???????? ?? ??? ║ Hunter x Reader

I don't move at all. I stand motionless as the raindrops on my head. Zoe is actually dead. And there's nothing I could've done to prevent it. How could someone be so cruel as to kill another? How heartless could Belos be? Among the sadness, I also feel anger boiling within me. I clench my fist, digging my fingernails into my palms. A guttural scream leaves my lips. I couldn't care less who might hear me. The tears fall down my cheek one after the other. 

I pace around the forest surrounding me. Not knowing where else to go or what to do, I drop to my knees, burying my face in my hands. My sobs are muffled but continue nonstop. A hand touches my shoulder. I look up with my tear-stained face to see Hunter kneeling right beside me. Without hesitation, he pulls me into a tight embrace. I hug him back, still crying furiously as he holds me. Is this all real? Even though I know very well that it is, I don't want to accept the truth. I've been through so much these past years, and I finally hit my breaking point. I just want to find a hole to wither away in. There are so many emotions going through my head right now, it's too hard to process everything. Crying is pointless, though. It won't bring Zoe back.

Small time skip

I went to sleep that night, but the nightmares kept me awake for most of it. Not my usual ones, though. These were new. Belos doesn't have the power to interfere with my dreams anymore, not now that he can't reach me. These nightmares were about Zoe. The memory of hearing her voice for the last time is something that I will never forget. The whole event was traumatizing enough. And these nightmares aren't helping me feel any less guilty. 

I was with her when she breathed her last breath. I held her in my arms and watched as she looked up to me, desperately, thinking I would save her. But I couldn't. I let her die. I only knew her for a few days, but she was one of those people whom you don't meet very often. She was a sweet and genuine person. Regardless of how long you've known someone, anyone normal would feel heartbroken after witnessing a death. I considered Zoe my friend. I would've done anything to prevent her from dying. And even if I found some way to go back to the demon realm, what would I do? Belos is more powerful. There's no way I would beat him in a fight. That was certain. Besides, it still is a mystery how the portal opened when I was with Zoe. There's nothing I can do. And I hate it.

I decided not to go back to sleep, so I wouldn't have to suffer as I relived the memory of Zoe's death. It stops raining after a while, and soon after, I see the sun peek through the trees. I get up and head over to sit on the porch outside the cabin. I lean my head against the doorway and watch as the sun rises. It reminds me of when I used to watch the sunrise back in the boiling isles. I woke up early to do tasks outside the castle for Belos, so I would always get to see it. Those days were enjoyable. But I suppose it's best if I forget about them. After all that he's done to hurt my friends and me, it'll be better that way.

"You're up early." I hear Hunter's voice and turn around.

He walks over and sits next to me. "Get any sleep?"

I shake my head. "Barely. I had a lot of nightmares."

"I had a couple too." He admits.

We sit in silence as we stare out at the forest.

Hunter finally speaks. "The human realm is quite interesting, don't you-"

"Stop." I cut him off.

He looks at me in confusion.

"Stop pretending like everything's okay. Because it's not. We need to focus on the situation we are in. We have nowhere to live, nothing to eat, and most importantly, we're witches in a human world..." My voice fades off as I finish.

He stays quiet for a couple of seconds. "I know things aren't looking so good right now. But I promise we'll get through this. We'll find a way. We always do, don't we?"

"We didn't find a way to save Zoe." I look down.

"You and I both know that it was beyond our control. She was stabbed, y/n. No amount of healing can bring someone back from the dead."

My eyes tear up. "Maybe not, but it wouldn't have happened if I didn't bring her to the boiling isles."

"But that doesn't mean..." he trails off.

He knows it's true. There's nothing he can say to convince me that this wasn't my fault.

"We can't change the past, so we just have to keep moving forward. It's all over now. You don't have to run anymore." He places his hand on top of mine.

"But Belos is still alive, hurting other people."

"He'll pay for it, trust me."

I look into his crimson eyes and lean in to hug him. "Thank you, Hunter. For always being there for me."

"Yeah." He gently wraps his arms around me. "I'll always be here for you. We'll have each other."

I smile and blush, even though he can't see it. "I like the sound of that."