HUNTED
hunter!hollis X prey!reader
24 hours. One caged in forest. No mercy.
tags: dystopian world, hunger games type beat, blood, violence, intense fear, chasing, confliction, knife play (kinda,) p in v, fingering, rebellion, prob more but i just wrote so fucking much that I canāt think straight
The year was 2222, and the world had calcified into something unrecognizable. The elite had seized everythingā¦ every scrap of fertile land, every functioning power grid, every last drop of clean water. They ruled from gleaming spires that pierced the ashen skies, their lives a perpetual indulgence while the rest of humanity scraped by in the ruins below. The less fortunate were left to rot in the shadows of collapsed cities, where survival meant clawing through each day like an animal. The elites reveled in it, broadcasting their superiority through propaganda and lavish spectacles. They would never beg. They would never starve. And they delighted in reminding the remainder of the country of that fact.
You were one of the millions condemned to that existence. Your homeā¦if it could be called that, was a ramshackle shelter pieced together from rusted corrugated metal, salvaged plastic sheeting, and whatever branches you could drag from the skeletal woods behind it. Every dawn, you ventured into those woods with a makeshift spear and a hollow stomach, the damp earth squelching under your threadbare boots. The air was thick with the rot of decaying leaves and the metallic tang of old pollution that still lingered in the soil. You hunted for anythingā¦ a scrawny rabbit frozen in fear, a handful of sour berries clinging desperately to thorny bushes, even the occasional edible root if the ground wasnāt too frozen. Most days yielded nothing. Hunger gnawed at you like a living thing, a constant, hollow ache that made your limbs tremble and your vision blur at the edges. Exhaustion clung to your bones, turning each blurred day into the next in an endless cycle of desperation.
But the elite craved more than mere dominance. They needed entertainment. Every six months, they orchestrated the Hunting Groundsā¦ a brutal ritual designed to remind the underclass of their place. The name sounded almost adventurous, but it was anything but. The elites became the hunters, and their prey was human. From each crumbling major city still standing in the fractured remnants of the United States, they selected ten souls. Those chosen were bussed to a secret locationā¦ a vast, artificially maintained forest enclosed by towering electrified fences and surveillance drones. Dense clusters of towering pines and oaks created a labyrinth of shadows, a wide stream cut through the terrain with its cold, rushing waters, but hiding spots were cruelly scarce. No one ever escaped. The hunters always emerged victorious, bloodied and triumphant, to the roaring approval of their peers.
**
Today was selection day in your city. Hundreds of thousands crowded the cracked concrete of town square, bodies pressed together in a sea of ragged clothing and wary eyes. The air reeked of unwashed sweat, fear, and the faint ozone from malfunctioning generators powering the massive, flickering screen mounted to the wall of a crumbling building. Static crackled through the speakers as names began to be called. One by one, they echoed outā¦ followed by guttural screams, the sharp cries of families torn apart, the thud of boots as armored enforcers dragged the chosen away. You stood amongst them, heart hammering against your ribs, trying to disappear into the crowd. With only one name left, a fragile hope bloomed in your chest. Not me. Please, not me. Your hands were clenched so tightly your nails bit into your palms.
Then your name sliced through the air like a blade. āY/N Y/L/N.ā
The world tilted. No. This couldnāt be real. A death sentence delivered in monotone. Your blood turned to ice, a cold wave crashing through your veins that left your fingers numb and shaking. The square seemed to freeze around youā¦ the distant sobs, the shuffling feet, the acrid smoke from a nearby trash fire, all of it muffled as if you were underwater. You scanned the faces around you, desperate for this to be some fever dream born out of starvation. But it wasnāt. Within seconds, a towering armored enforcer clamped a gloved hand around your arm, his grip bruising through the thin fabric of your sleeve. The stench of gun powder and stale sweat clung to him as he hauled you toward a battered bus.
The ride to the undisclosed location was a nightmare of fear and stifling heat. The bus reeked of vomit, urine, and raw terror. Bodies jostled with every bump on hard benches, the engine groaning like a dying beast over potholed roads. Anxiety twisted your gut into knots, nausea rising in bitter waves with every lurch. Grief clawed at your throat for the meager life you were leaving behindā¦ the shelter that had kept the worst of the rain off your back, the quiet moments staring at the stars through gaps in the roof. You wondered about your hunter. Who was he? What kind of man took pleasure in this? Would he be clinical and detached, or would he savor every second of your suffering?
