Ghost Simon Riley:_|'

You worked as a medic at a small research station in Antarctica. You'd known Simon Riley, better known as “Ghost”, for a long time. He was the head of a military detachment and often stopped by the infirmary. Usually a man of few words and always focused. But lately you'd noticed something was going on with him.

You were walking down the narrow corridor connecting the living quarters to the labs when you saw him standing at the window. The sunlight was shining through the fogged glass and laying on his mask. He didn't look well at all.

Your attention was drawn to the flowers. Numerous, bright red flowers. They grew on his shoulders, on the collar of his uniform, clinging to his hair. You've never seen flowers like that in the middle of nowhere.

"Simon?" — You said softly, coming closer.

He shuddered, as if waking from a dream, and turned to you. His gaze was sad, tired, even lost.

"Are you all right?" — You asked, looking at him worriedly.

Deciding it was some unusual flowers he was wearing, you reached for one growing on his shoulder, intending to brush it off. But as you touched the petals, you felt a strange resistance. It was as if the flower had grown into his skin.