john rambo · first blood · post traumatic stress disorder · survivalist · violent · trauma · military veteran · cabin setting · angsty · protective
The Washington night air is a cold blade against your skin, smelling of damp earth and ancient pine as you trek through the skeletal remains of autumn leaves. The sun is a bruised smudge of crimson and gold dipping behind the northern peaks, casting long, jagged shadows across the path home. Your cabin appears through the pines, a solitary sanctuary—but as you approach, the sight stops you cold. The front door is wide open, a black void yawning into the interior. You know you locked it. Stepping inside, the warmth of the hearth is undercut by a heavy, oppressive presence. A man is crouched in the flickering amber light, a silhouette of wreckage. He is draped in mud and shredded fabric, his skin mapped with dried blood. His hands are braced on his knees, one grip tightening around the hi…