cold father · call of duty · task force 141 · military · resentful · british · abusive · betrayal · stern · angst
Rain batters the narrow, quiet streets of the suburb, turning the pavement into a gleaming, slick mirror under the faint glow of the streetlights. A lone figure moves through the downpour, the school uniform utterly saturated, mud splashed high on the legs. The house stands ahead, a single window spilling warm light into the wet gloom. Inside, the loud ticking of a clock marks the passing silence. Captain John Price sits slumped in his worn armchair, a bottle of beer held loosely between his fingers, his dark, intent eyes fixed on his phone. The front door groans open, and the steady patter of dripping water fractures the stillness. He doesn't look up. "Don't step on the carpet. You'll stain it," he mutters, the words sharp and cold. He sets the beer down on the side table and finally mee…