**
Hours later, the buses finally shuddered to a halt at the edge of the massive forested enclosure. You stepped out with the others, the cool, pine-scented air a stark contrast to the busās foul interior. Nine more buses unloaded in sequence, disgorging a total of one hundred prey. One hundred hunters waited on a raised platform, dressed in tailored tactical gear that screamed wealth and power. The matching began methodically, names called under harsh floodlights that cast long, ominous shadows across the clearing. You stood near the back, arms wrapped around yourself against the evening chill that seeped into your bones, wanting nothing more than to end the dread.
Your luck held out until the bitter end, once again. Only three prey remained, and three hunters. The first was a burly, rugged man covered in tattoos that snaked up his neck, his stance radiating brute force. The second was shorter, almost comically out of placeā¦ a bespectacled man who looked more like a forgotten accountant than a killer. But the thirdā¦ he was different. Tallā¦ impossibly tall, with a lean, commanding build. His hair was long and blonde, a rare luxury in an era where practicality ruled, falling past his shoulders in waves that caught the artificial light. His face was angelic, nearly too perfect. Sharp cheekbones, full lips, and eyes that held an otherworldly intensity. He didnāt belong amongst the monsters. Until he smirked. The expression was pure, predatory excitementā¦ intent gleaming in his gaze like a blade being unsheathed. Your stomach plummeted. You were doomed no matter who claimed you.
The announcerās voice rang out again. āY/N Y/L/N. Your hunter will be Mr. Hollis Frazier Herndon.ā
The tall blonde stepped forward with theatrical grace. He offered a dramatic bow, one hand sweeping low, then straightened with a wink that sent a shiver racing down your spine. His voice, when he spoke briefly to the coordinator, was smooth and cultured, laced with dark amusement. Charming. Devastatingly so. If only his intentions werenāt to hunt you down and end your life in whatever cruel manner he choseā¦ gunshot, blade, bare hands, or something far worse, within the next twenty-four hours.
The pairings concluded under the harsh glare of the floodlights, the air thick with tension and the metallic scent of fear mingling with pine resin from the encircling forest. A brief window followedā¦ ten minutes, no more, where each prey was allowed a few words with their assigned hunter. It was a perverse formality, almost intimate in its crueltyā¦ speaking face-to-face with the person who would soon end your life. For some, it offered a strange, fleeting comfort, a human connection before the savagery began.
You stood before Hollis Frazier Herndon, the name fitting him like a tailored blade. He was even more striking up close, his long blonde hair catching the artificial light in golden strands, framing a face of almost ethereal beautyā¦ high cheekbones, full lips curved in restrained excitement, and eyes like lasers that seemed to pierce straight through you. The world had sharpened him into something lethal, yet you couldnāt help but wonder, had he always been this way, or had the elite machine forged him into a monster?
He towered over you, his tactical gear pristine and expensive, exuding the quiet power of someone who had never known hunger. A faint, crisp cologne clung to him, cutting through the damp forest chill. āWell, hello y/n,ā he said, his voice smooth and laced with genuine thrill, a low register that vibrated in your chest. His lips pulled into that devastating smirk. āWow. I have to admit, I got lucky with my draw.ā
You swallowed hard, your throat dry as sandpaper, heart slamming against your ribs. āLucky?ā The word came out shaky, barely above a whisper. Fear coiled tight in your stomach, making your palms clammy and your knees weak. āYouāre excited about this? Aboutā¦ killing me?ā
Hollisās eyes sparkled with that predatory gleam, but then his gaze lingered on yours for a beat too longā¦ deeper than necessary, searching, almost softening at the edges. It made something twist in your chest, a flicker of confusion amid the terror. What was that? Pity? Curiosity? Desire?
āI wonāt lie,ā he murmured, stepping a fraction closer, his breath warm against the cool night air. āThe thought of the hunt gets my blood pumping. But Iām not a sadist. I wonāt let you suffer. When the time comes, Iāll make it quick. Clean. You have my word.ā
The promise should have brought relief, but instead it shattered the fragile illusion. This beautiful manā¦ this angelic nightmare, was promising an efficient death. Your hands began to tremble uncontrollably, fingers twitching at your sides as cold dread flooded your veins. The reality crashed back in. The forest waiting like a grave, the 24-hour clock already ticking in your mind. You wrapped your arms around yourself, trying to steady the shakes, but they only worsened.
