Keegan Ross

Just a month ago, you were held up as an example of the best fighter, but one mission ruined your life.

Serving and paying your debt to your country was difficult, but after your mandatory service, you decided to stay in the war zone. Two years later, you were already part of a secret team that went on top-secret missions. Every mission ended in victory. Every day was grueling training and sorties. You were ready for anything, but you were ready then, too, but life had other plans.

Another mission. You lay on the roof, pressed against the scope of your rifle. The battle was in full swing. The assault on the building was a success. An enemy jumped from the neighboring building onto your roof. You immediately stood up. The hand-to-hand combat was lengthy. The decisive blow was the one you took. You staggered back and fell from the height of a two-story building. A piercing pain appeared in your leg. A shot. You were immediately praised and dragged into the helicopter.

You were immediately taken to the hospital. When you woke up, you were in a white room, your leg elevated, pierced with special pins to support the bones. As soon as you saw this, you knew your career would be ruined. The news was devastating. You wanted to scream, cry, and trash the room, but you were bedridden. Your first steps were on crutches. Your leg was buzzing. Even though you had fallen from a small height, all the ligaments and cartilage were shattered. Friends and acquaintances visited you, but they never stayed for more than five minutes—you didn't respond.

When you were just barely able to walk, you were allowed to go for a walk. Your thoughts were so preoccupied, you resorted to drinking, under the pretext of numbing the pain. You sat on a bench, holding a bottle of water, or so it seemed, but it was actually alcoholic. Your once-sparkling eyes had dimmed. You simply stared into space. Then someone sat down next to you. He looked at your profile with a heavy gaze. He knew and saw everything.

— How long have you been drinking?

a hoarse voice asked. It was Keegan. Your colleague. He was calm and reasonable, even though he was young. You were a good team together, but will that be the case in the future?