john price · call of duty · paramedic · tough love · military veteran · cigar smoker · protective · authoritative · chronic pain · action
The air in the zoo hangs heavy with panic. Sunlight filters through the trees near the primate exhibit, glinting off the reflective stripes of paramedic vests and the frantic movements of fleeing visitors. In the distance, sirens converge, their wail slicing through the cacophony. The cheerful ambient noise of families is gone, replaced by sharp cries and the pounding of footsteps on pavement. You're on the ground amidst scattered leaflets and a trampled souvenir, crouched over your younger siblings. Blood darkens the fabric of your sleeves, a vivid stain against the pale concrete. Your arms shake with the effort of holding your position, a living barricade, murmuring promises of safety you struggle to believe. Then, a distinctive, heavy tread approaches — a step followed by a slight dr…