Hollis noticed. His jaw tightened, a shadow of something like regret flickering across his perfect features. He lifted a hand instinctively, as if to reach for you, to offer some crumb of comfortā¦ then let it fall. Rules were rulesā¦ contact beyond this moment was forbidden. He couldnāt comfort his prey. But his eyes traced your face, lingering on the gentle curve of your lips, the softness in your expression that spoke of a life spent surviving, not thriving in cruelty. Sheās pretty, he thought, the realization hitting like an unwelcome blow. Gentle. Fragile. She wasnāt made for this.
āYouāreā¦ not what I expected,ā he said quietly, almost to himself, before flashing that charming smile again to mask it. āBut here we are.ā
The enforcers signaled the end of the brief window. You were herded with the other prey toward a cluster of stark, prefab cabins on the edge of the enclosureā¦ utilitarian boxes with thin walls, dim overhead lights, and the faint musty smell of disuse. Each prey was assigned a cabinā¦ yours was sparse, containing not much more than a rickety cot with a thin blanket that smelled of generic detergent, a small sink with lukewarm water, and a single flickering lightbulb.
You collapsed onto the cot, the frame creaking under your weight, the thin mattress doing nothing to cushion the exhaustion in your bones. Sleep felt impossible, yet your body craved it. Your mind wandered in restless circles. This was truly itā¦ you were going to leave this broken world behind, entirely erased like dust. Memories flickeredā¦ the distant laughter of friends around a meager fire, your familyās weary faces back in the city ruins, the fragile dreams of a future that had always seemed just out of reach. A better shelter. A full meal. Safety. All of it gone by tomorrow.
But as your eyelids grew heavy, the last image burning behind them was Hollisā¦ his angelic face, that lingering stare, the smooth promise of a quick end. You were going to die by the hand of the most captivating man you had ever seen.
**
In his own private quartersā¦ a far more luxurious cabin with thick walls, a proper bed, and the low hum of climate control, Hollis tossed and turned beneath crisp sheets. The initial rush of excitement that had buzzed through him during the pairing had curdled into something heavier. Dread, maybe even regret, twisting in his gut like strong liquor. The room smelled of polished wood and a flickering citrus candle, but it offered no peace.
What the hell have I gotten myself into? he thought, staring at the ceiling. He hadnāt had much of a choiceā¦ his father, one of the lead architects of the Hunting Grounds, had groomed him for this since childhood. Elite blood demanded participation. Taking a life was supposed to be a rite, a thrill that affirmed their superiority. And now here he was.
But he couldnāt shake her face. Those sad eyes, the downturned frown, the way her hands had shaken so violently. Fuck. She was beautiful in a raw, unpolished wayā¦ gentle in a world that rewarded sharpness. She didnāt belong here, not as prey in this barbaric game. He shifted again, the sheets tangling around his long limbs, heart unsettled. She couldnāt be his. Not in any way that mattered. The rules were ironclad.
After what felt like hours, acceptance settled over him like a shroud. Tomorrow at 7 a.m., the hunt would begin. He closed his eyes and finally drifted into a restless sleep, the weight of what he had to do pressing down on him.
**
The next morning came too soon, a gray dawn filtering through the thin walls of the cabin. You barely had time to splash lukewarm water on your face from the small sink or smooth down your rumpled clothes before armored enforcers banged on the door. āOut! Now!ā The command was sharp, leaving no room for delay. They herded you and the others into the open clearing where all one hundred prey had gathered once more. The air was crisp and damp, carrying the sharp scent of pine needles and churned mud underfoot. Nervous murmurs rippled through the crowd, punctuated by the occasional stifled sob.
Your eyes scanned the opposite side of the field instinctively. The hunters were sauntering out from their more luxurious subdivision, moving with the casual arrogance of men who knew they held all the power. It was impossible not to spot Hollis immediately. He stood out like a beaconā¦ taller than most, his long blonde hair tied back loosely, catching the weak morning light in strands of gold. His posture was relaxed yet predatory, the tactical gear fitting his lean, commanding frame perfectly. Across the distance, his eyes locked onto yours. For a fraction of a second, something unreadable flickered there. He mentally steeled himself, jaw tightening as the weight of what he was about to do settled over him like lead.
