Sorry to keep you guys in suspense. This is a short chapter, but it should tell you if Ghost is dead or not... if you read the entire thing. ENTIRE. I mean it.

If this chapter is a bit religious, I'm sorry. I'm experimenting with Ghost's beliefs a bit, here. I see him as the type of guy who would've lost faith in God WAY long ago, maybe when being tortured by Roba. Since his family DID celebrate Christmas, I assume he GREW UP Catholic... but you never know. That's just how I saw it. :D And yes, I'm Catholic, so I displayed the general belief of Catholicism in what Ghost talks about, like purgatory.

Please, if you object to something I just said above, or something Ghost talks about, message me in a PM, not in a review. I don't want any religious battles, please. Thanks. XD

Question of the Chapter: In the sequel I'm going to write (yes, I AM), what would YOU like to happen in it? What key events would you like to see? I have a general idea of what I'm planning, but you can help me, if you want. ^_^

Read, enjoy, and review!

-ecto1B

Please read the bolded note at the bottom of this chapter. Thanks!

Chapter 32:

Revenge

Lt. Simon James 'Ghost' Riley

It was death.

Death was finally to take my soul.

Roba had accomplished his mission.

In Shepherd's cold eyes, I'd seen the sparkling brown orbs of Roba cackling at me, gloating and toasting for my eradication. I'd seen him standing at the foot of the devil's table, raising his glass along with the others whom I'd despised and feared since I was taken hostage. The devil himself sat to Roba's right, giggling with mirth and repeatedly checking his watch, anxious for my arrival at their table. Along with them sat some of the world's most evil people, all waiting for me. It was inevitable; I would soon sit at the devil's table in the bowels of hell, for I was truly demonic. No God could accept me into the gates of heaven after what I'd done throughout my life. Not even purgatory could hold all the sins on my shoulders. I was done. Over. Dead.

The only positive thing I could think of at the time was Queen. Queen, the woman whose limp, slender body had managed to push me out of the way, just before Shepherd fired a deadly shot into her abdomen. Queen, the woman who'd fought for me, who'd screamed and begged for my life to be spared. Queen, who I'd made love to in the base's laundromat. Queen, who was probably the only person able to save me from my destiny in hell, whose angelic body and mind could purify my soul and enable me to see a glimpse of heaven.

She would go to heaven, I knew. She hadn't committed any crimes like I have. She never was accused of murdering her family. She didn't go mad with anger after being tortured for six months.

I loved that woman with every fiber of my being. And I would've gladly let ever fiber of my being be destroyed if it would save her.

It looked as if I was about to do just that.

Pfc. Mckinley Shane 'Queen' Front

I remember that old commercial that played on TV right before Modern Warfare 2 came out. It was incredible. All my guy friends at school were discussing it during every free second they had. The graphics, the look of the gameplay, what they'd heard from other friends… It seemed to me that they hadn't cared about the words being spoken during the commercial. Unlike them, I took to memorizing the lines, for they haunted me immensely.

"Revenge is like a ghost. It takes over every man it touches. Its thirst cannot be quenched until the last man standing has fallen. The world's men of action will look and wonder… how it came to this. You may be able to destroy me, but the beast will eventually come for you."

Eventually, after purchasing the game, I found out that those were Makarov's words. The bloody, vulgar, Ultranationalist scum that murdered thousands to create chaos between Russia and America. Just to seek his revenge on the men who murdered his precious Zakhaev,

Those words would've been much more genuine coming from General Shepherd's mouth, I think. He was the betrayer, the traitor, the turncoat. He brought the gun to Ghost's head and pulled the trigger. He believed my gun still had ammo in it, the stupid sonofabitch. Would he realize the gun was empty, contact his men, and have us executed? I knew he could easily have that done… but could Ghost and I react fast enough to evade another close encounter with death?

Only fate could decide if revenge was really like a Ghost.

DUNN DUNN DUNN!

(Poor Dunn is recovering from him being KO'd after reading the last chapter. He'll be back soon!)

Suggested COD Reads:

To Lead a Flock To Slaughter by Emily 'Gadget' Robins

The Red Dragon Redux by Arhani 'Hanny' Daforcena

Our General Theory of Total World Domination by AstroRen's UberNova (and me!)

Haunting a Ghost by GHOST oo007

Codename: Charlie by SoapyVnecks

Fire by Carovinee

The Cottage by VerityA

Just Call Me Daddy by AwesomeBlonde89

Loose Ends by Dunedain789

Deal with the Devil by dryskim

A fine Line by Erin Peepsta

All of the above stories are SUPER-DE-DUPER incredible. Each of these authors deserve your attention MUCH MORE than I do. Compared to them, I'm a horrible author. So please, go check them out and give them a pleasant review. 'Cause they all deserve it. They are fantastic. Most of them actually review this story, which is SURREAL for me. They're THAT amazing.

Thank you. Everyone who actually thinks my story isn't half bad, and reviews. Thank you. I really appreciate all your kind words of support. It keeps me going. XD

Love you all! PLEASE do read those stories I mentioned above! You won't regret it!

-ecto1B (and Dunn, of course)