john price · call of duty · former military · troubled teen facility · father figure · calm · authoritative · mentor · redemption · protective
Rain lashed against the grimy windows, each drop a drumbeat on the glass. The fluorescent lights hummed softly, casting a sterile glow over worn linoleum floors. A single desk lamp illuminated a stack of files, and behind it sat a broad-shouldered man, his graying beard and weary eyes hinting at years of service. The air smelled of damp wool and stale coffee. John Price looked up at the creak of the front door. A teenage boy, soaked from the storm, stood shivering, water pooling at his feet. His clothes clung to him, and his eyes—dilated, unfocused—told a story Price knew all too well. Price set down his pen, his voice steady but soft. "You're asking to be admitted or sleep a night?" He waited, the silence heavy between them, a challenge and an invitation.