It was another Sunday morning, the sun shone unusually bright, so much so, I thought I was on the sun. But nevertheless the day started and I rushed to get ready before I get late for my greasy work. Why greasy? I'll tell you. Oil. Oil. Lots of oil.
I work in a food shop. Candour food shop it's called. What for? Well.. I never asked the owner why it was called that, he's a lumpy man. All he does all day is count money and ask me to clean. I've cleaned so many oily plates this life that if someone were to ask me about my past life sins, I can easily tell them that I've fucking cleaned the oil outta them. But here I'm, another bright day.
I rushed and bumped my toe in my bed trying to get my tee and jeans off the chair that's full of laundary worthy clothes.
I shriek in pain like a vulture, jumping here and there with clothes in one hand and my bruised toe in another. "God!" I groan as I looked at the time.
I live in an apartment in London, it's a small two room apartment but the only one I can afford from my paycheck. There are no furniture except a table few chairs, wardrobe, a bed, sofa. The window overlooks the dead alleys, I call them dead they're not actually dead. Although the work I do is greasy but it pays me enough that I can live well. My bestie who has asked me thousands of time to leave that job lives in Canada. Yes, he lives in a fridge, natural one at that.
Besides my job, in my free time all I do is obsessed over fictional men. Oh right, one hobby. But that is one thing, the walls of my apartment are full of posters of characters of Call of duty, especially Simon ghost riley.
I'm so obsessed that I call myself Mrs. riley and ghost? my husband. Who's going to stop me? No one. While I indulge in the fandoms and edits on internet, I make sure to leave comments everywhere hoping a cosplayer would actually see potential in me and come find me. Hah! I'm stupid I know! I've always been so as a kid. But anyways, along with ghost we have whole team 141 on the wall.
As I hurriedly clean my face and wipe it, making a braid jumping here and there to hurry. "Come on Ember! you can't be fucking late he'll eat you today!" I mutter under my breath willing my hands to work faster.
Hi, my name is Ember, I'm 24. Why I'm making braid when I'm late? Well I've waist length hair and it's brownish black. I've fair complexion and I'm a chubby girl. I'm 5ft tall with my shoes. Without it I'm 4'11. People call us girly fat, but have seen my breast and butt size. I'm 36 DDD at my breast, that can happen when you've lot of fats.
I wore my Tshirt jeans shoes cap took my purse and phone and rushed out after locking the apartment. Daily ritual! I rushed down and walked the street. I still have 10 mins and if I keep walking fast I reach there in 8mins. Hmm? I might as well use my phone while walking.
As I opened my phone, it blasted with my husband's reel. Oh so cool, I ruined my algorithm a long time ago. Now, all I see is his edits,.no matter how ridiculous they are, I've seen them all. As I kept walking, I stopped at intersection, just cross the road and I'll reach the shop in 2 mins. Fair deal? But little did I know that it was anything but fair.
As I looked up from my phone my cap shading my big brown eyes from the sun, to cross the road. I see a white truck barreling towards me at unusual speed. Even if I run now I'll be crushed in half a piece! That's my first thought. Second thought is.. truck Kun? You're here?? But before I form any other ridiculous of third thoughts the truck hits me like lightning speed.
Everything plunges in darkness, all I feel is cold and a tick tock somewhere in the darkness... Maybe I'm dead. Maybe this is how death feels like.. before I can dwell anymore on these thoughts. My eyes open automatically I see myself in darkness but not the black darkness that intially consumed my thoughts and eyes, it's different. It's the darkness of night. But how can that be? I was just crushed by the truck Kun.
Did truck Kun actually transmigrated me? The thought rejoiced me a little, only a little because I didn't know where the hell I was. I groaned looking around blinking few times. I bit my lip, "where the fuck am I?" I mutter under my breath.
Before I form any more words I hear footsteps fast and furious towards me. I try to locate the sound. I hear a click and see someone step out the shadow with a gun (seems like a rifle if you ask me). But when my eyes fell upon the man, my blood ran cold. No it can't be! I thought. Before me stood none other than Simon ghost Riley with a gun raised on my head. A laser flickered on my head. My lips trembled and my knees wanted to give in at the sight of gun raised on me.
"Hands where I can see 'em!" He says stepping near me. Rifle raised on my face.
Oh not my face! I thought as I raised my hand and trembled at the thought of dying by the same man, I was so I obsessed with just before dying.
What kind of fan service is this? I thought keeping my eyes low and hand raised.
"Spotted a civvie. Negative. Unarmed. Looks confused." He says in his harsh British tone in his comm, rifle and eyes never straying from my form as if daring me to move so that he can drop me in a meat paste before moving forward.
"Name. Don't twitch or I drop you." He says in his comm again, as his eyes stays on me, cold and calculating.
I part my lips but no sound leaves my mouth they just round uselessly around. I tremble more at the thought of not being able to justify anything before becoming a live human paste.
"Civvie unresponsive. Bringing in." He says in an annoyed tone as if I've just increased his work load.
