Chapter 6

Hunter

Hunter laid in bed and next to him, Chase laid down in his. Hunter held a quill pen and he twirled it around, his mind on Cassia, who he could still visualize illuminated by the fire that made her brown eyes melt into a pool of chocolate. Her eyes were on him with a look of fear mingling with curiosity, and that look was imprinted into his mind, flashing regularly to remind him there was something about her. Something that made him so fixated on her as if she was a mystery he desired to solve.

She infuriated him. He was still annoyed with what she said about him being nothing but a poor boy, but yet, his mind was consumed by her. She was like a poison he couldn't treat.

"I don't understand Cassia," Hunter blurted out. "Does she enjoy people hating her? What does she get out of being so unpleasant?"

Chase shot Hunter a mystified look and Hunter flushed. Unlike Hunter, both Liana and Chase were bewildered by Hunter's fascination with Cassia.

"Well, she's a princess," Chase said. "She has everything she wants and she's selfish and spoiled. It's to be expected."

Hunter grumbled unintelligibly and Chase ran his fingers through his curls and sat up, his eyes meeting Hunter's. There was a look of wonder on his face.

"She really does get under you skin, doesn't she?" Chase asked.

"You have no idea," Hunter mumbled. Chase's eyes widened and Hunter quickly added, "I mean, I just don't understand her. I pride myself on reading people with ease, but she's like a book full of scribbles. I can try and decipher it, but it's merely a blur of words."

Hunter rubbed his face as if he could erase Cassia from his mind, as if she could make more sense, but she didn't. Cassia was like a jigsaw puzzle with all the wrong pieces somehow sliding together to create an odd image.

"Anyways, has your father contacted you recently?" Chase asked.

Hunter shook his head. "He hasn't. Has he contacted you?"

Chase shook his head and Hunter frowned. He rubbed his face again, remembering his father, who looked nothing like him. Because unlike Hunter, his father had black hair and these blue eyes that were incessantly cold.

"I wonder what he would think of all this," Chase said. "Would he be happy?"

"Isn't what I'm doing exactly what's expected?" Hunter asked. "Liana and you act as if I'm being outlandish, but I'm doing what we're meant to do at Camp Trillion."

Chase shook his head. "I don't know how to explain it, but it seems different."

Hunter said nothing. His eyes slid away and they fixated on the thin blanket over him.

"Well, it's going to be hard, but I believe in you," Chase said, moving to him to slap his shoulder. "You got this."

Hunter rolled his eyes, but smiled as Chase bowed towards him before leaving the cabin. But once again, Hunter mulled over Cassia.

*****

Hunter sat with Liana and Chase at their usual table within the cafeteria. It was dinner time and Liana and Chase were bickering about who would win the next contest, and Hunter was barely paying attention. Because as always, his eyes were on Cassia.

Cassia sat at the table closest to his with her guard, but neither of them spoke. Cassia was poking at her peas and taking nibbles of it, looking uneasy amongst a crowd of chattering campers, and all Hunter could do was wonder.

Why was she so isolated? Why did she push people away, but wear that expression of hers as if she was lonely? It didn't make sense to him.

Cassia's eyes rose to scan the room, her eyes full of longing, and soon her eyes met his. She stiffened as their eyes met and Hunter didn't react. Their eyes always played a game of eye spy, where they would search for each other amongst any crowd and Hunter was used to it. But not Cassia. Every time their eyes connected, she appeared horrified by what she'd done.

Cassia pulled her eyes away and fastened them on her food and a small smile tugged at Hunter's lips. She always wore these scowls and glowers and people would often say she would be beautiful without her infamous dark looks, but Hunter still thought she was stunning.

She was the type of girl to look like she came out of a fairytale. With her long brown hair and big chestnut eyes, she resembled the women men wrote poems about. And Hunter always noticed how pretty she was, but it was the mystery of her that made him want to study her.

"Why are you staring at the princess again?" Liana asked.

Hunter frowned at Liana who seemed to scolding him as if he was doing something very, very forbidden. Her eyes were blazing and she was leaning forward to get a better look at him.

"Nothing," Hunter said. "Just studying her. Isn't that good?"

"No, it isn't."

Liana's voice was clipped and even Chase glanced at her, a frown blossoming upon his face. Hunter's eyebrows furrowed.

"It's just pathetic," Liana said, waving towards Cassia. "She's our future ruler, but no one will listen to her because she's so unlikable. Someone must dethrone her. And honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if she wakes up to a knife to her throat one day."

Hunter stiffened, his eyes flying wide at the cruelty of Liana's words. Liana was smirking as if impressed by what she said.

"Okay, let's not say stuff like that," Chase said. "She is unlikeable, but not a threat."

"Maybe not right now, but one day she will be a threat," Liana said. "And we need to be ready. So I guess you're right, Hunter. Study her and understand the type of moves she'll make."

Hunter was silent. To hear her talk about Cassia like that left a bad taste in his mouth - as if she was forcing a cure to the poison that was Cassia on him, and he shoved it away. Because maybe he didn't want to be completely healed of her. At least, not yet.

"None of you will hurt her," Hunter hissed. Both Liana's and Chase's eyes flew wide at Hunter's menacing tone and he faltered, releasing his anger. "I mean, that would be pointless. Bullying her and threatening her won't help anyone."

Liana's jaw clenched. "Fine, I'm sorry. But you know why I don't like her. Her father is the reason behind our pain. He doesn't care to help his people and my family has suffered by his hands for years. He's despicable and she is following in his footsteps.

