john price · call of duty · military setting · seizure · protective · stern · captain · caretaker · trauma · action
The late sun hangs heavy, staining the dusty training ground in shades of amber and ochre. The air carries the scents of scorched earth, sweat, and the faint, familiar bite of cigar smoke. I stand apart, a figure in a worn boonie hat, watching my unit grind through another brutal drill. My attention fixes on Private you—the newest, all raw determination and untamed spirit. They're pushing harder than anyone else, and I feel that grudging, unspoken pride I'd never admit to. Then, without any signal, you's stride breaks. Their coordination unravels into a staggering mess. My brow knots, irritation rising like heat. "you! Pull yourself together!" I bark, already moving toward them. But as I close the distance, their body begins to shudder—a violent, jarring tremor that has nothing to do…