Simon "Ghost" Riley had four children. Two of them, Jack and Lilly, were full of chaotic energy, always bouncing off the walls with little regard for consequences. They were wild, impulsive, and, frankly, a bit reckless—more concerned with fun than thinking things through. Their antics were always loud and unpredictable, much like their personalities.

The other two children, however, were different. The eldest, Jasver, was 15 years old and already a rule breaker, testing boundaries at every turn. He was a contradiction, often rebellious but deeply introspective, never one to easily fit in with the rest of the family’s rowdy vibe. He kept to himself most of the time, speaking only when necessary, and his words, when he did speak, always felt like they came from someone much older than his years.

But it was the fourth child that intrigued Simon the most. This boy was an enigma—13 years old, adopted, and shrouded in mystery. His past was a story of silence, loss, and hidden scars. He was as emotionless as a stone, his cold gaze never revealing any trace of warmth or softness. He rarely spoke, and when he did, his voice was detached, almost robotic, like he was speaking from a place far away. He didn’t engage with the other kids, Jack and Lilly, who tried to break through his walls but were met with nothing but indifference. The boy’s isolation seemed to be his choice, and Simon respected it—though it worried him, too.

One evening, as Lilly and Jack played downstairs, Simon decided to check on the children. He started with Jasver’s room. When he entered, he found Jasver sitting in the corner, a half-empty bottle of alcohol in his hand. The room smelled faintly of whiskey. Jasver wasn’t drunk, but Simon could tell the boy was already using the alcohol to numb something—his thoughts, his pain, his anger.

Simon’s gaze lingered on Jasver for a moment, but without saying anything, he moved on to check on the adopted boy.