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It's not the first time a hunter has stalked him throughout a game. Like most, or all, survivors, Luca isn't fond of being chased. He's meant to decode those fascinating ciphers, try to unravel the mysteries they hold, not become bait for a hunter.
All he wants to do is be left to decode. The faster they work on the ciphers, the sooner they can be free from this damned game. As much as he hates participating, he doesn't get tired of the ciphers. Working with them makes him wish to study and tinker with these machines, but there isn't any time to do so unless he wants to end up tied to that rocket chair.
Which is surprising that he isn't currently tied up at one at this very moment. Or being whacked with a scepter and blasted by electricity with some ungodly dark magic. He isn't quite sure how that scepter works. As much as he wants to dismantle it, he knows better than to touch a hunter's weapon.
Luca focuses on his work. It's what he's good at. It's what he remembers. Give him a machine and he lights up. He doesn't mind the occasional wandering glance or two that come his way. Normally, he can ignore it. But when his heart beats frantically, the sound seems to grow louder with each passing second, and it makes it harder to ignore the watchful, studious gaze on his back.
The ex-prisoner takes one moment to glance behind. The Hermit is a tall man, unmoving as he stares down at him. His focused gaze is unsettling, as if he's trying to analyze his very being. It makes him uncomfortable.
Even worse is how familiar it feels.
Luca wishes he could recall his past. He wants to remember things, not just his invention, but everything. His troubles, his achievements, his life. Although this moment makes him think that perhaps it's for the best that his memory is faulty. The only thing that reminds him of being watched is his time in prison.
As much as he wants to shrug the hunter off, focusing on the cipher is the better option. Especially since this is now the last one. Despite having the hunter loom over his shoulder, literally , he works fast.
When he pops the cipher, Luca doesn't hesitate to run. That blaring siren signals to all that they're almost free. All they have to do is run towards the exit gate, open it, and he can get out of this hospital.
The Hermit follows him.
Great.
Luca doesn't need to send a message to the others. He'd sent one prior to starting his work on the last cipher. Another survivor had even come to help, but soon fled when she saw the hunter. At least he'd done his part, right? Not just decode but contain the hunter too, albeit it wasn't in a very noble way.
"Not going after anyone else, are you?" Luca huffs, mostly to himself. As he runs, he looks back.
The Hermit's steps are like long strides, patient and precise. If he wishes, he could easily overtake him, especially with that scepter and the power he wields.
But, he doesn't.
The hunter simply stops from a distance, surprisingly giving him some personal space compared to earlier. His head tilts to the side, eyes carefully, meticulously examining him and how he works.
With no interruptions, the gate opens in record time. Luca assumes the others are leaving from the other side. He should go too.
"Are you really just letting me go?" He can't help but ask. It's been bothering him for far too long.
The Hermit doesn't respond. Well, he huffs if that counts as one.
Honestly, Luca should just take the win and leave. Sometimes hunters could be benevolent. Whether their heart wasn't in the game or for some other far-fetched reason, not being hit and tied to a rocket is a blessing. But something itches inside of him, something that he can't quite place. He should speak to him. He isn't sure what drives him to do so.
"For once, asking too many questions deters you from your goal."
"Huh?"
Luca gives him a quizzical look. He'd remark about him being able to talk since he'd been mute during their entire time together, but something else escapes him first.
"Do I know you?"
He shouldn't. Maybe he should. Some people know him, but he doesn't know them. But a hunter? He shouldn't know him.
Apparently, this irritates the Hermit.
And the ex-prisoner is met with a good blow from his scepter.
Right. He forgot. He's still in the game, and hunters grow stronger when their eyes glow red.
As Luca struggles to get to his feet, he finds ropes around his abdomen. His body is lifted into the air with balloons. He's never gotten used to this feeling and instinctively begins to struggle.
"Hey! Now you're fighting back?"
While he expects to be dragged to a chair, instead, the hunter walks out of the gate. With him in hand. Luca stops struggling briefly, caught off guard by his action.
The next thing he knows, his body has collided with the dirt.
"I won't be so generous next time. The next game we play, I will be coming after you, Mr. Balsa ."
Luca can practically feel the venom dripping from him as he utters his name. As he struggles to his feet, there's an invisible grip around him, tugging him out of the hospital grounds and away from the hunter.
Returning to the manor is a blur. The other survivors had helped him back, and now he is in the safety of his own room.
His fingers tap at the little machine in his hands. Luca wants to work, but finds himself distracted. The Hermit knows him. And it bothers him that he does. Even worse, he feels like out of everyone he's run into, he should remember him.
With a long sigh, he runs a hand through his hair. He's stuck here, and there are plenty of games to play in the future. Perhaps they'll end up in the same game again. If his words are true, then he had better be prepared to truly be hunted.