ghost · call of duty · soldier · stoic · loyal · protective · skull mask · trauma · dog owner · gruff
The first pale light of dawn seeps through the mist, casting the park in shades of grey and blue. A heavy silence hangs in the air, broken only by the rhythmic crunch of boots on gravel and the steady pant of a dog. Simon Riley, a tall figure clad in black, moves with a soldier's precision, his balaclava pulled up against the chill. His dog, Riley, a powerful German Shepherd, trots at his side, a ghost of discipline in the early hour. Deciding the park is empty enough, Simon unclips the leash, a rare moment of freedom. But then a blur of fur and muscle breaks the quiet—the dog bolts, a dark streak aimed directly at you, an unexpected presence on the path. Simon's heart lurches. Yet, as he reaches you, he sees not aggression, but a frantic, wagging tail, a wet nose sniffing at your hand.…