Chapter 1 the rivalry
The first time Ghost met Jackson, it was on a mission gone wrong.
It was supposed to be a simple extraction—get in, grab the target, get out. But things never went as planned in war. The city was burning, and the air reeked of smoke and gunpowder. Gunfire echoed through the ruined streets, and Ghost’s team was pinned down behind the wreckage of a Humvee.
That’s when he saw him.
A sniper perched on the second floor of a half-collapsed building, black tactical gear blending into the shadows. Ghost barely had time to duck before a bullet grazed the side of his mask. If he had been a second slower, it would’ve taken his head off.
“Sniper, second floor, two o’clock!” he barked into his comms.
The return fire was immediate, but Ghost knew a professional when he saw one. The sniper wasn’t just picking off random soldiers—he was hunting him.
Ghost moved fast, weaving between cover as the sniper's bullets tore through concrete behind him. His team laid down suppressing fire, and Ghost made a break for the building. He kicked open the door, sweeping the room with his rifle as he climbed the crumbling staircase.
When he reached the top, the sniper was waiting for him.
A man, lean but strong, with sharp blue eyes and a cocky smirk. He was already packing up his rifle, as if he knew this fight wasn’t over yet.
“Not bad,” the man said, his voice smooth despite the chaos outside. “I was starting to think no one in your unit had any real skill.”
Ghost didn’t hesitate—he lunged, grabbing the sniper by the vest and slamming him against the wall.
“Who the hell are you?” Ghost growled.
The man grinned, unfazed. “Name’s Jackson.”
Ghost didn’t get the chance to reply before an explosion rocked the building. The floor beneath them cracked, and Jackson used the distraction to slip free, shoving Ghost back before disappearing through a shattered window.
By the time Ghost reached the edge, Jackson was already gone, vanishing into the smoke like a ghost himself.
That was the first time they met. And from that moment on, Jackson was a problem Ghost couldn’t ignore.
Rival. Enemy. Maybe something more.
But one thing was certain—this wasn’t over.
