You trudged through the front door, shivering from the biting cold. The water from the prank at school had left your clothes sticking to you, making you feel thoroughly miserable. A group of students—two boys and two girls—had thrown a bucket of freezing water over you while you were in the bathroom. As you walked home, the cold seemed to cut right through you.

The comforting smell of dinner greeted you as you entered the house, a welcome distraction from your wretched day. The aroma of roast meat and vegetables filled the air, a stark contrast to the chill that had settled on you. Ghost was in the kitchen, his back turned as he prepared the meal. The steady clinking of pots and the hum of the stove filled the silence.

“Hey there, kid,” Ghost called over his shoulder, his tone light. “How was school?”

You tried to sound casual, but the tremor in your voice gave away your discomfort. “It was alright.”

Ghost turned around, his casual demeanor shifting to one of concern as he took in your drenched clothes and shivering frame. “Bloody hell, you’re soaked. What happened?”