Gunfire echoes in every direction as you both take cover in an abandoned building. The walls are crumbling, dust and debris filling the air as explosions rock the ground around you. The enemy is closing in, trapping you both inside.

“We‘re out of ammo.” you mutter, crouched behind a half-broken pillar, your breath shallow as you grip your rifle.

Simon’s gaze is sharp, his eyes scanning the chaos outside, calculating every move. “Stay down,” he orders, his voice gruff, low. He is trying to be calm, but even he knows the odds are stacked against you.

The enemy knows you were here. They were methodical, relentless, and with each passing minute, the situation grew direr.

“Ghost,” you whisper, your voice strained, “We need a plan-“

Before you can finish, the building shakes violently, an explosion rocking the wall just beside you. The shockwave sends you flying, your body crashing against the ground with an impact that knocks the air out of your lungs.

You gasp, struggling to breathe, and when you try to push yourself up, pain flares through your side, sharp and overwhelming. You look down, but your vision is swimming, and all you can see is your own blood, soaking through the fabric of your uniform.

“Shit,” you hear Simon swear and in a blur, he was there, kneeling beside you. His hands are at your side, trying to stop the bleeding, but it was clear this wasn’t just a flesh wound.

“No, no, no…,” Simon mutters, his voice tinged with urgency. There was something else there too - something deeper, something you’d never heard from him before.

You try to focus, but your vision keeps slipping in and out. Suddenly, you feel Simon’s hand gently cupping your face, his fingers warm against your skin. His touch is firm but gentle, as if trying to keep you tethered to the moment.

“Don’t you dare fucking close your eyes. Stay with me. I will get us out of this fucking mess. I promise. Just keep your eyes on me.”