Chapter 11 - Mason's Scars
Mason lived with his father in a small rental across town. Sarah had not seen him since the hospital, except for one distant glimpse at a school event. She called first. Dean answered and laughed bitterly when she asked to speak with his son.
"Now you want to see him?"
"Only if Mason agrees. No pressure. No threats."
After a long silence, Mason's voice came through. "I'll meet them at the library. Public place."
He arrived in a gray hoodie, sleeves pulled over his wrists. Ethan sat opposite him, eyes fixed on the table.
"I thought you hated me," Ethan said.
Mason's jaw tightened. "I did. Then I hated my dad for talking about you every day. Then I hated myself because he said I should be grateful Daniel saved me. I was grateful. I was scared, too. Both things can be true."
Ethan's eyes filled. "I lit the firework. I thought it would be a sparkler. I should've stopped when you told me to."
Mason pulled up his sleeve. Pale scars crossed his wrist and forearm. "I remember the heat. I remember you trying to pull me out. Your dad shoved you toward the door and went back for me."
"I tried to go back in. Mom held me."
"I know. I saw her."
For a moment, they looked like the friends they'd been before the fire, trapped in a memory neither knew how to carry.
Mason said Dean had found the video on an old backup drive. At first he only wanted the truth. Then he began replaying it, pausing on Ethan's face, and saying Sarah had stolen justice from them.
"He thinks if you confess in front of everybody, it'll make the last three years fair," Mason said. "But I never asked him to threaten you. He started asking for my phone, too."
Sarah felt cold. "He took your phone?"
"After I told him to stop. He says it's his job to make people answer for what they did."
Mason looked at Ethan. "I don't want you to pretend it wasn't your fault. But I don't want you to think you're only the worst thing you ever did."
May you like
Ethan nodded, tears running down his face.
As they left, Mason caught Sarah's sleeve. "There's another video. Dad says it shows everything. But I don't think he's watched the end."
