Mentally and Physically Tearing Him Apart

Chapter 2

Within the next thirty minutes of flying high through the forest, Hunter tried his hardest to stay awake. But the extreme pain he was in and his throbbing headache made it extremely difficult. Soon, black dots clouded his vision, and sure enough, he fell from his staff and lost consciousness before he could hit the ground.

.

After a couple of hours, Hunter managed to regain consciousness late in the evening. He didn't feel any better though, he still felt incredibly weak and tired. He pushed himself off the ground and into a sitting position against a tree. He looked down upon himself and noticed blood on his uniform. He sighed, the emperor not only electrified him severely but zapped him strong enough to open wounds on him. He heard a chirp behind him and turned around to face Rascal. He rubbed his hand against his face,

"Hey buddy, how long was I out?" He asked quietly as he rubbed his eyes. Rascal chirped back in response. "Five hours?!" Hunter asked bewildered. Rascal nodded. Suddenly all the memories of the previous morning flooded back to him.

Emperor Belos finding out about his hidden palismen.

Him yelling at him.

Hurting him.

And Hunter escaping the castle.

Hunter groaned, placing his head in his hands. Oh god, he screwed up so bad this time. And it was all his fault. If he hadn't lied to his uncle in the first place, maybe he would've spared him! Hunter should have done better. And maybe if he goes back to his uncle and apologizes properly and begs for his forgiveness, he would be allowed back with no harm no foul! He has to go back, his uncle is all he has. But the thing was, Hunter didn't know if he dared to face his uncle.

Hunter was terrified of Belos. As much as he craved his attention and praise, he feared him more than anything. He feared the punishments he would receive from his uncle, he feared what privileges would be taken away from him by his uncle and he feared disappointing his uncle. Just him trying to relive the events from the morning caused him to shake. Tears started to form in his eyes as he weakly ran a hand through his disheveled hair. Hunter was so overwhelmed with everything and didn't know what to do next and where to go.

Before he knew it he started to laugh.

Hunter was laughing in sheer disbelief at the situation he was in.

'Might as well start digging my grave again' Hunter thought, beginning to hate himself even more.

Hunter slowly tried to get up, leaning on a tree for support. He just needed to regain enough strength to maybe make the journey back. As if Rascal were reading his mind it flew up from off the ground and flapped its wings in his face and pulled a strand of his hair trying to force him into steering the other way. "Rascal, maybe I should go back! I should apologize for what happened, I just can't stay here!'" Hunter yelled annoyed. Rascal tweeted again pulling his hair harder to the right. Hunter raised his eyebrow and looked up at the sky. Rascal was right, it was about to start raining soon. Dark clouds formed above the sky. Hunter couldn't stay out here when it's about to rain acid, he would get third-degree burns all over him. He admitted it was helpful now that he could understand his palismen. "Alright alright fine, we can go and look for shelter...and maybe some food. But as soon as the storm is over we are heading back to the castle!" Rascal rolled its eye and nodded, bobbing its little head up and down. Hunter pushed himself off the tree and began to walk, or stumble, deeper into the forest with Rascal flying alongside him.

After a short while of walking, Hunter found himself near somewhat of a clearing. There weren't as many trees in this area, so Hunter sat down on a nearby rock with Rascal resting on his shoulder. He felt completely exhausted, not sure how much farther he was going to be able to make it to shelter before the rain started. His walking caused the infected cuts on his face and side to reopen, so he was still bleeding.

He couldn't breathe. He could feel himself starting to blackout again.

Suddenly he heard a faint rumbling in the ground. Out of nowhere something that looked like a bird tube shot out from the ground below in front of him.

"HOOT HOOT Hello Stranger!" The bird tube or worm thing shouted at him happily. Hunter fell over backward and hit the ground at the sudden outburst.

"Huh?-"

"What's your name? I'm Hooty!" The bird tube asked, looming over Hunter. "Gosh I've been so lonely lately with everyone busy back home, I'm so happy I now have someone to talk to while I wait for Lulu to get here!" Hooty yelled in excitement while Hunter stared at it with wide eyes. Suddenly Hooty looked up at the sky and gasped. "Oh No it's about to start raining soon and you don't look so good, and oh my hoot you are bleeding! You must come inside my new friend!" Hooty exclaimed as he wrapped himself around Hunter tightly above the ground. Hunter struggled weakly against him and struggled to stay awake again.

"What the hell- let go of me you bird worm!" Hunter cried out. Rascal was flying quietly above them watching this unfold. Hooty didn't seem to hear him and started to carry him back to the owl house.

"Luz says to always help a person in need, I'm being such a good friend hoot hoot!" Hooty said out loud to himself happily as he opened the door to the Owl House plopped Hunter on the couch. Luz, who was sitting on the floor playing with the echo mouse, immediately looked up at them in surprise. Luz immediately recognized Hunter and scrambled to stand up.

"Que demonios?! Hooty, what is he doing here?!" Luz asked in alarm as she looked at the badly beaten up blond boy that was struggling to get off the couch. "And what happened to him-?" Hooty moved up and down trying to signal something like a shrug. "Quick Hooty- get Eda!" Luz told him as she moved to a nearby cabinet to get out some bandages.

And for the second time that day, Hunter passed out.

.

Hunter had failed another mission.

Again.

He failed to retrieve the item Belos had asked of him to prepare for the Day of Unity. Oh, how he knew how disappointed his uncle would be in him. How angry he would be with him.

Hunter was now kneeling in front of Emperor Belos, him looming over the blonde boy menacingly.

"I'm sorry! I should've done better, I know and I will next time!" Hunter found himself crying out.

"You shouldn't have failed Hunter." The ominous yet rough voice bounced from the walls and echoed in the room.

Hunter could feel himself tense up more, his heart beating loudly in his ears. "I know-"

"And I assume you know the consequences of your actions? Don't you Hunter?"

His eyes dilated immediately as he heard those words. The fourteen-year-old boy's head shot up to look up at the Emperor. "No- no wait please-"

"Do not speak out of turn. How many times must I remind you?" The Emperor asked him, his arm starting to turn into its black sludge substance, creating a sharp point at the bottom. Hunter felt himself backing away from his uncle, only being able to hear his rapid breathing and his thumping heartbeat. The Emperor began to walk closer to him and have his arm outstretched. And then he swung his arm at Hunter's face.

And he felt excruciating pain on his cheek.