)

It was 3 in the morning. Grayson sat in a dimly lit school room, across from Gabriel, the tension thick in the air. He assumed Alison was facing a similar interrogation with Cora next door.

They both sat quietly, waiting for Rupert to start the interrogation. Grayson's only wish was to get this over with; escape wasn't an option as the entire school had been locked down, surrounded by cops.

As the minutes dragged on, Grayson's thoughts shifted momentarily to a more serene topic. Avery's birthday was only a few days away now. He told himself it was time to confront to Avery to figure out who she wanted.

With his mixed-up feelings for Alison, Grayson wasn't entirely sure what he truly wanted anymore. He hoped that his feelings for Avery were genuine and not just a result of the classic Hawthorne rivalry with his brother. Because when it came to Alison...

"It's not a coincidence that you're caught up in all of this-" 

"I never planned on getting involved in any of this. I came to Harvard to study, nothing more," Grayson shot back sharply, cutting Gabriel off.

Gabriel nodded, he seemed to accept Grayson's response, at least for the time being. "Hawthornes, they always seem to cause trouble wherever they go, don't they? Chaos follows them."

Grayson chose to stay quiet, not wanting to delve further into that discussion.

Gabriel, however, pressed on. "I'll be honest with you, Grayson. I'm not grieving over your grandfather's death. If anything, I welcomed it. Tobias Hawthorne was anything but grateful nor kind. Passing his inheritance to a stranger, someone bound to suffer for it, just proves he lived up to the Hawthorne name."

Grayson stayed quiet. He was already well aware of all this, and he didn't need Gabriel to spell it out for him. It was a burden he had carried since birth, one that seemed to haunt every aspect of his life. The Hawthorne name had a way of attracting trouble, whether you seek it or not.

"You Hawthornes, none of you are any different from your grandfather," Gabriel continued, his tone sharp. "You're just as reckless as he was, to the point where a girl lost her life. Emily Laughlin, wasn't it?"

The room grew even quieter as Gabriel's words hung in the air.

"I knew about her," Gabriel admitted. "It was unfortunate, but Emily knew she was playing with fire, and in the end, she got burned."

Grayson clenched his fists, a surge of anger and frustration coursing through him. But he remained quiet, his gaze fixed downward. What happened to Emily was tragic, and Grayson held myself responsible for it. And he would ensure Alison and Avery didn't meet the same fate.

Gabriel studied Grayson for a moment, his expression hinting that he took some pleasure in the conversation. "Alison, she's quite the character, isn't she?" he mused. "Always determined, always searching for something more. She just doesn't know when to stop." 

Grayson could tell Gabriel thought Alison was just another Emily. Only difference was that Alison wouldn't stop playing with fire even if it burnt her - she wouldn't stop until she got hurt, until the pain went away. 

Gabriel seemed to imply that Grayson, the fire in this situation, could decide whether to leave or stay, a choice that could determine Alison's fate. But was Grayson really the one who could make a difference in her life?

As the room fell into a heavy silence, Gabriel's words continued to weigh on Grayson. His fists stayed clenched, knuckles white. He could feel Gabriel's gaze, his eyes probing for a response. But Grayson stayed quiet.

Deep down, Grayson understood that Gabriel's bitterness stemmed from his wife Ruth's tragedy on Hawthorne Island. He needed an outlet for his grief, and unfortunately, any Hawthorne seemed to be a suitable target. The pain in Gabriel's voice was palpable, and Grayson recognized it as the source of his anger.

His family's legacy may be filled with chaos and trouble, but that didn't mean that his brothers and him intend to perpetuate it. They all would ensure that the future was different. Especially for her.

As for Gabriel's supposed concern for Alison, it seemed like a way to make Grayson feel guilty, and to some extent, it worked.

Putting Grayson in the game was a mistake on Alison's part, but she didn't regret it. Why would she willingly put him in harm's way, knowing the risks involved? Grayson could only guess it was a similar answer to why his grandfather involved Avery - knowing the risks but seeing a greater purpose.

