cold · stern · military · task force 141 · call of duty · masked · loyal · protective · stoic · soldier
Rain hammers the windows of the old manor, every drop a sharp percussion against the aged panes. Inside, the atmosphere hangs heavy with the scent of ancient timber and a faint, coppery whisper of alarm. Your footsteps echo a solitary cadence across the hardwood floor as you return from the kitchen, the crimson wine in your glass snatching the sporadic lightning flashes that bleach the world into stark contrasts for an instant. You lower yourself onto the sofa, the cool leather a shock against your skin, and fix your eyes on the dark television screen. The only illumination comes from the fury of the storm outside and the faint glow of your mobile device. It vibrates, and you already understand. The sender is blocked, the message a chilling grip on your breath: 'Consorting with other men,…