Las Almas, Mexico
ARZALEA 'SILK' BLACKWOOD

THE TIME READ 0100 as I sat cross-legged on my bed, facing Soap, who was mirroring my position across from me. If anyone were to walk into my room right now, we'd look like two best friends sharing gossip about the hottest guy on base. But that was far from what this conversation was about to be about.

Fucking hell, I need a coffee.

"So...you must have questions," I started off slowly, meeting his gaze that had been on me ever since I left the bathroom. I couldn't tell if he was in shock or what. Jesus, I couldn't get over how fucking weird this felt, talking to a new person about my secret. It was uncharted territory, I've only had to do this once in my life, and the person I told it to was dead.

I pushed away the tightness in my chest at the thought and tried to focus when I saw Soap nod his head. His eyes searched my face, as if he were looking at a whole new person and not the woman he had gotten to know over the past few weeks. It has been a few weeks, right? Fuck, I don't know.

"How do you know John?" He asked.

I paused. Out of all the questions I had expected him to ask, that wasn't the one I was expecting first. I thought he would start off with something more like how the hell did you heal? or why did you keep it a secret? but he surprised me.

I took in a shallow breath, placing my hands into my folded lap as I rounded my shoulder forward. I was playing with the drawstrings from the sweatpants I now wore. How should I start this off? Should I beat around the bush? Or should I just tell him the full story? I mean, I think I could trust him.

But that was still in question – he threw a fucking knife at me!

"My...when I was...shit," I huffed as Soap sat patiently, giving me time to find the right words. "I was kidnapped when I was eight years old," My words were soft and hesitant. I didn't meet his eyes, knowing if I looked up, I would lose the nerve to continue.

"My mother and I lived in Monticello, Arkansas at the time. She was an art teacher at the local elementary school and had to stay late to grade papers, and I was only there because my father was busy at the shop and couldn't pick me up..." My eyes were on my fingers playing with the strings of my sweats, trying to focus on that as I recalled the memory. Soap stayed silent and I could only imagine the look he was giving me.

I continued, "It was late. Probably around 6:30pm when she finally got done. We went out to the parking lot to get in the car and go home – I knew something was off though. And I think my mother did too, because she was acting weird. Looking over her shoulder like someone was in the shadows, waiting for us..."

I flinched as a large hand grabbed my own, stopping me from pulling apart the strings. I chanced a look at Soap, who gave me an encouraging nod. I give him a watery smile before continuing again.

"It all happened so fast. One moment, we were standing by the car, and the next, we were surrounded by faceless men as they grabbed us and forced something over our faces, knocking us out...I woke up later, tied to a chair in some room. It was dimly lit, and I can still remember the smells...soon after I woke up, some man dressed in a black tactical suit walked in and injected me with something – I don't know what it was, but it hurt, it hurt so fucking bad."

By this point, my voice was wavering and there was tears in my eyes. I wiped my eyes harshly, letting go of Soap for a moment before rejoining our hands, needing something to ground me so I could get through this.

"After that, he left the room and that was when I realized my mother was tied up across from me. She was talking to me, trying to comfort me. But before too long, the man came back and the way he treated me, it was like I was some lab experiment to him. He had a radio and was talking to someone on the other side...I don't know who it was, but they didn't speak English...But the only thing that man spoke in English was Kill her—"

That was when a little whimper passed my lips and I had to stop the sob that wanted to slip past my lips. Stay strong, stay fucking strong. Soap's face held pain as he listened. Pain for me? I would never know.

"At first, I thought he was talking about me. But that idea fucking died the moment he pulled out a gun and turned to my mother—" I looked away from Soap. I didn't want to see his pity when I told him this next part. I didn't want pity. I just wanted him to understand. "She screamed at me to close my eyes, to not look – so I did. I was a fucking coward, Soap, I didn't look. I closed my eyes and refused to open them. Even after hearing the gunshot go off, I didn't look. I just sat there, numb. I didn't even open my eyes when John found me."

That was when I finally looked back at Soap. He eyes were wide as he took in what I was saying. "Price found you?"

I nodded, "Yeah, him and Kate. They saved my life that day. And after all that, John was tasked to keep an eye on me...so strings were pulled and John adopted me. I left my home and moved to London with John. It was hard at first. I didn't trust him, but after some time we grew closer and became a family." I smiled softly, "John is like a father to me. He raised me. He helped me learn and grow. He's the reason I'm even alive."

Soap slowly nodded, taking in this information like a champ. "Ye' didn't have family in America that could have taken you in?"

I shook my head, letting out a bitter chuckle. "No. My grandparents both passed a long time ago. And My father, he was a piece of shit my whole life. And after we got taken, he vanished off the face of the earth. No one could track him. It was like he just ceased to exist."

Soap furrowed his brow, "Do you think he had something to do with your kidnapping?"

"That's a possibility...Kate did some digging and found out he was making trades with some sketch company that got shut down after my rescue. I can't remember what it was called though..."

"What a dick," He scowled and squeezed my hands softly, "I'm so sorry you had to go through that, Silk."

"Arzalea."

"Huh?"

I smiled through the tears that were rimming my eyes, "My name. It's Arzalea...Arzalea Blackwood."

The smile that spread on this man's face made my own grow. He shifted our hands and shook one, a goofy smirk taking over his features. One that made me feel a bit better.

"Nice to meet you, Arzalea."

His words were like a blow to my chest. He was right. He was meeting Arzalea Blackwood. He was the first person in years that I told my story to, and it felt nice like a weight was taken off my chest.

Soap regarded me carefully. "So, you are a Super Soldier? Those rumors I heard about blokes being able to lift a tank were true?"

"Well, I don't know about that...as far as I know, I'm the only one left...John told me the adults that had the injections got terminated. The only reason I survived was because Kate pulled some strings and saved my life."

Soap shook his head as if this were the most mind-blowing thing he had ever heard. And maybe it was. "How does no one else know about this?"

"Only a selected few know about me, and I don't even know who they are." I feel a little vulnerable admitting that. I knew some of the higher-ups had to know of my existence, I mean, they had to...right?

I took in a deep breath as I prepared myself for the next part of this conversation. The part where I found out if I could trust Soap with this or not.

"Soap, you have to promise you won't tell anyone about this...no one else can know." I made sure to squeeze his hand so he knew how serious I was.

Soap looked at me long and hard, and I could see the questions building behind his eyes. "I promise...but...why?"

"Because," I leaned back, shifting my seat because my legs began feeling numb. "It's dangerous. There's a reason only a few people know about me and my abilities...It could end badly for you, or for me. And I would never forgive myself if you got hurt." My cheeks were the shade of a tomato as I told him this. And I actually meant what I said. In this short time of knowing Soap, he had become someone I would hate seeing hurt.

He's too nice, to kind. He didn't deserve to be hurt.

Soap's face softened slightly, "Aye, don't say things like that, Lass. Nothin' can hurt a MacTavish but a MacTavish." He placed a hand on my shoulder, willing me to look back up at him. "I won't tell a soul,"

"Thank you, Soap,"

"Johnny, call me Johnny, Love."

Only time could tell if I could trust Johnny MacTavish with my secret, and I just hoped he didn't let me down.