Author's Note: If you have any writing tips, please feel free to comment.

Again, I gratefully accept constructive criticism as a means to help me develop my skills as a writer.

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Chapter 23

"What the hell is going on?" asked Collins terrified.

They were moved from their cell and strapped to chairs in a large room which had fresh blood splattered on the floor. Allen and Red realized that they probably already got to Malloy and Williams.

"It's ok Collins," replied Red.

"Not for long."

A man entered the room wearing an elegant suite. His light brown was messy but still managed to look tidy and his eyes settled on Red. Her deep blue eyes widened with shock when she gazed deep into the blue and green eyes.

"Makarov..." murmured Allen in horror.

"My apologies for my rudeness Mackenzie Allen," he said smiling. "You really look like your brother. Joseph was a handsome young man, very talented. He made a great terrorist; nearly fooled me when he killed off all those civilians at Zakhaev Airport."

"Shut up you fucker! My brother is a hero!" yelled Allen crossly.

Makarov backslapped her hard causing her lip to bleed. He looked calm but his eyes were filled up with anger.

"Watch your mouth!" he said and then turned to Red. "Privet, moy drug."

"I am no friend of yours," she replied in a hostile tone.

"You're right because you're a Russian who's helping out the enemy," he said in a malicious tone. "You have betrayed our Motherland!"

"I will serve and fight until I have eliminated all of Mother Russia's enemies. You are the terrorist here Makarov!"

"We will see about that," he said smirking. "And then we have the youngest and the most innocent."

Makarov moved towards Collins and stroked her cheek. She instantly jerked her head back, petrified.

"This one is all yours, gentlemen," he said to the guards who grinned evilly and started dragging Collins away.

"Leave her alone assholes!" screamed Allen.

Red started swearing at them in Russian which earned her a punch with a knuckle duster in her stomach from Makarov.

"I'm not done with you two," he said wickedly.

Collins started screaming and squirming around, desperately trying to free herself. One of the guards dragged her by her hair and the other from her t-shirt into a nearby cell.

"We're going to have a little fun, beautiful," he said with a thick Russian accent.

"No! Please... no!" she whimpered, tears streaming down her face.

One of the guards held her still while the other started unzipping his trousers.

"NO!"

--- --- --- --- ---

"Are those screams?" asked Williams.

"Fuck..." whispered Malloy.

They started hearing multiple screams from a few cells away. Both of them were back in their cell, untied this time. They were sprawled on the floor, barely moving and in terrible pain. Espinosa has not been gentle with them; they were covered in cuts where the guards had rubbed salt in them making the wounds burn like hell. She shocked them and drowned them for pure entertainment. They knew that Makarov was there because they heard the two terrorists converse about their plans, thinking that the prisoners were unconscious.

"This is so painful," whimpered Williams trying to tend to her wounds.

"Come on Devil Dog, we can go through this," said Malloy.

"We're going to die in this shithole," she replied.

"Probably," said Malloy sniffing.

Williams dragged herself near her friend and hugged her lightly because of the wounds.

"Remember Lisa, there's strong and then... there's army strong."

Malloy laughed slightly. She was right; she went through this once, she'll do it again.

"Hooah. If we die, we'll drag those fuckers with us," said the Captain determined.

"Damn straight."

--- --- --- --- ---

"What have we got Price?"

"Nothing, Soap. They're trying to track them down but it's all in bloody vain."

"Bloody hell, I can't take this anymore!" yelled Ghost slamming his fist on the desk.

"Ghost! Calm down!" said MacTavish.

"Calm down? Are you fucking serious mate? They could be dead by now!" he spat.

"You're not the only who cares for them now calm down Lieutenant!" ordered Price and Ghost took a deep breath and sat down with his face buried in his hands. "Where's Roach?"

"Probably jogging. He hasn't talked much since we came back and I'm worried about him," said MacTavish.

"I'm going for a walk," said Ghost and went out of Price's room.

"Price, I'm going to the comms room to see if there are any developments," said MacTavish and Price nodded in reply.

He walked to the administration building with his mind flooding with frightening thoughts. The things they may be doing to Lisa; she already went through so much. As revenge, Espinosa may eliminate her to get her out of the way. MacTavish waved away these thoughts and entered the comms room. General Malloy was looking into some files and maps and Daniels was still at the computer along with other soldiers. Tiger had returned to Langley to assist Nielson and Colonel Williams went to rest. They had been up all night and nobody slept. Sergeant Foley informed the Rangers about Allen and as predicted, Ramirez took it worse than the others.

