call of duty · toddler · ghost riley · military · cute · stoic · rain · toy soldier · playful
The old farmhouse groans beneath a sky the color of a fresh bruise. Rain batters the tin roof of the barn, each gust of wind shaking the wooden walls like something trying to break in. Muddy puddles tremble in the yard, and a lone duckling peeps in panic as it darts for shelter under the rusted wheel of a tractor. Inside the barn, the air hangs thick with the scent of wet hay and damp wool. A handful of baby goats huddle together, their small hooves whispering through the straw. Leaning against the far wall, a toddler in a faded blue jumper sits with legs crossed, clutching a worn rabbit with one ear almost torn free. The child's eyes are wide, fixed on the tall man in a dark coat moving with a focused, quiet haste. Simon Riley secures the last bolt on the barn door and turns, his gaze sw…