I'm broke!! I think. I see him cross and fallen log in one go and hesitate as he drags me forward willing me to cross it. My small steps and awkward climb over the log only made him give me deadpan look that he always uses.
Fine. Fine. I'm walking alright. No need to do that. I think to myself as I keep walking although.. actually.. I'm no where close to walking.. I'm being dragged. Overpowered!! Geez you can relax I'm not running man! I think.
As I stumble over some stones. He gives me another deadpan and I feel my blood run cold. No it's not funny booktok!! No I'm not feeling like calling him daddy before he makes me a real meat paste on forest floor! Uh please! I want to go to the other side of the screen!! Please!! I screamed. (But in my mind ofcourse.)
I haven't been able to hold his gaze more than two seconds. I feel like if I look at him more than necessary he might actually change his plan and abandon me here. He might actually do it. He's ghost!! He can!! I know him he's a menace! I'm his fan- wait- I'm his .. enemy now!? I think as I hear another gunshot but somewhere closer now.
He aims his rifle at the darkness ahead and pushes me behind a tree. Atleast he's saving me. Actually change of plans.. I might call him daddy if this keeps on going on. Oh save me daddy.. I'm scared.. I think to myself but before I form any more of those ridiculous thoughts. Boom there's a big shot somewhere and I flinch so hard I duck down instinctively scared for my life now.
Ghost moves with practical precision. He disappeared in the shadow and all I hear is clack clack clack of rifle and bodies hitting forest floor.
"Two down. Civvie exposed. Soap flank me." He says in same dry British tone like gravel churning, he starts walking back to me.
I, ever the great ember, have been shivering like a leaf in the storm. I shiver more seeing him walk towards me. Oh.. he can drop me in an instant if he wants.. but whatever's stopping him...god bless it. I think.
"Up." He says his voice cold calm clipped, stopping infornt of me.
I immediately get up, my wrist stay tied behind my back but that doesn't stop me from standing on my feet and not wanting to anger him. His hollow cold eyes stay on me for a beat longer before he turns around and start walking again.
This is even worse than being dragged. Means you fall behind. He leaves you. I keep walking with however much strength I've, trying to keep up with him. Whatever is in this forest, it's not human friendly and of course not female friendly. I think as I keep walking faster.
Beads of sweat form around my temples. My cap stays shadowing half my face but I can't adjust it. So I choose to ignore it. I need to be alive first, cap can wait I think. I hear a static ahead and then him.
"Not now Johnny." He says in same dry tone he always uses except when he's angry.
What must have soap said? I think to myself curious wanting to know what he's talking about but keeping the thoughts to myself. After a while, I hear another static and then his words,
"Affirmative. Bringing civvie in." He said.
A beat of silence,
"Dropped in the middle of OP cap'n" he says.
Is he talking to price now? I think as I increase my walking speed trying to catch upto him wanting to hear his conversation with captain price. what is price saying? Tell me too. I think to myself as I keep following him.
"Johnny.. " he says in a calm clipped tone as if cutting soap off.
Why can't I hear his and soap convo? I complain in my mind walking more faster. But I stop abruptly as I see him look over his shoulder sensing that I've started to walk faster than usual.
I feel my mouth run dry and my knees buckling in ready to give in.
He huffs again looking ahead again as if annoyed by everything, Especially me. I get it ghost.. I'm your problem now. I think to myself. But I don't want to be in this mess I don't like it!! I think wanting to scream at the top of my lungs but instead bite my lips and walking silently behind him swallowing colorful words in.
I see him stop abruptly and put a fist in air for me to see as if asking me to stop too. Sensing the change in his demeanor I immediately crouch down behind the nearest tree. He sees behind once and then raises his rifle and walks straight ahead disappearing in the dark like a ghost. Pun intended.
As I wait for him to come back, I hear a click behind me and when I turn around I see three men dressed differently than ghost standing behind me. On seeing a woman their gaze gets widen and then they sneer like hyenas circling food.
"Are you lost babygirl? Should we help you?" The middle one sneers looking at my bewildered expression.
"Let's have some fun.. shall we?" Another one says snickering taking a step towards me.
I immediately get up ready to bolt but one of them grab my arm and press a hand on my mouth refraining me from screaming.