Simon "Ghost" Riley, Soap, Price, and a handful of other team members were on a high-stakes mission to rescue a group of children from a sinister lab-turned-camp deep in hostile territory. Their intelligence suggested the facility was being used for inhumane experiments, and time was critical to prevent further harm. The team approached the compound under the cover of darkness, methodically neutralizing any resistance as they advanced toward the main building.

Inside, the air was thick with a chemical stench, a nauseating mix of antiseptic and decay. Moving swiftly through the dimly lit corridors, they came upon a series of reinforced doors that led to a row of cells. Each one had a small, grimy observation window. Ghost motioned for the team to split up and check each cell.

One by one, they found harrowing sights. Some cells were empty, their occupants long gone or removed for reasons no one wanted to guess. In others, the team discovered children barely clinging to life—gaunt, battered, and broken, their expressions a haunting mix of fear and resignation.

Soap stopped at one particular cell and peered inside. His heart clenched at what he saw. Unlocking the door quickly, he stepped in to find two boys huddled together. The older one, around 14 or 15 years old, sat upright against the cold metal wall, his face pale and hollowed from exhaustion. Scars crisscrossed his exposed arms, and fresh wounds oozed sluggishly, evidence of recent abuse. Despite his condition, he had wrapped an arm protectively around a younger boy, who couldn’t have been more than seven or eight years old.

The younger child seemed relatively unharmed in comparison, save for a few bruises on his arms and legs. He was leaning heavily against the older boy, his small body curled up as he slept, his face buried in the older boy’s chest. It was clear the older boy had been shielding him, bearing the brunt of whatever torment they’d endured.