#there’s only one

[rennorthernlights]

The Beginning of The End

Back on my angst again! Again, I ain’t a writer but I do daydream a lot. I tend to just write in my notes and call it a day. Anyways!

Warnings!! Blood, guns, torture, death, cursing, MAJOR CHARACTER DEATH

——————————————————-

The team all felt it to some degree. Something bad was going to happen. Price was going through more cigars than usual, Ghost was thrumming his fingers on his thighs, Gaz was more on edge, and Soap couldn’t stop bouncing his leg. The mission was far too easy. The type of easy that it raised the alarm bells in Price’s mind.

How many days has it been? Been far too many or least it feels like it has. Should’ve known it would go bad. Price should’ve seen the signs when they got the intel so quickly. He should’ve made Ghost check the case and because Price didn’t listen to his instincts he and his men were captured. Being bruised and bloody is normal but torture? Even Price in his age and experience knew that he and his men could only last so long.

“Laswell. Just wait for Laswell.” He grunts out, hands tied behind his back. His mind reeling in ideas on how he and his boys can escape. But no matter how hard he tried to get the ropes off it just wouldn’t budge. Being tortured in rounds. Sometimes it was Gaz first or Soap or Ghost. The sick bastards never made a pattern so none of the men could prepare. He hears yelling and Scottish curses and he knows Soap is back. Ghost already had his…turn of torture and that means that it’s either him or Gaz next. Price is hoping that it’s him and not Gaz.

Soap is forcibly shoved into the chair, Soap struggles but weakened from the torture…he can only struggle so much before his arms are pulled and tied tightly with a rope. ��Soap you with me?” Price says, worry in his tone as he sees just how badly they hurt the Scot. But Soap doesn’t speak.

Something isn’t right. Something in Price’s gut tells him that something bad is about to happen. Before Price can even voice it, the man that forced Soap in his chair presses the gun head to Soaps head. His breath caught in his throat as Gaz and Ghost tense up.

The man then speaks, “I know none of you are gonna speak. In fact,” he presses the gun harder to Soap’s head and Ghost outright lunges forward. The ropes around Ghost hold true though and the man clicks his tongue in amused disapproval. “I know y’all would die than speak…but not everyone has to.” The man says it like he’s being generous. Like offering a bug to be crushed by the hand instead of the boot.

Price growls, tired of the game, “Spit it out already.” The man tisks in amusement.

“Eager to die are we, Captin?” He laughs and removes the gun from Soaps head and the team slightly relax. “Hears the deal. Because I’m just so generous.” Chuckling like he just told the funniest joke. “Your dear Sergeant is gonna choose who lives and,” points the gun from Gaz, to Ghost, and then to Price. “…who dies.”

The room falls deathly silent, like hours have passed when it’s only been seconds. “Oh! And Soap, you can’t choose yourself. No, no, no,” the man grins sickening as he sees the turmoil in Soap’s eyes. The fact that Soap is deciding the fate of everyone. “Only one gets to live. Happy choosing! You have,” he looks down at his watch. “20 minutes.”

20 minutes. 20 minutes to decide the fate of the team. The man walks out, the sound of the door slamming behind them as the team fall into utter silence. Any lesser team would’ve been begging, begging to live. As is the ‘Live’ instinct, to push down the others to live. To be the last one standing and yet…yet it’s silent.

“I’ll die.” Ghost’s gruff voice cuts through the silence like nails on a chalk board. Gaz and Soap immediately protest. “I’m not letting any of you die for me.” He says so resolutely. Ghost has run the scenario in his head probably as much as Price. Having so much experience in the military he just knows. Same as Price, that there’s no getting out of this. Not without all of them dying and Ghost can’t have that.

“If anyone has a better chance it’s you and Price.“ Gaz tries to say but Price glares. Seethes at seeing Gaz so willing to die. But it’s easy to sacrifice yourself to save the ones you love.

“No. No, we can try. We can…” Soap clambers as he tries to think. Tries to find something to make the ropes on his arms budge. “W-We can..we can do something..”

“Soap,” Price calls out as he already sees the spiral, “Sergeant,” he calls again as Soap starts to panic. The burden of choosing who gets to live and who dies, it’s just too much. “Johnny!” Price yells and he jolts. “Breath. That’s an order.” Price says firmly before looking back at Gaz.

“I’m not going to be the reason any of you die.” He says firmly to Gaz but Gaz outright glares.

“Sir, with all due respect. If anyone can give them hell it’s you or Ghost.” Gaz says, putting on a brave front but deep down he wants to breakdown. Barely in his late 20s and still has so much to give but he knows. He knows that Ghost or Price has the better chance at getting revenge. “Avenge us.” He says firmly. “One of you has too.” Gaz says, a finality in his voice. Nudged his leg out as much as possible to Soap to give him some fo of physical touch. “I’m going with you, Johnny.”

