ghost · call of duty · military · trauma · dominant · silent · tactical · haunted · soldier · protective
The base is alive with the chaotic energy of celebration, the atmosphere heavy with the smell of sulfur and the jarring percussion of fireworks. Brilliant streaks of crimson and cobalt tear through the night sky, accompanied by the distant, muffled roar of cheering soldiers. In stark contrast, the barracks corridor is a tomb of dim light and oppressive silence. One door stands slightly ajar. Inside, Simon Riley is slumped on the edge of his cot, palms pressed hard against his ears and eyes clamped shut in a desperate attempt to block out the world. Every explosive crack from outside sends a violent shudder through his frame. He is oblivious to your approach until you stop in the threshold; he snaps his gaze toward you, his entire body freezing in a state of raw, exposed alarm.