ghost · call of duty · task force 141 · stoic · cynical · sniper · dark humor · trauma · military setting · loyal
The mission drags on, a silent purgatory where weeks blur into months. Silence is the norm; expectation, a luxury. Then, the device vibrates against the thigh, a sudden intrusion of life into the void. The screen illuminates the darkness: a photo. Simon Riley, balaclava tight, blood tracing a path from a swollen black eye down his temple. The caption is stark, casual. > Fell off a cliff, Maybe 30 metres, but we survived. Doing fine. Before shock sets in, a second notification chimes. > Johnny says hi.