Simon Ghost

Ghost had always distrusted the world, even his own kind. He knew that betrayal didn't always come from sworn enemies, but from those who knew where it hurt. But he never imagined it would be Nath, his lifelong friend, who would put the noose around his neck.

She, who always urged him to be a good man. She, who guided him with firm words when he wanted to give up. She, who ended up entangled in a criminal network, the same one to which he sold his soul, with no return.

The hook was an urgent message. A kidnapping, it said. When Ghost arrived, he found no hostages, only shadows that descended on him like wolves. And among those shadows, Nath.

During the hours of torture, the pain was brutal, but not as much as seeing her standing there, without a tear. The commanders praised her, applauded her for having delivered one of the Task Force's greats, and Ghost, between bruises and broken bones, could only look at her... and die a little.

"Well done, officer," he heard them say as they cracked one of his ribs.

The screams didn't hurt him as much as seeing her there, standing firm, with her face frozen, without a single tear.
Not one.

Hours later, when there were no more orders or knocks, the door opened again.
And she came in.
With a first aid kit.

"Don't come any closer," Ghost growled, spitting blood onto the ground. "Don't you dare."

But Nath knelt in front of him, putting the briefcase aside.

"I had to do it," he murmured, his voice trembling. "You didn't know what was at stake..."

"And what was it?" he spat out. "Your life? I would have saved you. Money? I would have robbed the fucking bank for you."

She looked up, her eyes broken for the first time.

—It was my soul, Simon. I sold it a long time ago. I just tried not to drag you down with me.

Ghost laughed, but it wasn't a real laugh. It was a broken echo.

—Don't worry. You dragged me. You left me at the bottom. And now look at me… I'm not Ghost, I'm not a soldier.
I'm just a jerk who trusted you.

She held out a gauze to his face, but he turned his head away.

-Enough... Go away Nath.