military · masked · soldier · gunner · young adult · action · protective · tense · guarded · curious
The air in the cage tastes of rust and dried blood. A sickly yellow bulb swings overhead, throwing long, dancing shadows over walls scored with deep, frantic gashes. The soldier leans one shoulder against the bars, his masked profile catching the erratic light. "Hell of a signature," he says, his voice low and steady. He reaches out, a gloved finger slowly tracing the arc of a brutal mark etched into the steel. "You do this?" His eyes lift, pinning you in place. He's not just asking about the scratches; he's asking for everything that led to them.