MacTavish walked to the General to inquire about new developments that may have occurred.

"Sir! Anything new?"

"No Captain, nothing," replied the General looking up and noticed MacTavish's crestfallen face. "Don't worry MacTavish, we will find them."

"And if we don't? Or we're too late?" he asked in dismay.

"They're amongst the first women to be on the front lines, Captain. They are strong soldiers," said General Malloy.

He observed MacTavish's miserable expression and realized that those words still would not comfort him. The General closed the files and invited him to sit at the desk at the far end of the room so that they would not be overheard.

"MacTavish, are you worried that you won't see Lisa again?"

"Sir... I-"

"I know that there is something going on between you two," he smiled. "I am old but I'm not stupid."

MacTavish started panicking. He did not know how to reply to that statement considering that he is talking to the father of the woman he had slept with and that he was a General in the army.

"I don't know what to do or how to feel or ... anything," said MacTavish finally running his hands through his Mohawk.

"Don't worry son. I am sure that Lisa does not want you to be distraught."

"I promised that I would protect her. I failed her sir..." he said in a small voice, looking down ashamed.

General Malloy smiled slightly and put a hand on the young Captain's shoulder. MacTavish looked up at him and saw the General smiling at him.

"Soap, you haven't failed her. As long as you believe in her, you'll never leave her side despite the fact you can't be physically near her. I know my daughter, she may look impervious to emotions but when she has feelings towards someone, she'll do anything for him. Believe me; she got that from me," he said winking and went back to work leaving MacTavish feeling a bit reassured.

--- --- --- --- ---

Ghost was walking around the base observing his surroundings. The soldiers went on their business, as usual, marching, training and simply walking around. However, one can notice those who are a bit taken aback by recent events. Those soldiers who worked with or were acquainted with the ETF looked devastated but went on with their usual routine. Ghost was glad that Charlene and he had solved the conflict they had between them or he wouldn't have managed with the guilt weighing on his mind.

"Lieutenant, may I join you?"

He turned around and saw Colonel Williams with the usual neat uniform and tied back hair. The bags under her eyes and clammy skin did not show that she was well rested.

"Of course Colonel," he replied.

"Riley, I apologize about last time," she said reluctantly.

By her tone, Ghost noticed that she was not the type to apologize at all.

"Me too, ma'am. I was a bit of a smart ass."

"I have to tell you something else. It was not Charlene's fault that she terminated all contact with you."

Ghost stopped in his tracks and turned to her confused.

"How do you mean?"

"I actually urged her to forget about you and to concentrate on her work and that it was not the behavior of a Spec Ops soldier to get distracted by such nonsense," she said apologetically.

"So it wasn't her idea ..."

"No. She was getting frustrated by the distance between you two and I noticed that she was not coping well with everything else," she continued sighing. "There is when I noticed that she really cared about you. To tell you the truth, I didn't want her to end up like me."

"She won't because I'll be there for her and I'll do anything to get her back safe," said Ghost determined. "I suggest we put our differences aside and work together."

"Aye aye Lieutenant," she smiled, shaking his hand.

--- --- --- --- ---

"I can't take this anymore," said Allen weeping.

"Come on Mac, don't give up on me," said Red desperate to comfort her friend.

Three days have passed in that wretched dungeon and they were tortured for information by Makarov and Espinosa. The former wanted information on Task Force 141 and the latter simply wanted to hurt them. Collins was moved to another cell and they haven't heard from her since. In addition, they did not know if their Captain and Lieutenant were even alive.

They've been shocked so many times that they were starting to get immune to it. Shocking someone does not leave any physical damage but punching and kicking you do. They were bruised all over and covered with blood; malnutrition and dehydrated. The probability is that they were going to die there if they keep going on like that.

"Surprise ladies," said the guard with the Russian accent.

They hated him; he was always coming on to them and groping them. Red wanted to slit his throat and drown him in his own blood. She couldn't take it anymore. These Russians were cancer to her beloved homeland and she must eliminate them.

They dragged them to the same spacious room and thought that they were going to torture them again but instead they saw a camera in the middle of the room. There were Malloy and Williams tied to chairs barely conscious.

"Fox! Shadow!" exclaimed Red.

Malloy opened one eye and saw Red and Allen near her. She smiled slightly.

"You 'k guys?" she asked barely moving her lips.

"We're still alive," replied Allen.

The door opened and Collins was dragged by her arms onto a chair. She was barely conscious, her clothes were torn and her hair and face were covered in blood. Her head bobbed over her chest and stood there in a catatonic state.

"What the hell did you do to her?!" asked Williams heatedly.