Hunter tensed. He could feel his body winding up at the reminder that Cassia's father was the reason behind their struggles. He was the reason why all three of them grew up in the outskirts of town, surrounded by drugs and crime where they lived paycheque to paycheque.

"Don't forget how much their family hurt us, okay?" Liana whispered. "I don't know what your fascination with Cassia is, but she is not our friend. There is a reason why everyone hates her."

Hunter shook his head. He ran his fingers through his brown hair, messing it up because he was frustrated. Frustrated with his friends and the world and even Cassia, who for some reason was throwing him off balance. He'd always been so calm and collected and only after two weeks of living at Camp Trillion, he was wobbling and losing sight of his purpose.

"I will never forget what her father has done. Trust me, my brain constantly reminds me of everything I lack," Hunter said. "But, you guys don't need to be cruel to her. Let me handle Cassia."

"But I can't just let you stare at her like a lovesick puppy!" Liana snapped. "Because I-I..."

Liana's face grew rosy and her eyes were a whirlwind of emotions. Hunter tensed. Liana had stammered off and she never finished her sentence. She was at war with herself and Hunter's heart slammed against his chest.

"It's okay," Chase said, reaching forward to pat Liana's head. He glanced between Hunter and Liana, wearing a solemn expression. "Hunter knows what he's doing and he will never do anything to betray us. Right Hunter?"

Hunter paused. He glanced between Liana and Chase who looked hopeful. So sure of him, he sighed.

"Yes, I will never do anything to betray you guys," Hunter said. "You can count on me."

*****

Hunter laid in bed sketching. Whenever he was overwhelmed, he would pick up his sketchbook and quill pen and sketch whatever image popped into his mind. And today, he was drawing a man with a crown on his head. And beside the man was a jail cell with a boy grabbing onto the bars screaming, tears streaming down his face.

Hunter's hands shook as he shaded in the hazel eyes the boy had. He was all alone in his cabin and suddenly, the silence was too much to bear.

He tensed when a fist knocked against the cabin door. Frowning, he closed his sketchbook and slid it under his pillowcase - keeping it a secret from the world, and he wandered to the door. He opened it up and grew surprised to see Liana there.

Her blue eyes were swarmed with emotions - blown wide with desire and his body quivered at the way she looked at him. It was frightening to be looked at like that - as if he was the hero of her tale.

"Hi," Liana said. Her hands flew to his chest and they landed there. "It's been a while."

She pushed him back and he fell onto his bed. She climbed on top of him and kissed him - her lips firm and cold on his, and he shuddered, his hands flying up to tangle up in her hair.

She was always such a good distraction. With her kissing him, he forgot about the boy stuck in the cell.

She kissed him and kissed him, her lips sliding away from his lips until they hit his jawline. His body tensed as her lips fell to the crook of his neck and her hands fell to the hem of his shirt. She pulled away and hauled it off, and threw it to the corner of the room.

And she froze. She was breathing heavily, but her eyes fell upon his chest.

"Your scars are still here," Liana whispered.

Her hands reached out to touch the white scar across his chest and Hunter quivered. He still remembered the day he'd been whipped. Merely because he couldn't hit the target with his arrow, he'd been whipped bloody at ten.

"They've always been there," Hunter said, trying to smile. "I guess you were too busy to notice until now."

Liana didn't smile. Her eyes were full of sorrow as she beheld him and his heart sunk. No longer did he want to kiss her.

"Can we just lay down?" Hunter whispered.

"Of course."

Liana slid off him and laid next to him on his bed. Both their heads rested on his pillow and they faced each other, their bodies merely an inch apart.

Liana's hand flew back to his chest and she traced the scars that littered his body - reminders of the time he wasn't perfect. She touched them tenderly, her eyes filling with tears as she traced them until she reached his face - the only spot that was spotless.

"Your father is cruel," Liana whispered. "But, anyone would be cruel if they lived your father's life."

"I know," Hunter whispered. "Which is why, I can't help but love him despite everything."

Liana nodded, her bottom lip quivering. His hand slid to her face and he held her for a moment, wishing she wouldn't be so sad for him.

"Do you remember when we were kids and our parents would always watch us?" Liana whispered. "We would run down the streets chasing a ball and my mother and Chase's parents always kept an eye out on us. But, your father never did."

Hunter stilled.

"Because he was always so busy," Liana said. "Always plotting and working to better our lives. He will give us a better life one day. I'm sure of it."

"I hope so."

Hunter tried to smile, but it was hard to. He hated talking about his past. Hated being reminded that his body was printed with marks because of the fate they received.

"Don't worry, Hunter," Liana said, smiling now. "Your suffering growing up will be worth it. Soon, your father will be proud of you and you will have everything you deserve. I promise you, everything will end up okay."

Hunter sighed. His hand fell away from Liana's face and onto her hip, and he pulled her closer, realizing he needed to forget. He needed his mind off this.

"Kiss me," Hunter said. "Kiss me until I forget."

Liana leaned in and did exactly that. She kissed him, her soft lips pressed against his, moving in ways that proved her years of experience.

She rolled on top of him, her red hair flying around them like a blanket of fire and Hunter held her hips as he kissed her and kissed her, wishing to forget. He wished to focus on Liana and nothing else, but for once, he couldn't forget about everything that was bothering him. No longer did kisses erase his past.