Hello, here's another chapter. Nothing much to say this time. I rambled about my exam session last time so all I will say is hope you enjoy :)
(also I noticed that text format in last chapter was different than before. it's probably because I updated from my phone so this time I tried to make it look more like before)
Cathy was dizzy and could hardly understand her surroundings. Slowly her vision became clearer. She noticed that her arms and legs were tied to the chair she was sitting on. Cathy looked around the room and saw Scarecrow sitting tied to a chair a few metres away right in front of her. Right from her there was a table and two enemies were standing beside it. One of them noticed that she was awake.
"O, smotri ona prosnulas." (Oh, look, she's awake) he said to the other one and they walked up to her.
"Nu, zaya, znaesh pochemu ty zdes?" (Well, bunny, do you know why are you here?) the other one asked.
Cathy looked up to them trying to move in the chair. She tried to look calm but you could clearly see fear in her eyes. Cathy understood that they weren't in the building that they were in the beginning of the mission and that possibility that someone would save them was small.
"Don't hurt her." said Scarecrow.
"No one asked you." said one Russian and punched Scarecrow. "You sit quiet."
Cathy moved in her seat nervously. There was no way she could escape. Other Russian grabbed her by the chin and held tightly.
"Tell me, where does your daddy hold his troops?" He asked. "You understand what I'm talking about."
"I don't know." she answered and received a punch. She flinched at the burning feeling on her cheek and seconds later she received another punch.
"Answer my question. Gde ego soldaty?" he asked again.
"I'm telling you I have no idea." she said. Angry Russian packed a few punches and Cathy started coughing out blood. Scarecrow looked at Cathy with fear. He shivered when he saw blood. Once he was about to say something he got punched again. Scarecrow groaned at the pain. There was nothing he could do to ease her torture. He could try to take Russian attention because he can withstand more pain, but they would simply go back to her as soon as they are done with him.
"I'm telling you the truth. I'm just a Sergeant and I have no knowledge whatsoever you need." she said lowly and looked to the enemy soldier that was standing next to her. The other one turned around to see her.
"Alright then. I'll ask you a different question." he said pulling out his knife out of the holster. Russian grabbed her by the chin and put the sharp edge to the side of her face just up from her temple. He pressed the knife to her skin and asked "What are the administration codes in your military system?"
"I don't know." Cathy said with her voice cracking. She started crying out loud and screaming when enemy dragged the knife down a few centimetres cutting her skin. Blood started streaming down her cheek.
"Tell me everything you know about Shepherd. Raskazhi!"(Tell me)
Cathy trembled feeling the pressure of the knife. Tears were streaming down her face when it moved all the way down her face. When the Russian walked away she let her head hang low. Cathy could see blood drops falling on her uniform soaking it. She felt pounding in her head from all the stress and pain. It looked like she wasn't controlling her body anymore.
Whole team grouped up in the basement. Captain looked around the place. It was dark and damp but you could see blood on the floor.
"Depending on the trail" he began saying while following it "person was dragged out there. He couldn't have walked himself."
The rest of the team slowly followed Captain. The tunnel they walked through connected the buildings and it was an opportunity to attack the enemies faster. Roaches hands were shaking at the thought of anything happening to Catherine. He was the one who kept saying that everything will be alright. Gary felt guilty for what happened.
Task force was pushing through the building. Resistance was huge but they managed to get through the enemies though they weren't very successful. There was no weapon deal happening and they didn't gather any information. This whole mission was a set up.
They all gathered at the ground floor of the last building waiting for the Captains order. He was standing beside the window holding his rifle close to his chest. He knew how troublesome this situation was and how dangerous it gets with every second they waste.
"There is no trace they were dragged into one of these buildings." he began saying. "Only option is the village East from here. Though I have no logical explanation why they did this or why they would take our soldiers there it is our only option. We move out in five minutes. And I want to make sure everyone understands what following my orders mean." he finished his sentence staring at Roach who looked to his superior and nodded.
Others had a little chat discussing what happened and what they were about to do. They all seemed quite indifferent to what was happening. At least that's what Roach thought looking at their calm faces.
"Whose blood was it anyways?" asked Ozone. "What if it wasn't Carmen's or Scarecrow's? What if the explosion hurt our enemies and it was their blood and our friends are taken somewhere else?"
Nobody liked Ozone's idea. Especially Roach. His heart trembled making him feel crazy. Gary fell in love with a girl over such short time. Worst part both of them were in the service and every second could be their last.
