Hunter was walking away from me.

This was an awfully familiar sight. The memories of that awful and frustratingly unforgettable day came back to me in a flashback. The one day I wished it never existed. The one day where I lost the person I loved with my whole heart. The one day where I came to know of the horrible, heartbreaking truth.

I shook my head and pushed the memories to the back of my head. Where it belongs. Now, I had to focus on setting things right. And getting out of here.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." I said as my voice echoed through the empty library.

Hunter halted in his step but didn't turn around, indicating to me that he was listening.

Swallowing my pride, I continued. "I'm sorry for being a bitch. That was uncalled for, I know. I can't find a way out of here without your help so can we please just forget whatever that happened between us—momentarily—and work together?" I sighed. "Look, I don't want to be trapped in here where there are limited ventilation and zero food. There's no point in arguing when we can be efficient and find a solution together." I said hopefully.

I had to make peace. Because like I said, there was no point in fighting with each other when we can focus on getting out of here and never seeing each other's faces again. I don't want to be stuck here and I definitely do not want to be stuck here with him. So, the sooner I find an out, the sooner I can get home to my safe haven.

Hunter finally turned around and sighed. "Okay, fine. Let's just call it a truce."

"Let's do that," I said feeling a little awkward. "So, now what?"

He looked away and put on his thinking look. Then, all of a sudden, he snapped his fingers. "Your phone!"

My eyes widened as hope started to develop in my chest again. "Yes! My phone!"

Without further ado, I ran up the stairs as fast as I could with Hunter right on my trail. I quickly ran to the spot I was seated at earlier on and picked up my handphone from the cold floor.

"Damn it, it's dead!" I said with frustration.

I actually kind of saw this coming because the last time I checked my phone, it was at five percent. Listening to music always takes up my battery. I always tell myself to bring a portable charger but I forget it every single time. Damn you, short-term memory! Why do you even exist?!

I was hoping there would at least be two percent of battery so I could send a text to someone but I never have any luck like that. The man above the skies must really have something against me. I'm sure of it.

"What about yours?" I asked looking at Hunter with a little hope.

"It's in my locker." He said scratching the back of his neck.

"Great. We're never going to get out of here. It's Friday and no one is going to come to school tomorrow so we're basically doomed. We are going to be stuck here forever." I said falling to the floor with my hands gripping my hair as I felt hopeless and anxious.

"Hey, relax and breathe. We're fine. Let's just take a break first. After that, we're going to find a way out, I promise." Hunter said and sat down in front of me with his knees close to his chest.

"I really hope so," I said as I rest my head on the shelf. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"What do you think I do at a library, Hera?" He said sarcastically, making my eye roll.

"Let me correct my question. I meant what are you doing here so late?"

"I was reading and I lost track of time, you?"

"Same. Except I had to pick a book for-" I paused feeling the déjà vu. "For a book analysis assignment." I finished and looked down, avoiding his scrutinizing gaze.

At this point, I felt like fate was just playing a game with me. The familiarity of this damn situation felt like fate's way of telling me 'Screw you, Hera Hawkins. Welcome to your worst nightmare' and then proceeds to laugh in my face wickedly.

Hunter cleared his throat. "You own a whole bookshelf worth of books, why didn't use one of those?"

Irritation surged through me because of the way Hunter was saying those words. It was as if nothing happened between us and that everything was normal. The bookshelf that was stuck to the wall of my bedroom held a lot of significance for the both of us.

After what went down, I wanted to burn the entire shelf because it reminded me so much of him. Every book that was on there was a memory I shared with him. But no matter how much I wanted to burn it, I couldn't do it in the end. Because they held the books I love with all my heart and I couldn't hate them despite the circumstances.

So, I just avoided it.

But now I wish I picked a book from my own bookshelf. Because then, I wouldn't have got locked in here with freaking Hunter and I wouldn't have been put in this unbelievable setting where I had to act like everything was flipping rainbows and sunshine. I thought I could pretend and cover up my emotions but I'm just not that good of an actress.

"I'm going to go," I said as I stood up.

I was in the midst of taking my AirPods and the book I was reading earlier when I heard Hunter getting on his feet.