"You care about Alison, don't you?" The question, or rather statement, caught Grayson off guard, but he didn't show the slightest reaction. Slowly, he lifted his eyes to Gabriel, whose tired eyes held a shrewd intelligence.

"Hudson hired me for a specific purpose: to terminate The Social Contract," Gabriel explained, folding his hands on the table. "Not to provide the protection Alison needed. Not to ensure her safety. Nothing for Alison." Gabriel paused, searching for a response from Grayson, but Grayson stayed silent, so Gabriel continued. "But Hudson wanted us to help you."

This got a raised eyebrow out of Grayson. 

"Hudson always had issues regarding Alison, and the guilt ate away at him," Gabriel continued. "He decided that putting the responsibility upon you would be the best option. He believed that your purpose in the game was to bring it to an end."

Hudson, it seemed, saw Grayson as a chance for redemption or he knew that Grayson had a way to access The Social Contract.

"I have The Social Contract." The words left Grayson's lips before he could have a second thought. "However, there's a complex passphrase required to access it," he added quickly.

Gabriel's surprise was palpable, but he quickly composed himself, his shrewd intelligence at work once again.

"A passphrase," Gabriel muttered, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table as he contemplated Grayson's revelation. He leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Would you, Grayson Hawthorne, consider granting us access to The Social Contract?"

Grayson could tell how difficult it was for Gabriel to utter those words, and for a moment, he considered asking him to repeat them, just to test his resolve.

Nevertheless, Grayson knew he needed to approach this situation with caution. He wouldn't make any hasty decisions that could put him and Alison in even greater danger. Grayson took a moment to centre himself.

What do I want? Grayson asked himself. What. Do. I. Want?

Taking a deep breath, he felt something inside him shift. He realized he needed to let go of his old way of thinking, his constant negativity and distrust. It had only made things more complicated. He had to take a leap of faith, if not for himself, then for Alison.

"I want what's best for Alison," Grayson said firmly, locking eyes with Gabriel. "I need to make a call."

Gabriel narrowed his eyes, seemingly unconvinced by Grayson's coordination. But what other choice did Gabriel have? In the end, Gabriel agreed with a nod, and Grayson stepped aside to make the call.

Grayson took his time dialling Alisa's number. He knew he needed to access The Social Contract, but he also needed to ensure it wouldn't fall into the wrong hands. Alisa was the key to that.

"Grayson, I've sent the necessary files to your phone," Alisa's voice came through the line. "You should be able to access them now."

Grayson quickly checked his phone and confirmed that the files had arrived. With Alisa's guidance, he connected his phone to the computer Gabriel had brought. As he did, the computer screen flickered to life, and the security protocols dissolved one by one, leaving only one last obstacle: the passphrase needed to access The Social Contract.

Grayson and Gabriel gazed at the screen for a few moments, the tension in the room palpable. Then, Gabriel leaned in closer to Grayson and spoke in a low voice, as if sharing a well-kept secret. "You're a lot like your grandfather in some ways," he remarked, a hint of begrudging respect in his voice. "He had a strong sense of loyalty too, even if it led to his downfall."

Just when it seemed like they were about to make a breakthrough, a loud noise echoed through the hallway outside the room, followed by the sound of shattering glass. Grayson and Gabriel froze.

Without a word, they both moved toward the door, bracing themselves for whatever might come their way. Just as Grayson reached for the doorknob, it swung open with force, and a figure stepped inside. 

It was Rupert. 

He stood in the doorway, his eyes darted between Grayson and Gabriel, and then to the computer screen with the security protocols. 

"What's the matter?" Gabriel was the first to speak, while Grayson remained silent, his attention fixed on Rupert.

Rupert had a fresh clean cut across his cheek, and sweat streamed down his face. He clutched a gun in his hand, which Grayson suspected was responsible for the shattered glass sound. 

"Mason," Rupert panted, sounding as if he had sprinted through the corridors.

"What about Mason?" Gabriel demanded, his frustration evident.

Rupert continued to catch his breath, his chest rising and falling. Then, he glanced over his shoulder, quickly scanning the area before returning his gaze to Gabriel.

"He's escaped."