"Don't say things like that, Ozone. We'll find them and save them. Right, mate?" said Ghost patting Gary's shoulder. "We are moving out."
Soldiers gathered outside the building and moved towards the village. The distance between the complex and their destination was smaller than between LZ and complex so it didn't take as much time to reach it.
The village was surrounded by a big concrete wall with spiky wire on top and the entrance was heavily guarded. TF was slowly moving up trying to ambush the enemies. Suddenly a loud female scream was heard and guards got distracted. Captain took this opportunity and said 'Open fire' killing first few enemies. Each member shot enemies moving forward through the gate facing even more resistance. Another loud female cry was heard and Roach couldn't hold anymore. His hands were shaking like mad and as he was about to dash towards the centre of village Captain grabbed him by the elbow pulling him down to ground.
"If you go around recklessly like this you won't stay in Task Force for long." he said after he turned of his coms. "Get your grip, soldier. We are on a mission." Roach got up and followed Captain silently. His heart was pacing like a race horse.
The team came storming in the houses with no luck only finding more enemies. Minutes later they came to the last house in the village.
"Roach, Toad, stay outside and cover us. Rest of you go inside. Move!" said Captain and rushed inside. They didn't meet much resistance. Once ground and first floors were clear MacTavish sent Ghost and Archer to the basement. Two soldiers went down just to see two helpless enemies holding their teammates as hostages.
Torturers were shot in a blink of an eye and Ghost rushed towards Scarecrow to check up on him. As he was cutting the ropes Scarecrow said: "I'm alright. Carmen on the other hand is wounded heavily."
Ghost nodded and turned to Carmen. He gently touched her chin lifting her head. She groaned at his touch. Lieutenant sighed at the sight of her face. It was swollen and covered in blood. Archer walked up to ground floor and told his superior about the situation. Captain nodded and walking down to basement called in the base for ride back. He walked up to Ghost who was cutting the ropes that tied Carmen.
"I'll carry her back. You support Scarecrow." he said and picked Catherine up. She looked like a porcelain doll abandoned in an old attic. So pale and easily breakable. Captain barely felt her weight. He carefully carried her up the stairs to ground floor and out of the house. Scarecrow and Ghost followed him closely.
"Follow me. Primary LZ. Double time." he said while moving through the streets of the village. All men followed Captain with weapons ready. They moved up quickly as they cleared out all of the enemies on their way there.
Roach was catching up with everyone. At the sight of Carmen his heart just dropped and he just froze. Gary couldn't believe someone could do something so cruel, so sadistic. He knew he had to do his best and make every Russian who is associated with this pay.
They reached the LZ and boarded the heli quickly. Captain laid Catherine on a few seats and let Ghost do his job. He took the first aid kit and started cleaning Cathy's wounds. She groaned once again when Ghost touched her face. Her skin was swollen and bruised also behind all the blood was hiding a huge cut going down the side of her face. Scarecrow flinched at the sight.
"There, there. It's okay." he said calmingly when she came back to her senses and pierced him with her cold dead eyes. "You're going to be alright.
She was breathing heavily with her head pounding and hands shaking. Ghost was as careful as possible cleaning her skin. It was just as painful as it was before for her but she was too tired to cry about it.
"I cleaned your wounds so there's no infection. I'll leave the rest for Angel, darling." she nodded at Ghosts response and minutes later Carmen passed out again.
Soldiers were all tensed from that day's events. No one really talked the whole trip back to base. The only thing Roach noticed was Captains scolding look. Young Sergeant have never seen his superior so angry. He understood what he did was wrong and might have gotten not only him but the whole team in danger. He sighed at the thought of a long lesson that awaits him when they get back to base.
And Roach was right. Just as they landed Captain ordered Ghost to take Carmen to medics and dismissed everyone but Roach.
"Do you understand in what kind of danger you put us being so reckless? Even Carmen could have died because of you. If you don't care about your own safety think about her. If whatever you do could cause pain to her you shouldn't do it." he stated angrily. It took him some time to calm down meanwhile Roach was standing with his head down. "Listen, for what you did I could easily kick you out of this Task Force but I won't. You are a good and skilled soldier and despite getting on my nerves all day for not following my orders you helped us out. We can use someone like you. But the thing is you have to get some control over yourself. I understand how difficult it is. I have been in same situation when I was younger. Duty comes first and only then love. Got it?"
Roach nodded still looking down. He was ashamed, he looked like a fool and almost fucked up this whole mission and his military career but he was thankful Captain let it slip so easily.