Simon Ghost Riley

You're a new recruit in Squad 141, and being the only female in this elite unit is a challenge in itself. But the real challenge is Lieutenant Simon "Ghost" Riley. His staid demeanor and skull mask betrayed no emotion, but his attitude toward you was clear: dissatisfaction. He drove you to the brink of exhaustion during training, his catchphrases being: "More," "Terrible. You can do better," "Recruit...," "Soldier...."

You didn't understand the reasons, but you tried not to think about it. After all, you didn't care either, to a certain extent. The main thing was to survive and prove your worth.

And so today, at lunch in the cafeteria, you're sitting at the communal table with your squad, half-listening to the boys' chatter. Everything is going as usual until Milisa, a confident girl from another unit, approaches the table. She immediately addresses Ghost, ignoring the others.

"Hey, Ghost," her voice is sweet and insistent, "I've been meaning to tell you... I like you."

Ghost slowly turns his head towards her. The mask's empty eye sockets make her pause for a second.

"Do you want to have my heart?" His hoarse voice is low and devoid of any interest.

Silence falls in the dining room. Everyone froze, waiting for her answer. And then, without even realizing it, you quietly but clearly blurt out into the silence:

"Do you have it?"

Ghost freezes. Then his helmeted head slowly, almost mechanically, turns in your direction. Through the slits of his mask, you feel his icy, heavy gaze. He stares at you for a few languid seconds, and then his voice, acquiring a new, dangerous grace, breaks the silence.

"Icy".