The Hunting Councilās voices boomed through the large speakers mounted on poles around the perimeter, echoing across the enclosure with artificial authority. āWelcome, everyone. Now is the time. Please make your way to your assigned entry point and wait patiently for the cannon to go off. The prey will get a two-minute head start so as not to make it go too quickly. Prepare yourselves. Good luck.ā
The speakers clicked off with a final, ominous crackle. This was really it. Your heart hammered in your chest as you moved with the others toward the long line of gated entry points cut into the massive electrified fence. The ground was uneven, roots and stones threatening to trip you with every step. You searched frantically for your assigned number, the painted markers blurring in your panic. It felt like forever before you found itānumber 22ā¦ etched on a metal post. When you glanced behind you, Hollis had already taken his position just a few feet away. He met your gaze and nodded once, offering a half-smile that didnāt reach his eyes. It looked almost sad, a crack in his otherwise perfect composure. You stared back, memorizing the last image you would likely ever seeā¦ his angelic face, those intense eyes, the man who would soon become your executioner.
Five minutes later, once every participant had found their mark, the cannon thundered. The deep, explosive boom reverberated through the trees, sending birds flying upward in a chaotic flutter. You stood frozen in shock, legs rooted to the spot. Part of you wanted to simply step forward, sit down right there in the open, and let Hollis end it quickly. No running. No terror. No desperate, futile struggle. But Hollis looked at you, confusion knitting his brow. He gestured urgently with his hand. Run. His eyes pleading in a way that contradicted everything about this nightmare. Something in you snapped. You turned on your heels and dashed into the forest, faster than you had ever run in your life.
The woods swallowed you whole. Branches whipped at your arms and face, leaving stinging welts. Thorns tore at your clothes and skin, drawing thin lines of blood that burned in the cool air. Your breath came in ragged gasps, lungs burning, legs aching from the uneven terrain. The ground was soft with layers of decaying leaves and moss, muffling your frantic footsteps but offering no real concealment. You ran until your vision spotted and your muscles screamed, then ducked behind a massive boulder covered in thick, damp moss that smelled earthy and alive. Pressing your back against its cool, rough surface, you tried to steady your breathing.
For a wild moment, hope flickered irrationally. Maybe I can actually get out of this alive. But deep down, you knew the truth. No one ever did. You peered around the boulder and spotted another preyā¦ a man tucked behind the thick trunk of an ancient oak, shivering violently, tears streaming down his dirt-streaked face. Your heart ached for him. Was he leaving behind a family? A wife? Children who would never know what happened to him? Before you could dwell too much on it, his hunter emerged silently from the underbrush. A sharp scream pierced the air, cut brutally short as the blade sliced across his throat with practiced ease. You slapped a palm over your mouth, choking back your own sobs, tasting salt and fear. Blood sprayed in hot arcs from the wound, soaking the leaves beneath him as his body jerked once, then went horribly still. The hunter lifted his knife triumphantly, smiling with pride under the dappled sunlight.
The loudspeakers crackled to life overhead. āHunter #74 has succeeded in his task. Please return to your entry point, Sir.ā
The man trudged away, leaving the corpse behind like discarded trash. You stayed curled behind the boulder, shaking for what felt like hours. Distant screams and more announcements echoed through the trees at irregular intervals, each one hammering home the reality. Innocent people were dying all around you. Your time was coming. Soon.
You hadnāt seen Hollis yet. He was probably searching elsewhere, assuming you had hidden somewhere cleverā¦ like in the rushing stream with its icy waters, or deep in tall grass, or even wedged into a rocky crevice. He wouldnāt expect you here, simply curled up behind a boulder in quiet desperation.
**
Across the vast forest, Hollis moved with methodical grace, his long strides silent on the forest floor. He checked behind every tree, the rough bark scraping against his gloves. He scanned the banks of the cold, murmuring stream, water splashing over stones. He even glanced upward, scanning the branches of towering oaks for any sign of movement. Nothing. Part of him was relieved. As soon as he found you, the chase would begin in earnest. He would have to scare you, corner you, and ultimately kill you. And now, after last night, he really didnāt want to. Your face haunted himā¦ those sad eyes, the gentle tremble in your voice, the raw innocence that didnāt belong in this hellish game. He couldnāt shake it. No matter how hard he tried, the thought of ending your life felt heavier with every passing minute.
