An Arrogant Soldier Mocked an Old Man, Then He Saw His Tattoo

A Ghost from the Past

The silence that followed Frank’s perfect shot was broken only by the crunch of gravel as a black government SUV pulled up to the range. Kyle was still standing frozen, his eyes darting between the perfect bullseye on the monitor and the black wolf tattoo on Frank’s forearm. From the vehicle stepped Colonel Miller, a decorated commander whose chest was covered in ribbons of honor. To Kyle's absolute shock, the Colonel marched straight toward Frank, stopped, and delivered a crisp, respectful salute.

"We've been searching for you for five years, Commander,"

Colonel Miller said, his voice filled with deep respect. Kyle’s face went pale. He looked at his commander, then at the rugged old man he had just insulted. "Colonel? You know this senior citizen?" Kyle stammered, trying to find his voice.

Colonel Miller turned to Kyle, his eyes flashing with cold anger. "This 'senior citizen' is the reason your entire division exists, Specialist. He is the legendary Ghost-1, the most lethal sniper this nation has ever produced. You aren't fit to carry his rifle case." Kyle looked as if he had been struck by lightning. He stepped back, trembling, realizing the gravity of his disrespect.

But the Colonel hadn't come just to teach a young soldier a lesson. He pulled a classified, red-stamped folder from his leather briefcase and handed it to Frank. Inside was a single, grainy satellite photograph of a compound in the mountains. Frank's eyes narrowed as he recognized the insignia on the compound walls. It belonged to Marcus Drake, a rogue operative Frank was ordered to eliminate twenty years ago—a man who was supposed to be dead. The Colonel looked at Frank solemnly.

"Drake survived the strike in Kabul, Frank. And he just took a hostage. He knows you're alive, and he wants his revenge."