“Fuck!” Ghost yells and his head kills forward. Anger swelling in his bones but also desperation. Desperate to die so they can have a chance.

Price is fairing no better as Gaz seems so confident in him or Ghost. But how? How can he when Price lead them all to this? Ghost is arguing with Gaz and Soap. Arguing so loudly and ordering them to choose differently, to think differently. Price has always done well under pressure, always has. It’s what made him such a good sniper.

Minutes go by and Prices internal clock is telling him that’s it’s almost time. He closes his eyes and thinks back on everything. The time he was a boy to the time he joined. Meeting Farah and Hadir. Alex and Laswell. And then to meeting Simon. Memories flooding back to when he met Kyle, practically kidnapping him and he chuckles to himself. Remembering the time he met Johnny, the Scot always so vibrant. For a bit it all feels quiet even with the commotion.

“Enough.” Price says as Gaz and Ghost are screaming. Soap’s eyes so down cast it’s like he’s dead already. “Johnny,” Price says and the Scot looks up. Silently speaking with their eyes and Ghost tenses up. “I’m going with you.” Price says, a smile gracing his face even as Ghost yells.

“No! Fucking no.” Ghost growls out. Looking at Soap and silently pleading, begging him to choose anyone else.

“Alright then, Captain.” Soap smiles back. Seems that Soap didn’t even have to choose.

“Just don’t bore me with those god awful fishing metaphors.” Gaz grins, a laugh right after as he knowingly chooses his fate. Ghost is yelling at them. Arguing with them to choose him to die instead. The door slams open.

“Times up! Ready or not.” The man walks in and his eyebrows arch as he sees the 3 men chuckling, looking at each other in peace while the other yells in anger. “So I see we’ve chosen?” Ghost curses at him, “Oh don’t be such an asshole. So,” he looks at Soap. “Who gets to live?” The gun aimed at Soap. “Ghost gets to li-“

BANG

“No!!” Ghost screams out, the Scots blood sprawled on Gaz as the Scots body falls forward. The ropes holding the lifeless body. “NO!!”

BANG

….

“STOP! FUCKING STOP!”

….

BANG

“And as promised.” The man grins, Ghost seethes with so much anger. Tears down his face as he yells in anguish. “Aww don’t be so sad. You get to live.” He laughs as Ghost struggles in the binds.

“I’m going to fucking KILL YOU!” Ghost growls out. Didn’t even get to say goodbye. Didn’t even get to tell them he loves them. Didn’t get to say how much they saved him from his own spiral of pain.

“Yeah,” the man laughs and hits Ghost hard on his head. Forcibly knocking him out.

[androidboy]

it’d be real nice if my roommate stopped stealing the Fucking Mail Key

[asoftspotforangels]

some of my favorite woven tapestries, by Cecilia Blomberg:

Point Defiance Steps

Mates

Rising Tides

Vashon Steps

[yourenumber1]

Not one

[churroach]

Looking respectfully

(EDIT: fellas, it’s really not that deep. Anyone starting beef over this stupid drawing getting blocked, i dont care to argue with people who come and judge me (a stranger) in bad faith. A bit dissapointed that this joke post is what’s getting the most attention but alas that’s the internet for ya i guess.)

[froody]

“can straight men be romantically and sexually attracted to men?” sure, I’m not a cop

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Knowledge Revenge.

[armadillorollup]

in honour of wolvie returning to the big screen here's a fond childhood memory

[carefulzombie]

gf fandom in 2016: if you so much as hint - even jokingly! - about the nature of ford and bill’s relationship being anything other than platonic (and even then you NEED to give a disclaimer that bill is manipulating him!) then you support abusive relationships

gf fandom in 2024:

[tothechaos]

glad that im not popular enough to have an evil shadow version of my blog that exists just to make contradictions on my posts

[thetimelordbatgirl]

Welp, if JK Rowling being executive producer and therefore being fully involved in the show wasn't enough for people to boycott, then here's HBO basically saying they don't care JK Rowling is a bigot from hell who literally helped lead a harassment campaign of lies against Imane Khalif in her transphobia and obsession with women being terf's standards of women alongside posting harassment against trans people on twitter at times, they gonna stand by her, while using the excuse, "personal views". Hmm, yes, personal views- that's one way to uh, call what the fuck JK Rowling comes out with a-lot- last I checked personal views do come with consquiences if said out loud....a thousand times in JK's case and still counting....especially if they hurt people, but hey, if it means making another Harry Potter project to milk, just let it fucking be I guess.

[buckyscap]

[bamsara]

"youve already written that trope" yesss. i like it a lots. i will be writing it again. 1000 stories of the same trope over and over again for ten million years

[demaparbat-hp]

Arsonist's Lullaby