Typical ghost behaviour. I think to myself as how much I would have laughed if I saw it on the screen but now that I'm here and a six foot Plus man with a skull mask and rifle raised on my head, staring at me as if I breath wrong and I'm dead, it's not fucking funny!!
It's anything but funny. I think as I feel him step closer, my breath starts to get more shallow and my knees want to give in. I haven't looked once at him after I saw the look on his eyes. I'm just looking at my shoes. Because obviously I don't want to faint! I feel him remove something from his gear. Oh please don't kill me! I think to myself violently. But he doesn't kill me.. yet.
He harshly puts my wrist in a zip-tie. He starts dragging me somewhere as if I comply or not wouldn't make much difference to him. I hiss faintly as the zip-tie dig in my skin due to him dragging me by my arm but he looks at me once, then keeps on dragging me.
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.
When I woke up today or when I transmigrated to the call of duty world, I didn't think I'll be put up in this situation. Never ever. My mind was swelling with thoughts and bubbling with so much fear that even struggling with my body didn't help me.
*Muffled words* I tried to scream and call for help. Please god! Please! Help!! Ghost!! Where are you!! I thought as my mind echoed trying anything to get me out of the situation.
To my struggle and fear, the men reaction was sneering.
"Aww. Is the baby girl scared? Don't worry we'll make you feel good." The man in the center who had a scar above his eyebrow said snickering darkly seeing me struggling under the grasp of his comrade.
"What a thing we caught!" He says to his leader laughing about.
The short and stubby one of them held me his one hand on my mouth refraining me from screaming and other hand on my waist and my arms held together with it cuz my hands were ziptied if you remember.
Asshole!! Pervert! Motherfucker! Motherfucking dog!! I thought and also tried to scream with all came out as muffled voices. The edges of my vision seemed darkened by the stress and struggling and also this asshole trying to choke the living shit Outta me! But I kept struggling even in if it's to go in vain. I'm not going down without a fight! I thought.
This earned another fit of laughter from them,
"What a feisty little thing! It'll be fun!" The leader among them smirked darkly looking at me struggling with determination in my big brown eyes.
They started walking towards the opposing direction where we came from. We meaning I and ghost. Ugh where is he!? Did he go to save whole world? What if- oh no no.. what if he comes back and find me gone and leaves? Thinking I ran away!? Oh no!! Please god no!! He's my only saviour here!! I'd rather die from his hands! A GSW is better than being with these monsters!! I thought.
I started struggling more kicking my feet which were dangling in the air as he kept walking carrying me like it's a walk in the park. He's a soldier and I'm just a girl!! Think!! Think of something! Anything!! I try to race my mind.
"Tsk tsk tsk. You're a bad girl! I should teach you a lesson!" The third guy says.
Fuck you!! I say even in the muffled scream knowing full well they'll hear the muffled words and know what I'm trying to say. It's obvious I'm cursing them. I've been for a while.
The guy groans grabbing my hair making a fist out of it and snatching me from the other guys arm. My feets drag me towards him as I hiss in pain. My cap falls on the ground.
"For a pretty little thing you're! You sure don't know when to shut up don't you!!" He snarls in my face his spit flying everywhere in anger, as he tightens his hold on my hair and I feel like I'll go bald just by this. As I groan in pain, he pulls my head back making me look at his ugly ass face that was twisted in anger.
"Let me go!!" I scream in his face my voice cracking from panic and pain.
*Slap* My world twists and I see black for a second as I fall down from the sheer force. My cheek stings and my hand instinctively goes to my assaulted cheek. I tremble in pain and panic looking up to see who slapped me. I see leader glaring at me putting his hand down. The other two smirking as if they're seeing something amusing.
"How dare you.." I say in a small broken voice as tears threaten to fall from the corners of my eyes, as I speak I feel a sting on my lips and only then I realise that the corner of my lips have split and a few blood drops are spilling from there. But I can only care less about that in the situation I'm right now.
My trembling voice earns more dark chuckle from them as they circle around me. I tremble faintly trying to get up, to do anything but to stay infront of them like a broken helpless girl. As I put a hand on the forest ground trying to get up. The man who has been carrying me earlier ll Ike a rag doll grabs my hair again. I hiss in pain as he pulls hard not liking my attitude.
"Enough of this bullshit! Let me show you your place bitch!" He snarls pulling at my hair. I claw at his arm trying to set myself free from his grip. Few tears spill from my eyes due to the pain.
"Now you know your place!" The leader Snickers at the sight as if it's a comedy show going on.
"Asshole! I bet your mother hated that she gave birt- " I couldn't even finish my sentence when he slaps me again and I immediately fall back my mind going blank. After few second as I see colour again. I feel sharp sting on my face both sides now.
He grabs my face making me look at him. "Say that again bitch I'll make sure you'll beg for your death!" He says pressing my jaw with so much force that I feel like it'll break free.
I tremble in pain and anger. How dare this motherfucker! I think to myself meeting his ugly snarl with glaring intensity of mine.
He put a fist in air ready to punch me when we hear a clack and he falls on ground groaning. I immediately get up trying to see who is it and praying it's ghost instead of some asshole. When I see ghost a relief spreads over me and these men have opposite reaction.
