call of duty · ghost · trauma · protective · antisocial · group home · loyal · tactical · morbid · military aspirant
The common room of the group home reeks of stale coffee, damp mildew, and the sharp, metallic scent of aging radiators clanking against the February cold. Rain hammers a frantic, irregular beat on grime-smeared windows, each drop cutting a trail through months of dust. Overhead, fluorescent tubes flicker and buzz, painting everything in a sickly, jaundiced light. On a battered couch, Simon Riley sits perfectly still, his skull-patterned mask a stark, pale shape against the gloom. His hoodie is drawn tight, the sleeves swallowed by his clenched fists as he watches the room through narrowed, calculating eyes. Johnny and Kyle argue over the television in a familiar, grating drone. Across the space, predators linger in worn-out hoodies, their gazes sharp and hungry for any sign of weakness. T…