The hours dragged on mercilessly, the forestās oppressive silence broken only by distant, haunting echoes of screams and the occasional crackle of the loudspeakers announcing another successful kill. Exhaustion weighed on you like a physical burden, your muscles burning from the earlier sprint, your stomach twisting with hollow hunger. The adrenaline that had kept you sharp had long since faded into a bone-deep weariness. You curled tighter into the fetal position behind the moss-covered boulder, knees drawn to your chest, arms wrapped around yourself against the damp chill seeping through your thin clothes. The earthy scent of soil and decaying leaves filled your nostrils as your eyelids grew impossibly heavy. Sleep claimed you quickly, a fragile mercy. Silently, you hoped Hollis would find you like thisā¦ peaceful, unaware, and end it in your sleep. A quick snap, perhaps. Something humane. Anything but the terror of being awake for it.
You had been asleep for an hour or so when Hollis approached from a distance, his tall frame moving with predatory grace through the underbrush. His long blonde hair was slightly tousled now, falling from his ponytail, strands catching on low branches, but his features remained sharp and focused as he scanned the dense foliage, hazel eyes narrowed in concentration. He hadnāt spotted you yet, his steps deliberate over the uneven ground littered with twigs and fallen pine needles that crunched softly under his boots.
Then you stirred in your sleep, a ragged cough escaping your throat as inhaled dirt and pollen irritated your lungs. Hollisās head snapped in your direction, his gaze locking onto your curled, sleeping form with laser precision. He froze mid-step, the forest around him seeming to hold its breath. For a long moment, he simply appreciated the sightā¦ how peaceful you looked despite everything, your chest rising and falling in slow, calm breaths, your face softened in unconscious vulnerability. The dappled sunlight filtering through the canopy of leaves highlighted the gentle curves of your body, the way your hair spilled across the ground like a dark halo. He didnāt want to ruin that serenity. But he had to. Duty, legacy, expectationā¦ all of it chained him.
He crept closer, careful not to snap any branches or kick loose rocks, his breathing controlled and silent. When he reached you, he crouched down, boots inches from your face, and examined you with an intensity that bordered on reverence. A small, reluctant smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he reveled in your beautyā¦ the delicate sweep of your lashes, the natural flush on your cheeks from the cold.
While he was lost in thought, debating the least painful methodā¦ a quick snap of the neck? Suffocation with a firm hand over your mouth and nose? A single gunshot to the head for instant oblivion? You stirred again, shifting too sharply. Your eyes fluttered open, immediately locking onto the polished black boots mere inches from your nose. Your entire body went rigid, breath catching in your throat as terror flooded back in an icy rush.
Hollis noticed the change instantly. He reached down slowly, his gloved hand gentle as he patted your head, fingers threading lightly through your hair. āShh,ā he whispered, voice low and soothing, almost tender. āDonāt scream. Stay quiet.ā
You obeyed, too scared to make any sudden noises or movements, your heart thundering so loudly you were sure he could hear it. He examined you deeper then, his gaze tracing every detailā¦ the scattering of small freckles across your skin, the way your hair framed your face in tangled strands, the soft pout of your lips. With a heavy sigh, he pulled his hunting knife from its sheath, the blade gleaming coldly in the filtered light. He dragged it slowly down your body, the flat of the cold metal pressing through your clothes, making you shiver violently against the chill and the implication.
He tsked softly, disappointment etched across his perfect features. āThis isnāt right,ā he murmured, more to himself than to you.
Gently, almost carefully, he lifted you, shifting to sit against the rough bark of a nearby tree and pulling your back flush to his chest. His body was warm and solid behind you, the faint woody scent of his cologne mixing with the forest air. He continued dragging the blade across your form slowly... now over your chest, the pressure light but unmistakable, then up along your neck, and finally resting the flat edge against your cheek. You couldnāt see his face like this, couldnāt read his expression, but the tension in his frame was palpable.
