)

With exhaustion weighing him down, Grayson slumped into his seat, surrounded by the dimness of the school library. It was already 4 o'clock in the afternoon, and he had spent countless hours reading into the contents of Mason's limited collection of five books. Among them, two were focused on business matters, leaving Grayson with the remaining three fictional works to analyse.

Having read the business books already, Grayson was certain they held no clues to unravel the mystery at hand. However, he couldn't help but find it peculiar that Mason had authored books in the business genre. After all, his records from Harvard indicated no academic pursuit in the field of business or finance. Nevertheless, Grayson reminded himself not to jump to conclusions prematurely. There might be more to Mason's journey after publishing his debut book, and Grayson recognized the need for patience and further investigation.

The first book, "Escape," told a gripping tale of a girl and a boy trapped in a harrowing environment for human experiments. Despite their circumstances, they formed a deep bond and worked together to find a way out. However, their freedom turned out to be a deceptive trap as the boy, who had pretended to love the girl, had ulterior motives.

In the second book, "Fractured," a young woman struggled with personal loss and a fragmented sense of self. Her journey revolved around healing and seeking redemption while grappling with grief, guilt, and the consequences of her past choices. Grayson surmised that the woman must have been grappling with matters of the heart, leading her to find herself in this emotional state.

The third book, "Help," followed a similar pattern. It depicted a girl who found herself trapped by a boy she had helplessly fallen in love with. Through deceit and manipulation, he ensnared her in his clutches and she spent her life as his slave.

They all obviously had the same concept: a girl falling in love, only to be deceived by a calculating boy who exploited her for his own gain. Tragically, each story ended with the girl taking her own life. This unsettling pattern had not escaped Grayson's notice, and he understood that unravelling its meaning meant that he needed a sample of Alison and Mason's collaborative work. Despite his efforts, he had been unsuccessful in finding their earlier works, leaving him no choice but to approach Alison directly.

Making his way to the rooftop garden, Grayson hoped to find Alison there. But as he arrived, he discovered that she was nowhere to be seen. He decided to wait for her, even at this late hour.

The rooftop garden was quite large, and adorned with nothing but red roses, except for a solitary red maple tree. Grayson approached the tree, examining its trunk and branches before deciding to climb it. It had been six years since he last climbed a tree. Back then, he and Jameson would climb trees together, whether it was to ambush Nash or simply to ambush each other.

He climbed the tree, finding a comfortable spot among the branches. From there, he had a view of the entire Harvard University grounds, though he didn't find anything particularly remarkable or beautiful about it. The wind rustled through his ears, gently sweeping his blond locks back. He closed his eyes and allowed himself to rest against the tree.

It was quiet, and Grayson understood why Alison spent most of her time here and hoped to do the same when she wasn't around.

When Grayson blinked open his eyes, darkness surrounded him. He realized he had slept unintentionally for the entire afternoon and hurried to his feet. As he prepared to leave, the walls surrounding the exit caught his attention with their radiant glow. "Glow-in-the-dark ink," Grayson thought.

Grayson traced the letters, reading the writings inscribed on the walls.

"January 22nd,

Dear diary, I have made the decision to pursue education rather than enlisting in the military. As if there's any difference."

There isn't a difference, Grayson found himself answering the rhetorical question within the supposedly diary entry on the wall. Did Alison write these?

He proceeded to read another, passaged near the door's handle.

"May 1st,

Dear diary, why must textbooks burden us with such weight? Are they attempting to crush our spirits along with our backpacks?"

For some reason, Grayson paused, thinking over the question momentarily, before moving on to the next glowing entry. This one seemed new as it glowed brighter than the rest.

"September 7th,

Dear diary, can money buy you happiness? The answer was simple. His eyes held that power."

Grayson took a brief moment to process the entry. His eyes? Was she talking about-

Grayson's phone suddenly rang, a call from an unknown caller. It was quite strange as Grayson just got a new phone after discovering Xander had bugged his last, and probably Jameson's too.

With cautious curiosity, he answered the call, his voice deliberately lowered and laced with a tinge of danger. "Hello?"

"Grayson," Mason's voice flowed through the phone, surprisingly calm. Grayson's grip tightened around the device as he listened intently. "I thought it might be pleasant for us to have dinner together. Just as friends, you know?"

The invitation to dine with Mason Valentine hardly seemed ordinary or friendly. Clearly, there was more to it, ulterior motives lurking beneath the surface. Yet, Grayson had his own reasons to entertain the offer. But how did Mason obtain his phone number? Was the timing of the call a mere coincidence?

There was a momentary pause before Mason continued, his voice carrying a touch of sincerity. "I believe we have matters to discuss, issues that could shed light on our...paths. It could be an opportunity for us to gain a better understanding of each other."

Grayson's grip on the phone loosened slightly as he thought of the possibilities. While he maintained his cautious stance, an undeniable curiosity and desire for the upper hand welled up within him.

"Alright," Grayson finally responded, his voice guarded. He could imagine Mason's smile, blissfully unaware that Grayson had his own plans in motion. In this intricate game, Grayson held the position of the player, while Mason served merely as a pawn on the board.

"Great!" Mason's voice resonated with a touch of excitement. "Let's meet at 6:30 then, at the hotel?"

Grayson nodded silently, even though Mason couldn't see the gesture. The pieces had been set, and Grayson was ready to make his move. "I'll be waiting."