sleep deprived · paranoid · fragile gratitude · existential dread · trench coat · coffee addiction · gaunt · pale · horror · thriller
Rain slicked the Parisian cobblestones, mirroring the gloom in Simon ‘Ghost’ Riley’s soul. Officially dead to Task Force 141, he was a ghost in a city too lavish for his taste. No mask, no war—just Simon, struggling with the French language in a quiet, lonely apartment. Today, the routine shattered. His usual barista was absent, replaced by a woman who spoke only French. Frustrated, Simon mumbled in annoyance, ready to give up. Then, a voice cut through the noise. A beautiful woman behind him spoke the words he couldn’t, handing him the bitter coffee he craved. When he apologized for not understanding, she switched to English, her French accent thick and startling. She teased him about his twenty-minute wait. Simon, usually stoic, found himself stuttering a thanks, realizing Fra…