The leader who was shot on shin crawls towards his rifle but he's shot again in his hand same hand he slapped me with twice and I feel something in me heal at that. Although I turned my face away at the sight of blood and grunts.
I hear him step forward and turn my face again to look at him, still trembling from pain but it doesn't matter now. Atleast someone's here.. even if ghost ultimately abandons me here.. I wouldn't question him. He's atleast here standing infront of the threat for me. A stranger to him. Thank you.. I think.
The night breeze ruffled my hair unlocking few stands of hair from my braid, I trembled mostly at the pain than the cold. My breath fogged near my face. Distant noise of gunshots and explosion all background music to me as I kept looking at ghost standing there like a silent sentinel.
I hugged myself instinctively as one of the men took a step towards and ghost took a step forward his rifle raised as if ready to drop anyone who even breathed wrong infront of him. I stayed rooted to my place clearly not wanting to be the one to be a meat paste on the ground.
The leader who was still on ground rolling in pain and blood, groaned faintly but none of the other two men moved to help him. Cowards! Fucking all of them! I thought as my eyes flicked towards the two men standing between me and Simon ghost riley and the leader on the ground like a crawling caterpillar in the forest.
I hear a static in the air, ghosts comm must be alive but obviously he doesn't give a shit about it. He's standing there his rifle raised as if he doesn't fear anyone not even bullets. Damn he's so.. so.. anyways let's not astray from my thoughts.. I think shaking my head lightly.
I see him take a step forward rifle raised not caring about these men at all. In an instant, he's infront of them and they start fighting with fists. Ghost immediately overpowers them as if he has been wating to plunge a knife in their throat since the moment he saw them.
I see him throw a knife at the other men throat while he killed the first one near him with his pistol. The knife landed swiftly on his throat and he fell like a rag doll. Blood pooled near them as they fell and the leader still groaning on the ground. Well.. he was left as it is like the caterpillar he is.
Ghost immediately stands infront of me, measuring me from head to toe. It was then I realised that he's infront of me after killing people like a walk in the park. I see him bend down to pick something up and I flinch taking a step back hugging myself tighter, trembling with eyes closed.
He picks my cap up, upon seeing my reaction he doesn't say anything just stands there holding my cap in his hand like "...."
I look upto him and then take my cap with my trembling hand. Yes my cap! So I can hide my face! Oh god!! So embarassing! I think as I immediately wear my cap breathing an exhale that fogs the air.
He turns around ready to walk again but looks once over his shoulder for a moment and then start walking. I see him starting to walk and start following him too, although at a slower pace. Everything hurts! All the struggle of kicking my feets. Getting slapped twice and split in my lips. Everything burnt like my face was on fire. I could feel a little wetness on the corner of my mouth but I chose to ignore it.
After walking for a while I heard ghost say in the comm.
"Civvies injured. Bringin' her to the extraction point." His British accent same dry and cold one.
I kept walking without using much of my thoughts. Because using them meaning clashing with reality and I wasn't ready to do that. I can't even cry but I want to. I think as look at my still ziptied wrist. I sighed faintly as I kept walking.
It was better when I was seeing Ghost on the screen! Staying here is a fucking nightmare! I don't even know where the fuck I'm! I almost got killed! Twice! Ugh why I even here!!?? I thought as I kept walking behind him silently. Only sound except the distant gunshots and explosions were my footsteps because ghost was walking like a shadow, no sound whatsoever.
As I kept walking and another cold breeze hit me, I was reminded of how happy and warm I was back at home, instead of this place. This place feels like a nightmare where every steps can be your last one. As more memories of my life floods in my mind, my eyes start glistening and I feel tears fall from the corner of my eyes but I dare not stop following him.
I sniffed faintly as more tears fall from my eyes tracing my cheeks and dropping down my chin. I hear ghost look back at me once and then he kept walking and I'm thankful he just kept walking because how awkward would it have been. I wiped my face with my hands and the cried more wiping my face again, walking behind him all the while and he never turned to look at me even once after that.
After walking a good enough distance I heard him say,
"Almost there."
But I don't know if he said that to me or in comm. I nodded my head even though I know he can't see me nodding my head.
As we kept walking and I've cried all the way. Then he stopped abruptly sensing something maybe another danger. I stopped too and my mind started to race, my guts twisting at the thought of having to go through this all over again.
I heard many static in the air as if comm was buzzing again and again. I grew curious over what was going on. Wish there was a way to know what they were talking about.
I hear him say after a while in deadpan tone,"Shut it Johnny.."
At the mention of soap, I grew more curious, raising my feet to take a step forward hoping I can listen. But I saw him, a faint tilt of his head as if he heard me move a little and I kept my feet back down not moving at all. Right.. who am I kidding! He can probably hear my thoughts too! I think to myself exhaling a breath in annoyance.
He turned back to look at me and I went still as the kid who is caught with hand in the jar of cookies. But I'm not even doing anything!! I think to myself seeing his deadpan look towards myself. Seeing my expression maybe he tilts his head turning fully towards me now. Oh no!! I think to myself as I feel him giving me- you were saying somethin'? look.