Chapter Text
Luz takes a sharp turn around a corner, breathing hard. She's gotten pretty used to running around, but boy, this is a lot. Hunter is right behind her, and would be running faster if he didn't keep looking at all the trees and the images within them.
Luz can tell that he's having a hard time accepting that Belos is a horrible person. Each memory they hide in has been making his expression more and more scared and uncertain. She feels bad for him, she does, but they don't have much time for her to offer him any comfort because of the giant freaking monster chasing after them.
Speaking of the giant freaking monster, it rounds the corner after them and is stomping it's way closer. They've managed to outrun it this far but it's going to catch up to them when they start to tire. Luz realizes they need a break. The monster doesn't seem to follow them into memories, so she looks out for one. There is only one down this corridor of trees. It's an image of a bedroom with lavish furnishings. Luz can only assume it must be Belos's bedroom. She isn't sure if she wants to know what kind of significant memory Belos would have made in his bedroom, but she and Hunter don't have much choice.
"That one! In there!" Luz calls back to him and points at the image. She runs at it and is just about ready to leap through it when she's yanked by the arm to a stop.
"No, not that one!" Hunter's fingers dig into her arm painfully so she uses her other hand to try and pry them off.
"Come on, I know you don't like seeing these, but we have to hide! This is the only place!" She argues back, watching over Hunter's shoulder as the monster lumbers towards them.
"We can find another one! Luz, please!" He begs, and wow. That's new. He looks honestly scared. Luz hates to do this, but the monster is getting even closer and they don't have much time before it's right upon them.
"We don't have a choice!" She yells and yanks Hunter towards her with all her might while throwing herself backwards. They fly through the image and land in a heap on the floor on the other side. Hunter's bony elbow jams into her stomach but she can tough it out. She watches as the monster looks for them at the entrance but seems to be unable to locate them. She breathes a sigh of relief and relaxes back against the floor.
Hunter doesn't move from on top of her. She looks up at him in confusion to see that he's not looking at her or the entryway. His eyes are fixed on the room ahead of them.
"Hunter...?" Luz says carefully. He startles and seems to realize he's on top of her and scrambles backwards.
"Ah! Sorry-" He apologizes as his face starts getting red. She huffs a little laugh, glad to see him back to normal. Then she watches the color drain from his face as he looks into the room they'd fallen into.
Belos is there, wearing what looks to be a nightgown. Luz thinks it's kind of silly seeing the big imposing Belos in his pajamas, but evidently Hunter does not feel the same way. He's moved into a crouching position as though he could jump up and run at any moment. Maybe he has the right idea, so Luz gets up into a crouch as well. Hunter doesn't look at her, doesn't even glance. His wide eyes are fixed on the scene in front of them. Belos sits down on the edge of his bed and folds his hands like he's waiting for something. It turns out he is waiting for something. Rather, someone. There's a soft knocking on the door that Luz hadn't noticed before.
"You may enter." Belos calls out, and slowly the door opens. Behind it is Hunter, albeit he looks much younger. Perhaps around 10? "Ah, Hunter. Excellent timing. Come in."
Little Hunter enters the room hesitantly and glances around quickly, like he's stealing a look at the room he's not supposed to be seeing. Belos smirks at that.
"Emperor Belos, may I ask why you have summoned me here? Is everything okay?" Little Hunter looks concerned for his uncle. Real Hunter who is crouching next to Luz is showing no emotion on his face.
Belos chuckles a little and smiles. It's a soft chuckle and a soft smile, but something about it makes Luz feel sick to her stomach. "Yes, everything is fine. I simply wanted to speak to you on some matters. Come, sit by me." Belos pats the bed next to him. Hunter looks at the spot and back at Belos and hesitates. Belos's soft expression hardens. "Hunter." He says in a stern voice. Hunter jumps and quickly goes over to the bed with a "yes sir!"
"Good. That's a good boy." Belos praises him and Hunter smiles and sits up straighter, clearly pleased by the praise. Luz glances over to real Hunter again, but his expression is still blank, although maybe a little darker somehow.
"So, what is it you want to discuss?" Hunter asks, folding his hands on his lap like Belos was doing before.
"Well, you know how I have been raising you and caring for you and everything?" Belos asks. Little Hunter nods his head. "I think it is about time I get compensation for that."
