Unseen Scenes—Book One, between Chapter Twenty and Twenty-one (Mason Version) (Patreon)

So, I just want to explain a little about the 'Unseen Scenes' series. It's what I'll be doing for the Extra Monthly Bonus Content for reaching $2800 (which is a HUGE amount, and I am so incredibly grateful for your guys' support and love! <3).

Unseen Scenes is, well, exactly as it sounds :D It's scenes that either I wanted to fit into the books but couldn't, or scene ideas I had but didn't fit anywhere, or even scenes actually in the book but done from another (usually the LI's) POV!

This month's Unseen Scene was a scene I wanted to fit into Book One near the end. An inbetween scene from the LI's POV when the MC was still unconscious and hadn't woken yet after the Murphy fight.

So yeah, this isn't just a fun side scenario. It's actual canon content!

It was too short to really fit in anywhere though, so I ended up cutting it. It's so great to be able to share it with you now! If we stay at over $2800 next month, then I'll do a poll to see which POV of this scene you guys would like next!

Hope you enjoy it :)

(I used 'they' as a pronoun for the Detective as it's neutral, so you can imagine whatever gender your MC actually is or NB)

-

At the Facility. Nearing Midnight.

---

The event with Murphy was days ago, but a fight hadn’t had lingering effects like this in a long time for Mason.

Sleep is impossible, and he lay on his bed staring at the ceiling which is obscured by the cigarette smoke pouring out between his lips. The smoke wafts up and curls around the broken smoke detector above him, frayed and splayed wires protruding from the plastic case of it.

A groan escapes him.

He gives a huff of breath, stubs the cigarette out in the ash tray on the side table, and punches open the door to head out into the corridor.

-

It’s quieter in the facility at this time of night though still not silent enough for Mason’s preference. He passes by a couple of agents who let their gazes linger over his lithe form…something that would normally attract his attention immediately.

But tonight he doesn’t even notice. 

His footsteps stomp down the wide, circular tunnels of the bunker-like facility. He doesn’t even know where’s he’s headed as long as it’s somewhere away from everyone else.

But on turning the corner of the next corridor, he frowns to find himself in a recognisable location, with a recognisable figure stood in it.

“Agent [Surname]?” he calls with a frown. For a second, he thought it might be his imagination, but creativity isn’t exactly something he’s known for.

The woman swings her head around to face him. And once again he thinks he’s imagining things. Her face is unusually pale, dark circles heavy beneath her usually stern gaze, and her hands are folded in obvious worry—nothing like the formidable agent he’s used to.

“Mason,” she replies, just as surprised to see him.

Mason moves closer and everything becomes clear as he realises just where he’s walked to.

It’s the medical wing. The glass window to one side frames the Detective led on the bed within. 

They haven’t moved since being brought to the facility days ago. Not even woken up yet.

Not that Mason has been keeping up with the news on them or anything. 

He shifts on the spot. 

“It’s late,” Mason says, as though the simple words are the start of a conversation.

“I’m aware,” Rebecca replies, her focus snapped back to her child. 

Mason glances over her crumpled suit with his top lip curled up. “Have you even left?”

She shakes her head. “Not until [Name] has woken.”

With a contained sigh, Mason stares through the window…and almost regrets it. A strange pang leaves a hollow sensation in his stomach.

A weird feeling he has no idea of the source of.

He shrugs it off. “They’ll be fine.” His fingers move to her shoulder but instead he draws them back awkwardly. He never was good at this comforting thing. Maybe he should go wake Nat.

“Yes,” Rebecca replies. The single word chokes in her throat. “They have to be.”

Mason’s lips open and snap shut a few times. A swell of want to comfort the woman overcomes him for just a moment…but it fades at the realisation he has no idea how.

He drops his gaze to the ground. “I’m sorry.”

He then shuffles away, his attention drawn to the Detective through the window once more.

The hollow ache returns before vanishing a second later.