"Running away again?" Hunter scoffed. "Seems like nothing has changed."

With all my things in my hands, I shot daggers at him through my fiery eyes. "I just need some air."

Hunter smirked bitterly. "Sure you do. This is just a classic move of yours. Whenever you get slightly uncomfortable, you run away. Whenever you get scared, you run away. Whenever you don't want to deal with your problems, you run away. And right now, you're running away because of all three."

I hate how he was so on point. I hate how he knew me so well. But I would hate it even more if I gave him the satisfaction of him being right. He played me too many times and I allowed him to do so each time. But not this time.

"You're wrong. You don't know who I am. You don't know what I do. You don't know me." I said while jabbing my index finger into his chest.

"I think I know you more than you know yourself, Hera." He said with an unwavering gaze.

I scoffed at his confidence. "Don't kid yourself, Hunter. I'm not running away from anything. Like I told you, I just need some air." I said knowing it was a weak attempt of defending myself.

He smirked knowing that he got the upper hand. "Then, prove it."

"Prove what?"

He took a step closer to me with a determined look. "Prove that you're not running away. Stay here and face your problem."

I gulped as I found myself wanting to run away so badly because like he said, I was uncomfortable, afraid and I definitely do not want to face my problem. But I can't run away because then he would win this game just like he won all the others.

"There is no problem here," I spoke with my voice quivering.

"There is and you know it. Why? Afraid to bring up the past? Afraid to talk to about it?"

Yes. Because the past brings back all the pain, and trauma and I don't want to relive it all again. I'm scared of getting hurt again. I'm scared to death. My mind and heart are unable to take another mental and emotional blow. I haven't even fully recovered yet and talking about it will just bring me back to square one because he is just going to confirm the fact that he never loved me. I don't think I can handle that.

"I'm not afraid," I said in a weak voice as I avoided his eyes because I felt my tears threatening to fall.

"You are." He pushed. "The moment I brought up a detail of the past, you wanted to run away. Why? Does the past affect you that much? Do I affect you that much?"

That caused me to throw a glare at him. "You don't affect me. You will never affect me." I said in a venomous tone.

All of a sudden, Hunter pushed me so that my back touched the wall. He trapped me by placing his hands on the sides of my head and left no space between us, knocking the breath out of me. My grip on the book and my AirPods tightened as I brought them closer to my chest, hoping they would create some space. But Hunter ignored my action and stepped closer, pressing his stomach on my arms that held my stuff.

"What are you doing?" I asked as I felt my heart beating out my chest.

Hunter ignored me again and brought his arms down to my waist. He took his time by letting his hands slowly touch my clothed skin from the sides all the way to the middle, giving me chills down my spine. He then fully wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me closer than ever. And this whole time, his darkened grey eyes never left mine.

Hunter slowly inched his face towards me, making me inhale a sharp intake of breath at his sudden move. My heart reacted by beating louder that I was afraid he could hear it. Hunter came closer but this time towards the side of my face. He let the tip of his nose graze my cheek causing my eyes to shut tight as I felt my heart flutter. He then moved so that his lips would touch my ear.

"I do affect you after all." He whispered smugly.

I instantly opened my eyes wide as he backed away from me with a proud smirk on his face. He just did that to prove a point and I can't believe that I actually liked it. I can't believe I enjoyed his alluring touch. I can't believe that he would still have such an effect on me even after everything. Suddenly, I felt disgusting. Looking at Hunter's smug face, I felt used and ashamed of myself.

"You're a pig, Hunter! You're a disgusting pig." I said viciously.

All the smugness left Hunter's face as soon as he saw the disgust and disbelief in my face. I shoved him out of the way and ran away because I couldn't stand the sight of him. I ran down the stairs and to the furthest end of the other side of the room. I finally released the tears I was holding back and broke down to the floor as I replayed what just happened in my head.

It's been a whole three months since I was that close to Hunter. As much as I wanted to deny it, the proximity was familiar and comfortable and I really liked it. But he ruined it. He ruined it by touching me just to boost his stupid male ego and made me look weak at his hands. I hate him. I hate him so much. I hate that everything is just a game to him.

And I hate that Hunter Knight won yet again.