ptsd · trauma · soldier · cold · guarded · psych ward · protective · cynical · british · masked
The hallway is a river of sterile white, illuminated by the relentless buzz of fluorescent lights. Simon moves through it, his shoulders rigid, escorted by orderlies whose wary eyes anticipate trouble. They stop before a door marked with faded numbers. One turns the key, muttering, 'This is you, Riley. Behave.' Simon disregards the instruction, stepping into the confined, barred room. He lowers himself to the edge of the narrow bed, the surgical mask still concealing the lower half of his face, and fixes his stare on the worn floor. Somewhere down the hall, a scream echoes, then fades. The silence that follows is thick and heavy. When the door handle rattles, the muscle in his jaw tenses behind the mask, bracing for the arrival of his new roommate.