With the way Belos says it paired with the setting they are in, Luz gets a really bad feeling in the pit of her stomach.
"Compensation...?" Hunter repeats, looking a little saddened.
"Yes. You see, when someone offers you hospitality, you should thank them. It is polite and shows that you care." Belos explains. Little Hunter nods again in understanding. "Up to this point you have been so young that I have not expected a thanks. But you've grown so much." Belos reaches a hand out and plays with Hunters flyaway hair hanging over his face. Both Hunters flinch a little. It's the only sign that Luz has gotten that real Hunter is still here with her.
"Every day, you look more and more like him..." Belos murmurs next. It's clear Hunter doesn't understand this because he tilts his head in confusion. Belos shakes his head with a smile and boops Hunter's nose. "You've grown into a handsome young man, and it's time you put that to use."
"Put... what to use?" Past Hunter asks cautiously. Belos's soft smile turns more sinister. Next to her, Luz can hear the real Hunter start to breathe faster.
"There are many ways to thank someone for all they've done for you. But one act in particular shows true gratitude and love." Belos explains. Luz's bad feeling is getting worse by the second. "Allow me to show you." Belos adds and stands up to turn around and face Hunter.
"Lay down, Hunter." Belos commands. The past Hunter chuckles nervously but does as he's told.
"Uh, okay?" He asks when Belos doesn't immediately give him more instruction. He was just standing there. Staring. Belos shakes it off and smiles softly again. Luz is really hating that smile.
"Very good, you are so good at following directions, this will be so easy for you." Belos sits on the side of the bed again and leans partially over Hunter. Luz can see the younger Hunter beam with pride.
Belos leans over further and Hunter is obscured from view.
"Yes, I will not disappoint you. What is the first step?" Hunter asks, sounding confident.
"Take off your clothes." Belos commands. Luz's heart sinks to her feet.
"Huh?"
"Your clothes. Take them off."
"But why-" Hunter starts to ask but is cut off by a gasp.
"Do you want to question your orders or do you want to thank your uncle for taking care of you?" Belos asks coldly.
"I- I want to thank you, uncle." Hunter replies quietly. Belos sits up a bit again but not enough that Luz could see Hunter's face.
"Good. Now do as you are told and take off your clothes." Belos repeats his command. There's some shuffling noises that indicate Hunter following his orders. Belos lets out a pleased hum that turns Luz's stomach. "Good boy. I am going to teach you so much."
Belos leans down again slowly and past Hunter lets out another gasp. Present Hunter makes a high pitched whining noise that sounds like a tea pot releasing steam. Luz looks over at him and there's terror in his eyes now. Across the room, past Hunter gasps again, louder.
Present Hunter meets Luz's eyes like he's just remembering she's there. Then in a flash he's grabbed her by the wrist and is yanking her out of the memory. Once outside, he collapses on the floor and struggles to breathe. Luz isn't sure what to do, what to say. She just saw- she's not sure what she just saw. Hunter seems to regain control of himself and swallows before shakily standing up. Luz stands with him. She doesn't want to ask, but she has to.
"Hunter, did Belos...?"
"Stop! Don't. Just. Don't say it. Don't say anything." He says, turned away from her and keeping his head tilted down. His shoulders are shaking.
"Hunter..." Luz reaches out to touch his shoulder, comfort him like she would any friend. But Hunter whirls around and smacks her hand away from him so hard it stings.
"I SAID SHUT UP!" He yells at her loud enough it makes her flinch. There's rage in his eyes. Fury. More than anyone she's seen before, and she's seen some pretty angry people.
A roar down the hall of trees breaks the moment. Hunter's shout seems to have drawn the attention of the monster. His expression becomes stony and he turns away to start walking.
"We need to get out of here. That's what's important." Hunter says as he storms away without waiting for Luz. She jogs after him.
Luz discovered a lot in Belos's mind and all of it is bad. She wants to comfort Hunter, but he'll get mad at her if she brings it up. Besides, he ran away as soon as they got back to the owl house so she couldn't talk to him anyway. Then everything with the day of unity happened and it slipped into the back of her mind as just another horrible thing that happened. The closest she got to talking about it with Hunter is when she told him she wouldn't tell anyone about anything about him. Maybe with time he'll be able to open up and be able to heal, but for now it's his secret that she just happens to know.