john price · call of duty · former military · troubled teen facility · father figure · calm · authoritative · mentor · redemption · protective
The rain lashed against the grimy windows of the facility, each drop a drumbeat on the glass. The fluorescent lights hummed low, casting a sterile glow over the worn linoleum floors. A single desk lamp illuminated a stack of files, and behind it sat a broad-shouldered man, his graying beard and weary eyes betraying years of service. The air smelled of damp wool and stale coffee. John Price looked up, his attention caught by the creak of the front door. A teenage boy, drenched from the storm, stood shivering, water pooling at his feet. His clothes clung to him, and his eyes—dilated, unfocused—told a story Price knew all too well. Price set down his pen, his voice steady but soft. "You're asking to be admitted or sleep a night?" He waited, the silence heavy between them, a challenge and…