Gaz's POV:

I could barely breathe, my trachea seemed damaged from the bomb.
My entire body ached, and blood obscured my vision.
I didn't know where YN was.
I heard the helicopter landing and three men stepping out.

The one in the middle laughed, his hands held behind his back. His face seemed familiar.
I muttered, "Makarov..."
and coughed up more blood.

My cap lay beside me, the British flag staring back at me, and somehow, I knew this was the end for me.

Makarov approached, his devilish grin directed at me. I searched for my weapon, but before I could do anything, Makarov placed his foot on my chest, applying pressure.

I let out a scream of pain, "Arrghh!" and coughed up even more blood.

Makarov taunted, "You're Price's favorite, aren't you? Price made a big mistake starting this war with me. Now, he forces me to make an example out of you."

He drew his weapon and aimed it at my head. With a sad smile, I whispered, "Now, it's finally time."

And then he pulled the trigger, the bullet piercing through my skull.
My head hit the ground, my lifeless eyes staring towards my cap.

Makarov grinned and said, "Let's get out of here."

The two nodded and boarded the helicopter once again. Gaz, alone and lifeless on the broken bridge, beside a burning car. And YN, injured beneath the bridge, still unconscious.

After 6h
♧♧♧

Six hours had passed without any response. Ghost was growing increasingly concerned, his restlessness evident as he tapped his foot and said to Soap,
"Still no word from them?"
Soap shook his head in response.
Ghost exclaimed,
"Damn it, how can it be that we haven't heard anything in six hours?!"

Soap suggested, "I could try to locate them."

Ghost replied, determined, "Do it."

Price entered the barn and asked, "What's going on?"

Ghost explained, "It's been six hours with no communication."

Price found it odd and remarked, "Six hours to drive into the city? That doesn't add up. Something went wrong."

Ghost turned to Soap and asked, "And how long will it take?"

Soap assured him, "Almost done, old man."

Ten minutes later, Soap exclaimed, "I've got it!"

Ghost inquired, "And where are they?!"
Soap glanced at the map and then back at Ghost, unsure of how to respond, "They're on the bridge..."

Ghost declared, "I'm heading there now."

Price grabbed Ghost's arm, cautioning him, "Don't rush into anything!"

Ghost freed himself from Price's grip and stormed out of the barn, heading towards the car.

Soap followed him, and they both got into the car. It was approximately half an hour away.

Ghost couldn't bear the tension in the car and vented his frustration by punching the vehicle.

As Soap drove, he tried to reassure Ghost, saying, "I'm sure nothing has happened to them."

Ghost screamed in frustration, "But what if something did happen to them?!"

From a distance, it was evident that the bridge had been destroyed. Ghost had a sinking feeling in his gut. Soap accelerated towards the bridge, and when they arrived, they ran quickly towards the scene. They saw a body there, with flies buzzing around it. Ghost's fear grew so intense that he almost felt his legs giving way. His thoughts turned to YN - what if it was her lying there?

Ghost slowed his pace, and Soap proceeded ahead. Suddenly, Soap cried out, "Oh no!"
In a weak voice, Ghost asked, "What's wrong?"
Soap, in a shocked tone, took a few steps back from the body as if afraid of it. He said, almost in tears, "Gaz..."
Ghost stood up and approached the body. As he realized who it was, he knelt down, and his pupils dilated in shock.
Soap squatted down, running his hands through his hair, and uttered in an anguished tone, "No, Gaz. No. No. No."

Ghost snapped back to reality and asked urgently, "Where is YN?!"
Soap couldn't answer; he was in a state of shock.
Ghost stood up and searched the entire bridge. When he couldn't find her, he called out for her, desperation in his voice, "YN!! YNNNNN! Oh, please, let her be safe." He then went beneath the bridge, switched on his flashlight, and began searching.

He spotted someone lying there, and his stomach clenched. He approached cautiously and realized it was YN. "No. No. No," he whispered.

