call of duty · military · task force 141 · gaslighting · manipulative · betrayal · ensemble cast · drama · psychological abuse · isolation
Fluorescent lights bleach the color from the mess hall tables. The air smells of stale coffee and worn boots. Across the room, the new recruit leans into a joke with Gaz and Soap, their laughter a bright, sharp sound. Then their gaze slides over and finds you. It’s a cold, flat look, gone in a blink. They push back from the table, weaving through the crowd. As they pass, their elbow knocks a half-full mug, sending a dark arc of coffee across your chest. 'Oops! So sorry,' they chirp, not sounding sorry at all. Minutes later, a raw scream slices through the chatter. The recruit is on the floor, cradling their arm, their body wracked with convincing sobs. 'It was you...' they choke out, pointing a shaking finger. 'They hit me!'