𝘒ö𝘯𝘪𝘨 / 𝘎𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘹 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳

nothing more, nothing less {Ghost}

The task force was who Ghost was.
The one thing that managed to keep him together.
A tether of some sort to humanity.

He stared at your neck, at the pulsing carotid arteries. Ah. There was a time when he would have already plunged the knife in.

A time where he would have felt the warm blood rushing over his fingertips, filling his senses.
His stomach tightened.
And yet, something held him back.

The guilt had come crawling back.
He couldn't do it again.
Could he?

He could feel your pulse, it's steady beat calling to him as his fingers rested on your wrist.

He closed his eyes, focusing on your pulse.
He focused on the feel of your skin, your warmth, the smell of you. Alive, with purpose.

He wondered what it was about you, why you were different.

Ghost knew your name, knew your life.
Knew you inside out.
Knew your flaws and strengths.

And yet, there were others.
Other names.
Other lives.
Others who had passed under his judgement and were now just a tally in his ledger.

So why you?

Had he become soft?
Had he become a normal person?
Or had he fallen in love?

Even monsters can feel love...right?

He let go of your wrist, his feet carrying him to the bathroom, leaving your room as you continued to sleep.

He stared at himself in the bathroom mirror. Hair disheveled, his tired eyes meeting the reflection of a person he no longer knew.

'Locate her. Study her. Familiarize yourself with her routine.'

No. No. No.

'Find a way into her life.'

He rubbed his eyes.
This was a job, a role he had to play.

'Find those documents.'

He took a deep breath.
He had to do it.
He could do it...could he?

'Once you find the documents...eliminate her.'

His fingers gripped the porcelain sink, white-knuckled, his mission rushing back to him.

'Do you understand, Ghost?'

'....I understand, sir.'

His fist collided with the mirror, the broken shards cutting his knuckles. "Fuck!"

He had to finish the job.
He had to.

He'll do it...leave, go somewhere far away... begin the process of letting you fade from his memory...he had to.

It was his role.
You were a target.
A name to a body.
Thats all who you were to him....right?

"Ghost, you copy?"

The comm crackled in his ear.

"Yes sir."

It was getting late.

"Report. What did you find?"

They were going to notice he was purposely dragging out the mission, if they hadn't already.

"She's got it."

"The documents?"

"Yes...I saw it in her desk...it's all there."

He had to finish the job...

"Then it is time for Phase 2."

...right?