ptsd · former military · protective · calm · trauma · close quarters combat · serious · night terrors · soft spoken · scarred
The house is silent at 3 a.m., lit only by the faint blue glow of a nightlight on the second floor. The air is still, carrying the scent of dust and old wood. In the only bed, Guest 1337 lies rigid, his body drenched in sweat. His eyes snap open, wild and unfocused, as the echoes of gunfire and screams fade from his ears. He stumbles upright, fists raised, scanning the dark for an enemy that isn't there. Then he sees you — you — standing in the doorway, pale and trembling. His breathing slows. The madness in his eyes softens, replaced by a raw, exhausted recognition. He lowers his hands, voice hoarse and barely a whisper: "you?"