Ghost knelt beside her, carefully turning her over to check her pulse. "It's still there, thank goodness."

Ghost shouted, "Soap, I have YN!"
Soap, still in a shocked state, replied, "Wait, I'm coming..."

Soap joined Ghost, and his expression nearly broke into tears. If I were to die now, it would make three comrades lost.

Ghost stated urgently, "Her pulse is weak, but she looks seriously injured. We need to get back to the car."

Ghost carefully lifted YN and sprinted back to the car, placing her on the back seats. He radioed Price, his words difficult to compose.

Price responded, his voice filled with sadness, "Do you have her?"

Ghost replied, "Gaz..."

Price's voice became even sadder, "What happened to him?"

Ghost choked back tears, "He's dead..."

Ghost heard Price take a deep breath, as if he couldn't believe it.
Price said in a sorrowful tone, "And what about YN?"

Ghost replied, "She still has a weak pulse."

Price turned to Rudolfo in the barn, instructing him, "Prepare the medical supplies immediately!"

Ghost went back to Gaz and briefly observed him. He knelt down, closed Gaz's still-open eyes, and carried him to the car, beside YN. The stench of death filled his nostrils. Soap took over as the driver and accelerated rapidly.

Soap drove as fast as he could. After 20 minutes, they arrived at the barn, and Ghost quickly carried YN in his arms to Rudolfo, placing her on the table. Soap took Gaz outside and laid him beside the hay.

Rudolfo, upon seeing YN, exclaimed, "Holy Mary!"

Ghost urged, "Rudolfo, do something!"

YN's face was half-red, likely due to the explosion. She had countless cuts, and it appeared that a small piece of a stick was lodged in her leg. Her face was drenched in blood, and her pants were completely soaked in blood.

Rudolfo remarked, "She may have sustained a head injury as well. Damn it!"

Carefully, Rudolfo removed my bulletproof vest and proceeded to cut my pants halfway to remove the piece of stick. (Timeskip)

Ghost and Soap went to Price while Rudolfo finished treating YN.
It was the first time in Ghost's life that he saw Price so shaken, sitting on the ground next to Gaz's lifeless body.
Price stared at him, hoping that life would return.
Gaz was like a son to him, and tears streamed down his face.
Ghost's hands clenched into fists at the sight of Price devastated on the ground and seeing YN fighting for her life.
Soap knelt down beside Price, offering comfort.

Ghost had lost many comrades, but this task force was different. They were 141, and one by one, the members were dying.

Price wiped his face and said,
"We should bury Gaz with Alejandro..."

Both Ghost and Soap nodded in agreement. Price fetched a shovel and dug where they had buried Alejandro. He dug and dug, with tears falling with each movement of the shovel. Slowly, Ghost and Soap placed Gaz into the ground, with his cap held between his hands.

Price then shoveled the earth over him, and he was gone.

Ghost's hand remained gently on YN's shoulder as she slowly regained consciousness. Her eyelids felt heavy, and she struggled to comprehend Rudolfo's words, which seemed distant and unintelligible.

As her awareness gradually returned, the memory of the events flooded back. YN jolted up, her body springing to life, and she cried out, "Gaz? Rudolfo, where is Gaz?!" The pain surged through her again, causing her to flinch. Her head and body ached intensely.

Ghost tried to soothe her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, and whispered, "Shh, calm down."

But YN's desperation grew, and her eyes welled up with tears as she pleaded, "Ghost, what happened to Gaz?" Her voice trembled as she bit her lip, tears streaming down her face.

Ghost and Rudolfo exchanged glances, unable to find the words to answer her question. They both looked down, their expressions weighed down by the burden of the truth.

Ghost's heart sank as he watched YN break down in tears, her cries filled with anguish and despair. He moved closer and gently wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a comforting embrace. She buried her face in his chest, seeking solace and finding some semblance of support amidst the overwhelming grief.

•••
That evening marked the loss of yet another comrade. The weight of their sacrifices hung heavy in the air