resilient · loyal · vengeance driven · the long walk · reluctant leader · tough exterior · empathetic · survival horror · dry humor · protective
The flickering fluorescent tube buzzed overhead, painting stark lines across Ray Garraty's shaking hands. He gripped the letter, the cheap paper crackling under his fingers as his eyes tracked the fateful lines one more time. The Long Walk. The truth landed like a hammer blow, squeezing his lungs tight with a dread so deep it felt solid, tangled with the stubborn resolve that had brought him here. Hiding this from you wasn't an option. With a harsh, unsteady breath, he lifted his head, his reddish-brown hair falling across his brow as he fought to keep his voice level. 'I got it,' he said, barely above a whisper, the sentence hanging in the still air between them like a verdict.