Adventures of the Deps: Book 1

Chapter Seventeen

"Mason!" finally Lea could move. She rushed to the door before anyone could stop her, and that's when she heard his voice. She stopped at the doorway, staying hidden.

She needed to know what was happening, but she was terrified of what would. All these stories Mason has said about Ben, what would he do to him now?

Mason has run from himself all his life, but she never wanted him to have to do that again, but soon he wouldn't have a choice for either. Lea's head was spinning, she felt nauseous.

Mason could barely stand, but he knew exactly what to do- when the moment came- he'd do what he had been imagining doing for years now. Releasing himself from Ben.

He had always been the one to hide, the one to have mercy but he was tired of feeling like nothing he did would ever repay everything he'd done.

"Ah, you upheld your end of the deal-" Lea heard Ben's voice.

He knew Lea and her family were hiding in that little building not too far away. He's always known it was there. But that stupid good little voice in his head told him to let Mason hide. He told him to let Lea stay with him for a while...and for once he didn't hate it.

This was the perfect chance for him to get to Mason. Let Lea stay with him- so he could just rip them away from each other within seconds- compared to the days of knowing each other.

"Yeah- and you hold up yours. Leave Lea and her family out of this."

Even if it was the last thing he was going to do- he was going to protect Lea's family. And he was going to make sure of that tonight. He had a plan- but he knew what it required of him. And he was ready. He was ready to go.

"As long as she does the same-" Ben replied glancing her way. He knew she was there- but wouldn't say anything. Lea felt a flame rise in her chest- an anger.

"I'm not afraid of you. I'm not afraid of you anymore. It doesn't matter what you can do to me...what you will do to me. I mean- did you think that I was going to put up with all the things that you did, for all those years?

"Did you think that I would crack under the pressure? Of all the electrocution, the beatings, and having me...set you up to be the victim? You're weak! And do you know why you're weak? Cause you don't know how to love...you've never loved anyone- not as I have.

"You know that I would lay my life down for, Lea. I love her more than anything you can imagine. And it doesn't matter...what you do to me...I will always be with her. I will always love her, and protect her! Of course...that's something that you don't understand. So go ahead. I'm not afraid."

"Bravo-" Ben clapped slowly, "How about a standing ovation, huh?"

Mason knew Ben didn't care- but everything he said he meant- and he wanted Lea to hear it. A last goodbye, and a last reassurance. And maybe deep down the man he once called his father heard all of it. Maybe he was still there somewhere.

Ben walked towards Mason, and he didn't move. He let Ben come...with a syringe in his hand to take the last of his powers. The last of his energy. The last of his life.

"This will only hurt a little-" Ben poked the syringe into Mason's arm.

Mason relived every memory and every feeling for Lea he'd ever felt. He felt the power leave his body, leaving nothing inside of him but a hollow pit. But he still had the last of his will- and he still had a choice. He didn't trust Ben with anything...especially not a promise. Right as Ben took the last bit of power from Mason-

"And this will hurt a lot-" Mason put a dagger through the stomach of his own father, and they both collapsed to the ground, "You can't hurt them if you're dead."