"Shut the fuck up," said Espinosa who just entered the room with Makarov.

"Is it ready?" asked Makarov calmly, pointing to the camera and the guard nodded in reply.

--- --- --- --- ---

"Sir! We have received a file," said Daniels tapping away on the computer.

"From whom Serg'?" asked the General confused.

"No idea sir."

"Open it and put it on the big screen."

"Roger."

It was about one in the morning. Both the General and Daniels could not sleep so they decided to stay in the comms room to work and talk. Daniels was feeling guilty because at that time she should be with them. So to redeem herself, she worked overtime to try and localize her friends causing stress on her relationship with her fiancé Derek. General Malloy was preoccupied about his daughter and the other soldiers. He didn't even tell his wife and Lisa's sister Louise about the situation.

Daniels played the clip on the big screen and gasped as she noticed her colleagues were tied to a chair all mangled up, bruised and covered with blood. The General got up with a jump as he saw them all in a devastating state in the film.

"Daniels, go and get the 141, Williams and Shepherd! Hurry!" he ordered and Daniels dashed out.

The General paused the clip and surveyed the environment. It was probably a dungeon. It could be anywhere in the world. At least they were still alive despite the fact that they looked in a horrible state. Williams and Shepherd arrived first with the former wearing a jacket over her PJs and the latter the normal ACU. The 141 ran inside the comms room wide awake wearing nothing but a t-shirt, trousers, and trainers. Ghost's and Roach's hair was a mess but they did not care as they expressed a sigh of relief.

"They're still alive!" said Ghost.

"Thank God," whispered Colonel Williams.

"What is this?" asked Price.

"We received a file from an anonymous source," replied Daniels sitting back at the desk.

"Sergeant, contact the CIA," said the General and Daniels did as she was ordered.

They all stood there, pensive at the paused clip of the soldiers apparently struggling to keep themselves alive. Then, Agent Nielson and Tiger appeared on the screen next to the film.

"You were lucky to find us here General. What seems to be the problem?" asked Nielson in his usual unemotional tone.

"We received this film with regards to the Elite Task Force after they were captured when rescuing one of your own-"

"In which they failed to do so I might add," interrupted the agent.

"We accepted to help you and in return, we are risking to lose five of our best soldiers; so I suggest you shut the hell up and listen," said the General heatedly. "I thought it's best we see it all together and in the meantime, we need you to trace the file's location."

"We'll try our best General," replied Tiger.

"Ok Sergeant Daniels, play it."

The five soldiers were fighting to keep awake, all tied to chairs waiting on what is going to happen next and the reason why they're being recorded. The door opened and a man and little girl were dragged in.

"Shit," said Malloy under her breath.

"Who are they?" asked Shepherd.

"They're Alice's family," replied Tiger shocked.

"This is not good," said MacTavish under his breath.

"Hey! You work with my wife," said the man panicking looking at Malloy, "what's going on here?"

"Everything's fine, don't worry," said Malloy breathing heavily.

"Actually it's not," said Espinosa with a sickening smile on her face. "To all our spectators, I welcome you. For those who do not know me, which is highly improbable, I am Teresa Espinosa. I am the one who will make your life a living hell."

Red started swearing at her in Russian and spat on the floor. Makarov pulled out his gun and pointed it at Red's head and the girl started crying.

"Daddy! I want to go home!" she cried.

"It's ok honey," said Williams trying to comfort her.

"I have always hated whiny children," said Espinosa with disgust. Without thinking, she shot the little girl in the head. Blood and brain matter splattered against the wall and her tiny lifeless body smacked on the ground.

"Jesus. Bloody. Christ!" exclaimed Roach turning away in shock.

"Oh God," said Colonel Williams, shutting her eyes and held her mouth as if she was going to throw up.

The others looked away as well. How can someone do something so atrocious to such a lovely child?

Collins turned her head to the side and threw up. Allen looked as she was going to be sick as well but tried to control herself.

"My Baby! You monster!" screamed the man, tears flying from his eyes.

"You'll join her soon," said Makarov and put a bullet between the man's eyes.

"You'll pay for this!" yelled Malloy in deep hatred.

"This is a message to all of you, especially for you Price," continued Makarov looking at the camera. "Don't meddle with our plans."

Espinosa untied Allen's right hand and put it on the table. She then pulled out her knife and held it high. The Sergeant tried to free her hand but she was too weak and gave up.

"This is for the Rangers," she spat and swung her knife into Allen's hand cut off her little finger. Allen just stood there in shock, her hand and whole body felt numb and lost consciousness.

