As Ghost kept looking at me I stayed rooted to my place looking back at him. His hollow dark gaze never once left mine brown ones. After a while not being able to bear with the intensity of it, I look away breaking the eye contact.
It was suffocating to keep looking at him while everything in his eyes looked at me like why are you here? I don't know ghost.. I don't know.. I never got a chance to contemplate.. rather I'm being dragged here and there like shopping cart.
I sigh keeping my gaze at my shoes, all the earlier curiousity leaving my body like vapour under his scrutinizing gaze. Never in my 24 years long life have I ever encountered military. Moreover, I never had to plus no one ever looked at me like I'm a terriost. These things don't happen in your daily mundane life.
Should I play never have I ever with ghost now? Never have I ever dropped in a war zone and almost got myself killed? Yey! It's me! I thought sarcastically about my situation.
I hear an exhale from ghost and I dare not look at him. He clicks in his comm maybe and says,
"At extraction point price. Where's the bird?" He asks half annoyed because everything he says seems like either he's annoyed or too cold to be annoyed.
Yes ghost! You're asking right questions now!! Where's the damn helicopter! We need- nope I need to get the hell Outta this bloody dark as fuck forest before someone snatches my soul out of my body and play a blood ritual. So where's the damn bird! I think to myself looking upto ghost and see him yet staring at me.
I look back down at my shoes which were supposed to be black and white but are now.. brown? Damn! And why the hell is ghost staring right in my soul!? Does he even blink?! I think to myself trying not to shiver.
I hear static in the air and a small hope flickers in my mind. Maybe price actually replied. I think hoping to hear ghost's next word but no words follow and I keep my eyes trained at my shoes. It's better to avoid something you can't look straight at right? I think.
As time passes cruelly slow and the night winds passes me raising goosebumps on my arms due to cold. I don't hear ghost shift or say anything and I keep getting more annoyed. Where's the damn ass bird anyway!? I think biting my lip trembling under ghost's constant stare.
At this rate, ghost will start to see my ancestors in my DNA!! Come on!! I think as I tremble more. But no sounds come from anywhere except the distant gunshots and explosions. No chopper in sight.
I start to hear fast footsteps approach us and go still looking at ghost. But ghost is standing there like the unbothered queen he is. I should rather say king. I question him as if why the heck is he so chill? Who the hell is approaching us? What's going on? But all I'm met with- "..."
I grow anxious as footsteps grow closer. I train my eyes to my shoes trying not to think about anything. Yes! If you can't see danger .. there's no danger! I think as I keep my head low.
I hear footsteps stop around me and I never once look up to see anything or anyone.
"This is the wee lass eh?" I hear someone say. And I immediately recognise soap voice and my head snap in the direction. My eyes widen in disbelief.
He looks at me more shocked at me looking at him like that, then I'm. So, there are two shocked people looking at eachother and ghost who's standing there looking at my every minute reaction.
"You know me eh?" Soap ask taking a step towards me Threateningly.
Oh god!! I shouldn't have looked at him like that! I'm so stupid! Now he'll think I'm some spy or threat! I think instinctively taking a step back trembling more.
I hear more footsteps approach ghost and turn my head enough to see price and gaz there. All geared up with rifle. As soap takes another step towards me. I take another step back trembling more. Who knew I'm going to be a meat paste by not ghost but soap who I thought to be the least threatening one!! God help me!! I thought.
"Johnny." Price warns soap. And soap looks once at price then steps back.
"Lass knows me!" Soap says his Scottish accent deep in rage.
"Spy know a lotta people soap." Gaz says from behind.
Spy? The word draws my attention and I look at gaz shocked out of my mind. Gaz looks at me once unamused and then looks away as if seen this nonsense too many times.
"We bring you to base and you'll answer our questions there. Don't speak unless you're spoken to." Price says but it feels more like a warning to my ears.
I nod silently to him looking back at my shoes again. Of course I'm going to get locked up! What did I even think? I think to myself silently.
"Ask the lass why she's here in the first place eh cap'n?" Soap says in protest not liking that I'm being given a choice.
"Has she spoken anything yet?" Price asks ghost who's looking at his rifle now.
"Not a word. Shaking like leaf." He says in same cold clipped tone.
"Either she's hiding something or she's really innocent." Gaz says stepping in the conversation.
"I say we ask the lass why she was looking at me like she knows me." Soap says his voice hoarse with rage.
"Johnny." Price says warning soap. "We're taking her in custody we'll know." Price says giving a finality as if not talking was never the option.
"But cap'n yer-" soap tries saying but price cuts him off saying "Enough Jhonny. We do this based on the protocol." He says with a finality.
"Yer' lucky price wants to do this based on book." Soap warms me before walking towards the others.
I tremble more thinking about everything that they talked about and everything that will be going on once I reach the base. What will happen to me? The question dries my blood.