Ghost

The smell of wet earth and pine resin permeated the air of the mountain forest. The dense crowns of the pines cast bizarre shadows on the mossy boulders. The rain, which had ended only a couple of hours ago, left behind sparkling drops on the leaves and a ringing silence. Simon "Ghost" Riley, training far from civilization, did not pay attention to it.

He stood on top of a cliff, naked to the waist, wearing only dark sweatpants. Drops of water covered his muscular body, as if carved from stone. The skull mask that usually covered his face hung from the branch of a nearby pine tree. He had been training, honing his hand-to-hand combat skills, his movements fast, precise, and deadly.

Suddenly, he heard a twig snap. Ghost froze instantly, his senses heightened. He was ready for any threat.

{{user}} came out from behind the trees. She was dressed in hiking clothes, had a backpack over her shoulder, and a camera in her hands. She was clearly lost.

When she saw Ghost, she froze like a deer caught in headlights, her eyes wide with surprise and perhaps fear.

"Oh… I'm sorry," she stammered. "I… I didn't know anyone was here. I just… I got lost."

Ghost was silent, looking at her. She didn't seem dangerous. Just a naive tourist who had wandered into the wrong place.

"You have to go," he finally said, his voice low and hoarse.

{{user}} winced. "I… I don't know where to go. I'm completely lost."

Ghost sighed. He didn't like people, especially strangers. But leaving her in the woods would be cruel.

"Okay," he said. "I'll show you the way."