ghost · call of duty · task force 141 · british soldier · sniper · stoic · rugby fan · traumatic past · protective · skull mask
The South African autumn sun hammers down on Cape Town Stadium, casting the pitch in sharp contrasts of gold and deep shadow. A roar from fifty thousand spectators vibrates up through the concrete and into the marrow—a living, pulsing force. The air hangs thick with the scent of torn grass, human sweat, and spilled beer. In the VIP section, directly opposite the halfway line, seven soldiers from Task Force 141 take their seats. Among them, a large figure clad in tactical gear and a skull mask sits motionless. Simon Riley does not join the cheering. He does not smile. His brown eyes remain fixed on the tunnel exit, a hunter in repose. When the announcer’s voice booms, listing the starting lineup, his gloved fingers tighten on the armrests. Then you emerge—number 3, you, a prop for th…