Mason lunges at me. His white hair red, stained with Sophie’s blood. My heart hammering against my chest.

I roll aside, grunting as I land on the cold hard floor, my shirt riding up.

Fuck, where is xaden?!

Mason stands up slowly, breathing heavily. It’s reassuring in some ways to know that im not the only one that’s panting. The smoke fills the air.

_“You know…we’re a lot more alike than you’d think,” _Mason smirks.

_“What..?”_, I ask, panting.

_“Oh come one,” _he chuckles like we’re having a totally normal conversation.

Taking a couple steps closer, still smirking, he continues. _“Didn’t think I’ll notice how uncomfortable you look around weapons, Astrid? That fire in your eyes is what attracts me to you. We could be partners you know?”_, he grins, showing perfect teeth.

He takes a step closer. I scrambles backwards until I hit the heated wall. The smoke is closing in, getting in my nose. The flashbacks blind my field of thoughts.

He kneels down in front of me. His messy white-more red-hair cascading down his eyes.

_“You’re crazy to actually believe we’re alike only because of my past,” _I grit out, the smoke entering my lungs.

He looks down at his pocket, pulling out a tiny pocket knife. His gaze goes up to mine, heated and intense, making my breath hitch.

Sweat coats my skin.

_Cough_.

_Cough._

__

_“But oh, Cara Mia,” _he begins, the tip of his knife trailing on the exposed skin of my stomach, making me shrink into myself. “_I _**_am_**_ crazy. You may not see it. But it’s only that you’re wishing for the wrong things,”_ I inhale sharply as I feel the tip of the pocket knife carving on the surface on my skin.

An especially painful cough rattles my body, the smoke fogging up the whole storage room.

He carves a heart on me as all his victims, but mine is filled in.

My vision blurring.

_Xaden_…

Just as I’m about to close my eyes, I feel a snug mask go over my nose…

_An oxygen mask?…_

__

__

Mason smirks at me and leaves.

_I’m never gonna be like him._

__