The Path Forward

Ava’s POV

*Flashback*

Clinging tightly to Mason as we walked toward the car, I couldn’t keep my mind from spinning. The chaos of the last few hours kept replaying in my head, leaving me both relieved and shaken.

Seeing Mason emerge from that abandoned building, shirt bloodied and torn, had made my heart stop. He looked like some kind of battered superhero, and something deep in my chest tightened with fear and admiration.

Without thinking, I had run straight into his arms, muttering thank yous over and over, as if that could truly convey the gratitude I felt.

Now, seated in the backseat while holding Holly, I gripped her hand tightly, silently praying she would be okay. Her fingers felt cold in mine, and though I checked her body again for any cuts or bruises, I found nothing.

The blood… it wasn’t hers. But then whose blood was it? My eyes flicked toward Mason, who sat quietly beside me, his shirt stained with dark red patches.

Before I could ask, Uncle Theo’s voice sliced through the silence, sharp and accusatory. "Why didn’t you call the police or an ambulance?" he barked, directing his frustration at Mason. His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles whitening with tension.

Rose, sitting in the passenger seat, answered before Mason could. “Mr. Brown said calling the cops might put Holly in more danger. He warned that if the kidnappers realized we had involved the police, they might hurt her or disappear before we could reach her. He thought it was better to act quickly and handle things ourselves.”

Theo’s eyes narrowed as he glanced at her, his tone clipped. “Does that make sense to you? What if they were armed? What if a fight broke out?”

“But it didn’t,” I cut in, my voice firmer than I intended. “And everyone is fine. That’s what matters.”

The tension in the car was intense, thick enough to choke on. I turned my attention back to Mason, who had remained silent through the exchange. My eyes lingered on the bloodstains that had transferred onto my shirt when I hugged him earlier. “Whose blood is that?” I asked softly, the question hanging in the air.

Mason exhaled, running a hand through his disheveled hair. “When we got there, I told Rose to wait outside and call the cops if I didn’t come out in ten minutes. I didn’t want to risk her getting hurt if things went south.” He paused, as if gathering his thoughts. “Inside, there was only one guy—standing by the window, probably keeping watch. I figured I could take him on my own.”

He shifted slightly, wincing as he moved his injured shoulder. “I managed to overpower him, but not before he got in a lucky hit. He stabbed me in the shoulder.” Mason gave a bitter chuckle, shaking his head. “I fought back, and… well, some of the blood is mine, some of it’s his. He took off when I got distracted checking on your sister.”

Hearing him recount what happened made something twist painfully in my chest. I reached for his hand, squeezing it gently. “I don’t know what I did to deserve the things you’ve done for me, but thank you, Mason. I owe you.”

His lips curved into a tired smile, but before he could respond, Theo’s voice came again, colder this time. “We’ll talk about this later. Right now, we need to get Holly to the hospital.”

I didn’t bother arguing. My focus was on Holly, on making sure she was safe and would make it in time for her surgery. Mason’s presence beside me was a quiet reassurance, but my mind wouldn’t stop racing. I couldn’t help but glance at Uncle Theo, suspicion creeping into my thoughts.

What do I really know about him? He showed up out of nowhere, claiming he wanted to help. But how could I be sure he wasn’t working for my father—or worse, for Chloe? Still, another voice in my head argued against that line of thinking. He had helped me escape the masked men. Why would he do that if he had bad intentions?

I sighed, shoving the spiraling doubts aside. For now, all that mattered was getting Holly the help she needed. I could deal with everything else later.

The rest of the drive passed in tense silence. By the time we pulled up to the hospital, I felt like my heart might burst from the anxiety. Mason carried Holly, while Rose, Theo and I followed closely behind. The sterile smell of antiseptic and bright fluorescent lights greeted us as we hurried through the automatic doors. Relief washed over me knowing we had finally made it to safety.

But that relief was short-lived.

As we stepped into the brightly lit hallway, my steps faltered. Standing at the end of the corridor, looking as calm and composed as ever, was Orion.

A wave of emotions crashed over me, but it wasn’t the warmth or longing I might have felt once. No, all I felt now was hatred. Pure, seething hatred. How dare he show up here, after everything he had done? He had abandoned Holly and me when we needed him most, choosing Chloe over us without a second thought. He hadn’t even looked back.

Mason must have sensed my sudden tension because he leaned closer, whispering, “Are you okay?”

I didn’t respond. My eyes remained locked on Orion as he began walking toward us. A glimpse of the message Rose sent flooded my mind—how she had begged him to help her find Holly and I, how he had turned his back on her and walked away. He didn’t just leave; he ran straight into Chloe’s arms, leaving us to fend for ourselves.

I was done with Orion. And this time, I was done for good.

***

After sending Mason home to go and rest, I decided to take a walk and clear my head. But the scene I saw in the hallway made my blood boil with anger.

“Enough!” I snapped, my voice echoing in the hallway as I stepped between Mason and Orion. The tension between them had escalated quickly, and they were throwing punches. I shoved them apart with more strength than I thought I had, glaring at both of them. “What is wrong with you two?”

Orion opened his mouth to speak, but I didn’t let him. He doesn’t deserve it. “We’re done. Whatever we had is gone. You don’t get to be a part of my life anymore, and you sure as hell don’t get to question the people who are.”

I turned to Mason, grabbing his hand instinctively. My voice softened, but my words remained firm. “Let me be, Orion. Just… let me be.”

Without waiting for a response, I turned away, supporting Mason as we walked toward the emergency room.

“Let’s go and get you cleaned up,” I whispered as I led him away. He was limping slightly from the fight, and I slipped my arm around his waist to steady him. Neither of us spoke, the tension still thick between us.

But as we moved further down the hallway, one thing became clear to me—whatever feelings I once had for Orion were gone. The attraction, the longing, the pain… it had all faded, replaced by something colder. Final.

And as I tightened my grip on Mason’s waist, I realized something else: Mason had been there when it mattered most. Orion was the past, a chapter that had closed. But Mason… Mason was something worth holding on to.