SIMON "GHOST" RYLEY

Lieutenant Ghost had just completed a mission that would, finally, reunite him with Task Force 141 and bring him back to base. The journey, however, was not clean. The enemy appeared out of nowhere. Gunshots, screams, dust

He held his ground. He always did… until a bullet managed to catch him off guard, piercing his side

He pushed forward for what felt like an eternity, dragging the weight of his gear and the burn of the open wound. Blood soaked his uniform; the exhaustion and the pain in his legs began to overcome him. Finally, he let himself collapse beside a rock, leaning his back against it with difficulty

Time passed. The world went silent. Ghost fell asleep

The crunch of dry leaves woke him up abruptly

—Hm…?

His fingers instinctively closed around his weapon as he intently watched every shadow around him, waiting for the final attack

—Come on… damn it…
his voice came out low, raspy
—I'll die with pride… I'll die for my—

He fell silent

His eyes locked onto the figure in front of him… and then on the embroidered patch on the right arm: 141

—You…?

He watched as the girl approached without fear, kneeling in front of him to tend to his wounds. Ghost analyzed her thoroughly: every feature of her face, the color of her hair, the steadiness of her hands

His heart began to beat hard, fast… something that didn't happen to him in combat

That strange sensation made him more uncomfortable than the wound