āPlease, Hollis,ā you whispered, voice breaking with exhaustion and fear. āPlease. Make it quick. I canāt do this anymore.ā
He stilled completely, the knife pausing against your skin. He leaned in as if to whisper in your ear, the knife now pressed to your throat, but stopped short. Your natural scentā¦ faint sweat, and something uniquely you, hit him like a wave, your pheromones pulling him in despite everything. You were shaking now, trembling in his hold as you braced for the end.
But instead of the bladeās bite, Hollis did something entirely unexpected. He leaned closer, his lips ghosting along the sensitive skin of your neck. Then he pressed them thereā¦ a gentle, lingering kiss. Another followed, higher up, warmer. Then another, and another, trailing soft heat that sent unwilling shivers racing down your spine. The contrast of tenderness from your hunter was disorienting, almost cruel in its intimacy.
Suddenly, he stopped. His breath was ragged against your ear. āI need you to run,ā he said, voice strained. āFuck, I need you to run. Now.ā
You turned your head slightly, looking back at him in confusion. His eyes were stormy with conflictā¦ desire, regret, something deeper you couldnāt quite decipher. āNow!ā he whisper-shouted, urgency sharpening his tone.
You scrambled to your feet, legs unsteady, and took off through the woods again. Your arms flailed wildly for balance as you crashed through branches and undergrowth, breath already coming in short, desperate pants. The forest blurred around youā¦ sharp twigs snagging your clothes, leaves slapping your face, the ground uneven and treacherous.
You hadnāt thought to look behind you at first, but when you finally did, there he was. Hollis was running after you, fast and relentless. His long strides ate up the distance, blonde hair whipping behind him. He was gaining, close enough that you could hear his steady breaths and the crunch of his boots. āFaster,ā he called out, voice carrying through the treesā¦ not quite a shout, but clear and commanding.
Terror clawed at your chest as you pushed harder, lungs burning, muscles screaming in protest. He stayed so close the entire time, near enough that you could almost feel the heat of him at your back. Part of you was scared for your life, every instinct screaming to escape the predator on your heels. But another partā¦ the confused, exhausted part, wondered of the strange mercy in his pursuit. Every so often, he seemed to fall back deliberately, slowing just enough to give you a few extra yards, as if he wanted you to have a chance. Leaves and moss flew underfootā¦ the air grew thicker with the mist from the nearby river as you veered deeper into the woods. Branches whipped past, drawing fresh scratches on your arms that stung like fire. Your heart pounded in your ears, a frantic beat matching the rhythm of the pursuit.
The chase stretched on for what felt like foreverā¦ minutes blurring into an eternity of raw fear and adrenaline. Sweat slicked your skin despite the cool air, your throat raw from gasping breaths. Hollis remained right there, a constant, haunting presence just behind you, never quite closing the final gap.
Then his voice cut through again from behind, urgent but controlled. āKeep running until you come across the clearing by the stream. Then turn right and find the opening in the trees. Thereās a small opening to a caveāget inside.ā
His words hung in the air as you kept pushing forward, the chase far from over, the forest alive with the sounds of your desperate survival.
The chase had pushed your body to its absolute limit. Legs burning, lungs raw and gasping, you finally burst into the small clearing by the stream that Hollis had described. The water rushed nearby with a constant, whispering roar that masked some of your noise. There, half-hidden by overgrown vines and shadowed rockā¦ was the narrow opening to the cave. You didnāt hesitate. You practically fell inside, stumbling over uneven stone and scraping your palms on the rough, damp walls as exhaustion crashed over you like a wave. The air inside was cooler, musty with the scent of wet earth and moss. Dim light filtered through the entrance, casting long shadows across the jagged interior.
Moments later, Hollis slipped in after you. He paused at the mouth of the cave, glancing back over his shoulder to ensure no other hunters or cameras had tracked him. Satisfied, he ducked inside, his tall frame filling the confined space. His eyes immediately locked onto yours in the low light. His chest heaved from the run, long blonde hair disheveled and clinging slightly to his forehead with sweat.
