Hunter's House {Huntlow/Winter}

Chapter 4 ; Late Night Talking

"I've never been a fan of change, But I'd follow you to any place. If it's Hollywood or Bishopsgate, I'm coming too. If you're feelin' down I just wanna make you happier, baby."

tw//cw: nightmare, panic attack, gore, death, traumatic themes !!

I was running ... running as fast as my legs could carry me. The door to the human realm flashed, almost in warning, and I knew we were out of time. "C'mon! Hurry!" The collector had been tearing the place to bits and fear fed the adrenaline in my veins in order to escape from what looked like an abysmal hellscape. Gus, Luz, King, and Amity were already through the door-- But that makes no sense, Willow goes in first. This wasn't right. I turned around to search for her, but I didn't have to for very long. There Willow was, struggling to hold the portal together, but by the way she gripped the vines, I could see thorns digging into her skin and drawing blood. "Willow!?" I yelled, "What are you doing!?" Her eyes had been clenched in pain and concentration, but when her eyes met mine, I knew exactly what she was about to do. "I'm sorry, Hunter, I'll find another way to get to you." I desperately tried to reach for her, a force kept me in my place and tears blinded my vision. Why am I so useless?! "No, Willow, please! I'm not leaving you behind." Before she could say anything else, a vine wrapped itself around her neck.

A strangling noise came from her throat, while she tried to fight. I was still unable to move, forced to watch in horror,  as the human form of my uncle appeared behind her. Phillip did this, he was killing her. "No! No!!! Stop it! Please!!" Uncle only smiled at me cruelly before applying more force to the hold he had around the girls neck. I watched as the life left her body and the voices of my companions died away behind me. The portal fell apart, but I couldn't hear anything. There was only ringing in my ears and a nausea I was all too familiar with. My uncle disappeared and finally I could move, but I was too late. I held her body close to me, in disbelief, but her face was pale. Willow was gone. I was useless, useless, useless! The world around me dissolved, including Willow, and I was left with the darkness along with the echoes of my uncles and collectors laughter.

"Useless."

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Willow woke to the sound of shuffling, for a moment she thought it might've been Camila in the kitchen, but as soon as the girl opened her eyes she noticed it was still late at night. The shuffling was also really close by, accompanied by soft sniffling. This is what set Willow off before pulling herself up and pushing her glasses on her face, looking around, she caught the slightest glimpse of Hunter climbing the stairs. Curious, she gets up carefully, and follows him to the guest room. When she peeked her head in, she saw Hunter hunched over on her empty bed, covered by his blanket and leaning against the window sill. For a moment she thought about turning around, because he probably just wanted to be alone, but then she heard crying. Not little sniffles like before, but gasps and quiet wailing. Willow switched into protective mode instantly, climbing beside him and pulling him close. When he showed no reaction to the action, she continued to pull the blanket over his head. The boy wrapped his arms around her and held tight to her, his forehead lay tiredly on her shoulder. Willow shushed him gently, counting up to and down from four, tapping his back with the same rhythm. In panicked whispers, Hunter spoke, "Willow, I killed you, you- you were gone- y-you were-" Willow felt her heart drop into her stomach, confused as to why this was so heavy on his mind. "Hunter .. Listen to me, listen to my voice. I'm alive, nothing is ever your fault. It was just a dream." His breathing slowed for a moment but he quickly tensed up again, "He-He was there again. He killed you- I- He's going to stick with me forever- He- Why am I so useless?!" Willow pulled away holding the others face in the palms of her hands. She hoped he'd look at her, but his eyes were glossed over with panic.