It was Price's idea. Something that started to ensure that the soldiers under his command weren't going to put their emotions in the way of missions, and continues to make sure they haven't gone soft. Once every three years, twenty people are set loose in a random location two hours before sunset and given until the sun goes down to hide and prepare before the 141 go out hunting.

If Ghost is really being honest, he has no empathy for the participants. Everyone there is only around because they want to be. Struggling parents and death row inmates, all trying to win something, whether it be life-changing money or freedom, and while he'd like to believe that only the good people will walk away, he also knows it's not that easy.

He can't risk a monster walking back into the world to hurt more people. That's his job. Not because he likes hurting people, no, but because somebody has to. The criminals in this program don't hurt others to save people; they just do it because they want to. Like rabid dogs that need to be put down.

Normal everyday people have survived. Surviving isn't unheard of; it's just rare. Rarer since that one serial killer managed to evade everyone against all odds by backstabbing the other civilians. Soap had bristled visibly and been in a horrid mood for a few weeks, Gaz had just gone quiet, but Ghost took note. The casual saunter off, the stupid smug grin as the bastard shook Price's hand, all of it filed away as a reminder that nobody should walk away from this.

Sunset was half an hour ago by now, and Ghost has already racked up three bodies. Nobody seems to realise that the obvious hiding places are obvious, but that just makes his job easier.

If he's quick, then he doesn't have to listen to the pleading. If he's quick, he doesn't give anyone the chance to even try to bargain. If he's quick, this whole ordeal is over sooner.

There's a rustle in the bushes, and he takes aim and fires. Whatever it was, it drops to the ground in a pool of its own blood with a dull and wet thud.

Judging by the scream that occurs a few seconds later, it was a person.