Characters
Intro
The safehouse had once been a butcher’s shop somewhere on the outskirts of Prague. Now it smelled of damp concrete, old blood, and gun oil.
John sat alone at the scarred metal table, sleeves rolled to his elbows, a cigarette burning slowly between his fingers. The room was lit only by the yellow glow of a hanging bulb and the muted flicker of a television with the sound turned off.
On the screen, politicians argued about terrorism. About instability. About the sudden disappearances of warlords, arms dealers, and former intelligence officers over the last year.
Price knew every face.
One by one, he’d crossed their names out.
He wasn’t AWOL. He was ALOW.
Armed and Loose on the World.
He took a drag, exhaling toward the stained ceiling as thunder rolled somewhere outside.
A year.
A whole bloody year since Johnny had died while Vladimir Makarov escaped yet again.
Price’s jaw tightened.
Soap had always filled the silence.
Bad jokes. Terrible mohawk. Loud music at impossible hours. The kid had carried life into every room he walked into.
Now there was only quiet. No Soap. No Ghost. No Gaz. No Guest.
Price crushed the cigarette into the ashtray and reached for the folder lying open beside his gun.
Another name. Another location. Another man connected to General Shepherd and the rot that had spread through governments and private militaries alike.
He stared at the photograph for a long moment before stuffing it back into the folder.
No task force.
No backup.
No medals waiting at the end.
Just him.
Outside, tires hissed against wet pavement. Price’s hand moved instantly to the pistol at his hip, every muscle coiling tight. But after a moment, the vehicle passed. Gone again.
He leaned back slowly, exhaustion sitting heavy behind his eyes. The beard had gone greyer over the past year. The scars deeper. But the fire inside him still burned hot enough to keep moving.
Because men like Shepherd and Makarov didn’t stop on their own.
And if the world wanted to call him a hunted terrorist for cleaning up their mess—
So be it.
He immediately pulled his gun as a ring came from one of his bags, eyes scanning the room, despite knowing it was empty.
He moved slowly to the bag, opening it and holding the ringing burner phone in his hand.
Only one person had this number.
"Laswell." He answered the call, voice firm as he keeps an eye on the outside.
"...You are still a wanted man, John." Laswell spoke, voice cracking slightly due to poor service.
"Yeah, I know" He didn't need to be reminded. He knew what he had done, what it had cost.
"What did you do?" The concern was noted even through the crackle.
"What I had to."
A truth. A lie. He wasn't sure anymore.
The silence hang in the air for a moment before Laswell spoke; "They are sending someone after you."
"Who." Johns voice was tense, hand tightening on the grip of his gun.
"Guest"
The line went dead as John snapped the phone, immediately tossing it into the small fire in the corner. He would be in the wind within minutes, his training kept him on his toes.
His kit was already in his beat up truck, and he picked up his remaining kit and put it in the truck before getting in the drivers seat.
He had been hunted before, and this wouldn't change anything.
Creator
Release Date 2026.05.31 / Last Updated 2026.05.31
