Marigold

A soldier, locked away for years with no human contact, survives day to day by keeping himself in shape and ready to tear at the enemies who locked him up all those years before.  If they ever return.  He maintains his physical strength and martial prowess in daily routines, but the long years of being alone has caused him to dream up a perfect companion.  And in his mind, she is truly perfect.  Every detail has been honed in his mind’s eye, until she seems to live apart from him.  Her image hovers around him, keeping him company and pushing him to the limits in his every day exercises.  And on the day he finally hears voices outside his cell, he is ready.  Or so he thinks.