)

Grayson drove to a junk yard to get rid of Mason's car so they couldn't track him. As he parked the car and turned off the engine, he sat there for a moment, gripping the steering wheel tightly.

The wireless earpiece that Alison had given him still rested in his ear. He thought about taking it out, but something made him keep it in.

His mind was filled with thoughts about Alison and how she looked when Mason approached her - sad and scared. He wondered what she was doing at this moment - writing, reading, maybe eating ice cream? Grayson hoped she was trying to find out more about the social contract Mason had tricked her into signing and finding a way to break it.

Seeing her cry had made Grayson realize how much she had lost - her fame, her money, her books, her parents, everything.

Then, he remembered Alison's brothers, William and Hudson. Mason had targeted them as soon as they finished the puzzle, calling it 'Game Over' for them.

William hated Alison and blamed her for their parents' divorce and deaths.Grayson understood why - Alison had stabbed William without any clear reason, and her singing tormented him so much that he couldn't stand listening to any music. But after solving Alison's game, would William's opinion of her change?

Hudson's feelings towards Alison were still a bit of a mystery. He seemed more forgiving, but Grayson could tell that Hudson didn't fully trust her. It was clear that Hudson was looking out for William, making sure he didn't fall off the edge. Grayson wondered why Hudson was keeping both Alison and William in check.

Grayson got out the convertible, and threw the keys in the back seat. Lost in deep thoughts about Alison, William, and Hudson, Grayson kept walking, unaware of the passing time.

As he walked, the surroundings seemed to blur into the background. People passed by, the city noise continued, but Grayson was in his own world, trying to make sense of everything.

It wasn't until he heard someone yell in his ear did he came back to reality.

"You told me you wanted to be happy!" Mason's voice boomed from the wireless earpiece Alison had given him. "Success is the key to happiness!"

"Happiness is the key to success!" Alison yelled back, louder than Grayson intended. He had wanted to remove the earpiece, but curiosity held him back. It seemed like Alison had accidentally activated it, and it was a good opportunity to learn something.

He could hear Alison's footsteps echoing down a corridor. "Alison!" Mason's voice called out, and Grayson imagined Alison moving through a room, with Mason close behind, probably grabbing her as she struggled.

"You know I care about you," his voice shifted in a smooth, honeyed voice.

"I find that hard to believe," " Alison spat.

"You're special to me, and I know deep down, you feel something for me too."

Alison pulled away from his grasp, not allowing his touch to sway her resolve. "No, that's not true," Alison protested, but her voice wavered, and Grayson could hear the doubt creeping in.

"I can fulfil all your fantasies and make you feel things you've never imagined," Mason's voice turned dark and possessive, sending shivers down Grayson's spine. "No one can love you like I can."

Grayson didn't need to hear his name to know Mason was referring to him. Mason was trying to seduce Alison, taking advantage of her vulnerability.

"You were eager to play this game, weren't you? After all, you're the mastermind behind it all," Mason taunted, and Grayson wondered what he meant. "You crave excitement, danger, and I can give you that."

"You have a twisted idea of fun," Alison's voice rang out, fierce and defiant.

"And yet, you're still here,"Mason's smug voice persisted.

Alison's breathing was heavy, and Grayson could sense her struggling to keep her composure.

Mason's tone softened, attempting to be persuasive. "I admit, I might have used some tricks to get you to stay, but deep down, you enjoyed the thrill of it all."

Suddenly, Grayson heard a scuffle on the other end of the earpiece, followed by Alison's cry of pain. Grayson's heart sank, and a chilling feeling washed over him as he realized that Mason had lashed out at Alison again. The memory of her bruised eye flashed in his mind, but he couldn't stop himself from listening.

He could hear her heavy breathing and the thuds of her body hitting something hard, like a wall. In his mind, Grayson pictured Alison being pushed up against the wall by Mason, with him holding her tightly.

As Mason continued to speak sweetly, Grayson couldn't stay silent any longer. He had to break Mason's hold over her.

"Alison," he spoke gently yet firmly. There was a moment of silence from the other end of the earpiece. Grayson could sense Alison's hesitation, and he knew that he had to choose his words carefully. "Alison-"

"This is the part," Alison whispered, which Grayson could only assume was for him. "where you seek the keys."

Grayson furrowed his brow. Keys? Then, it clicked.The car keys!

"I don't know what I'd do without you, Alison-"

"You won't have to find out," Alison interrupted Mason, refusing to let him continue sweet talking her.

"You're right, Mason," Alison's voice turned cold and dangerous. "This is my game, and you play by my rules."

Without a moment's hesitation, Grayson turned and sprinted back to the junkyard. His heart pounded in his chest as he raced against time. The junkyard was just a few blocks away, but it felt like an eternity as he weaved through the streets and alleys.

"You're not the only one who can play mind games. I can be just as cunning and manipulative as you, if not more," she said, her voice chillingly calm.

As Grayson listened to the intense exchange between Alison and Mason, he knew that he had to act fast. The convertible might be crushed by now. His messy appearance, with silver-blond hair flowing, unbuttoned jacket, and messy collar, didn't matter as he rushed forward.

"That's why," Alison's voice dropped to a whisper. "I'm sorry."

Grayson wasn't sure if her words were for him or Mason, perhaps both, but he knew he had to reach the convertible before it was too late.

As he turned every corner, fear and anxiety gnawed at him. He couldn't bear the thought of losing the car, not when the keys were crucial to the game.

Then, he heard the sound of a crane nearby, and his heart sank. He rushed towards it, hoping he wasn't too late. The noise was deafening, drowning out his own thoughts.

When he got to the crane, he saw it drop a car into a crushing machine, grinding it down until it came out flat on the other end. It was too late, but when he stepped back, he found his convertible safe and untouched on the other side. Relief washed over him as he realized it wasn't Mason's car that got crushed.

In a hurry, he rushed towards the car, opened the door and got the keys. As he did, he noticed a small compartment on the handle that he hadn't seen before. Curiosity got the better of him, and he slid it open, revealing a folded piece of paper inside.

He could still hear the echo of Alison's voice in his earpiece, and he knew that every second counted. With trembling hands, he unfolded the paper and found an address written on it. Memories rushed back of Alison holding hospital papers related to her brothers. They must have stumbled upon some crucial information. Whatever it was, Alison urgently wanted Grayson to go to Brooklyn Heights Hospital to either get the files or find her brothers.

"Alison?" Grayson called her name, knowing she wouldn't respond. She had bought him time while she held off Mason. Although Alison appeared to have stopped playing, deep down she knew she couldn't.

The game wasn't over; in fact, it had just begun.