"Shite!" exclaimed MacTavish in shock.

"I don't like where this is going," said Price panicking.

"Me neither," said the General worried.

"This is for the Marines!" she continued and stabbed Williams in her thigh and twisted the blade in her flesh. The sound of grinding cartilage echoed in the room along with William's screams of pain.

"I saved the best for last," she laughed sheathing her bloodied knife and pulling out her Beretta 92. "This is for you Captain MacTavish and Price for killing Viktor Zakhaev and his father. This is also for the Army. See you in hell, Malloy."

"Fuck you!" screamed Malloy on the top of her lungs.

"NO!" shouted the General.

Espinosa pulled the trigger and the video ended abruptly. Everyone stood there with their mouths slightly opened letting everything they just saw sink in.

"Do we have a location?" asked Shepherd.

No one replied on the other side of the conversation where the CIA was still in shock on what just happened.

"Nielson! Wake the fuck up!" yelled Shepherd.

"What? Umm, yes. Yes, we have something," he stammered.

For an agent without a conscious, he sure looked distressed. After all, he did respect the Elite Task Force even though he did not show it much, or rather, at all.

"So," started Tiger tapping away on the computer on the other end, "The clip was sent from here. Sending satellite image now. Their position is: 22S 59' 19'' and: 43W 14' 54.68'' near Favela de Rocinha, Brazil."

"That's near Rio de Janeiro," said Roach.

"Isn't that near the place we captured Rojas a few months back?" asked Ghost.

"Motherfucker," said MacTavish heatedly under his breath.

"I want everyone geared up and ready to go in 10," shouted the General. "Williams, you will be in charge of a small group of Marines; inform General Briggs."

"Aye Aye sir," said the Colonel and she rushed out.

"Daniels, inform Sergeant Foley. We need some Rangers with us," continued the General.

"I want to come with you sir!" said Daniels determined.

"Out of the question, Sergeant. You're injured; you will be a liability to the team. Now get moving."

"Who will be leading us?" asked Price.

"I will," replied General Malloy.

"Charles, you have been out of the field for years!"

"It's my daughter, Price! I'm sure as hell ain't gonna lay back here while she is dying in some God-forsaken place," he yelled and then calmed down. "Presuming that she is not already dead that is."

"I will inform the rest of the 141 sirs," said Shepherd.

"Good. Shepherd, I need you here. I need you to manage the base while I'm gone."

"Of course sir."

"Let's get them back home gentlemen."

--- --- --- --- ---

The General and the 141 landed in a clearing waiting for the rest of the squad to meet up with them. Ozone, Archer, Toad, and Worm remained in the UK on orders of General Shepherd but now they are flying on to Brazil to help out their fellow mates. The Marines and the Rangers will flank the building which is one of Espinosa's drug cartels, giving a way to the General and the 141 to enter the building and search for the POWs.

They were all wearing woodland camouflage with their face painted, apart from Ghost, who was wearing the usual mask with sunglasses. Then they heard Ozone's voice in their earpiece.

"Friendlies at your 9," he said.

"It's good to see you again lads," said Archer who was wearing a ghillie suit, holding an AK-47 and an M21 tied on his back.

"Same here mate," replied Ghost.

"Gentlemen, this is General Malloy of the US Army. He will be leading the Op today," said Price.

"Sir," they said.

"Shepherd briefed us on the mission, sir," said Worm.

"Good, let's move up slowly," said the General. "There may be civvies working against their will in the cartel so keep your weapons tight."

"Rog'," said Toad who was wearing a ghillie suit like his teammate Archer.

"Damn, I knew something was wrong when Lisa stopped texting me," whispered Ozone.

"You were texting Captain Malloy?" asked MacTavish in a growl.

"We kept contact."

"Bastard," said MacTavish under his breath.

"What the hell is your problem Cap'?" asked Ozone indignantly.

"Bloody hell! Shut up, both of you and stay focused!" ordered Price in a hushed voice.

They have arrived at the edge of the cartel and stood on their knee observing the surroundings through their scopes.

"Hunter 2-1, what's your status?" asked General Malloy.

"Hunter 2-1 is in position," replied Sergeant Foley.

"Bravo Six is in position," said Colonel Williams.

"You are cleared to engage, I repeat, you are cleared to engage. Let's stir up the Hornet's Nest."

"Roger."

"Copy that. We're goin' in."

"Sniper Team One; set up here and snipe some of the enemies out," said Price and Archer and Toad proceeded as ordered.

"Lock and load gentlemen," said the General. "Let's go!"

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