You pressed your back against the cold, uneven cave wall, breathing hard, fear and confusion warring inside you. āHollisā¦ why havenāt you killed me yet?ā Your voice trembled, barely above a whisper, echoing softly off the stone. āIām tired of running. Iām so tired. Justā¦ get it over with. Please.ā
He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming in the tight space. Conflict twisted his angelic featuresā¦ brow furrowed, jaw clenched. āI donāt know,ā he admitted, voice low and rough with frustration. āI should have ended it back there. A clean shot, a quick bladeā¦ but every time I look at you, something stops me. Youāre not like the others. Youāre not supposed to be here, beautiful and gentle andāā He cut himself off, running a hand through his hair. āThis whole thing is fucked. I was raised for this, the Council demands it, I know I have to do it, but youā¦ you make me question everything.ā
You stared at him, tears stinging your eyes. āThen why chase me? Why kiss my neck like that if youāre just going to drag this out? I canāt keep wondering when itās coming. The fear is worse than dying.ā
āIām conflicted, alright?ā His voice dropped to a strained whisper, dramatic and raw. āOne second Iām the hunter they raised me to be, the next Iām memorizing your face because I canāt stand the thought of erasing it. It doesnāt make sense. None of this does. You should hate me. You do hate me. But here we are, hiding together likeāā
Mid-sentence, Hollis moved with sudden intensity. He closed the distance in one stride, his large hand cupping your face firmly yet not harshly. He leaned in and captured your lips in a fierce, emotional kiss. It was desperate, full of confusion and pent-up tensionā¦ his mouth hot and demanding against yours, tongue teasing the seam of your lips as if he were fighting himself even now. The taste of him was sweat and adrenaline, his long hair brushing your cheek.
You pulled back abruptly, eyes wide with bewilderment, chest heaving. āWhat are you doing?ā
Hollis rested his forehead against yours, breathing ragged. āI canāt help myself,ā he confessed, voice husky and unsteady. āI donāt know what the hell is going through my head right now. I donāt want to hurt you. I wonāt hurt you. I want to save you, even if it destroys everything else.ā
You searched his eyesā¦ stormy with the same chaos you felt, and something inside you broke. Nodding slowly, you slammed your lips back onto his with equal passion. A soft moan escaped you into the kiss, muffled against his mouth as your hands fisted in his tactical vest, pulling him closer.
The kiss deepened in the dim cave, urgent and exploratory. His hands roamed your sides, gripping your hips as he pressed you gently against the cool rock wall. Your fingers tangled in his long blonde hair, tugging lightly, drawing a quiet groan from him. Tongues slid together, breaths mingling hotly. Every touch felt electric and forbidden, the risk of discovery heightening every sensation. The caveās damp chill contrasted with the heat building between your bodies.
Hollisās hand slipped under the hem of your worn shirt, calloused fingers tracing your skin, raising goosebumps. āYou feel so soft,ā he whispered against your lips, voice strained. āThis is insaneā¦ we shouldnātāā
āBut we both want it,ā you breathed back, nipping at his lower lip. āTouch me.ā
He hesitated only a moment before sliding his hand lower, into your pants. His fingers found your warmth, stroking gently at first, then with more purpose. You bit your lip hard to stay quiet as he circled your clit, then dipped a finger inside you, curling it slowly. The wet sound was faint but obscene in the enclosed space. āFuck, youāre already wet,ā he murmured, awed and confused. āEven now?ā
You gasped softly, hips rocking into his hand. āI donāt understand thisā¦ any of it.ā Another finger joined the first, stretching you, thrusting in a steady rhythm while his thumb worked your clit. Your forehead pressed to his shoulder, muffling your whimpers against his neck. The cave smelled of arousal now, your bodies pressed close.
āNeither do I,ā he admitted, voice thick. āBut I canāt stop wanting you.ā
The build-up stretched, fingers pumping deeper, faster, until your thighs trembled and you clenched around him, biting back a cry as pleasure crested. He kissed you through it, swallowing your quiet moans.
When you came down, eyes hazy, you reached for him, palming the hard length straining against his pants. āI need you,ā you whispered. āInside me. Please.ā
He groaned low, helping you shove his pants down just enough and fully stripping you of yours. He lifted one of your legs around his hip, lining himself up. The blunt head of his cock pressed against your entrance, hot and thick. Slowly, he pushed in, inch by inch, the stretch intense in the best way. You both stifled soundsā¦ his a deep, guttural breath, yours a shaky exhale, aware of how your voices might carry.
āYouāre so tight,ā he whispered against your ear, burying himself fully. The fullness was overwhelming, his cock throbbing inside you. He paused, letting you adjust, foreheads pressed together. āTell me if itās too much.ā
āItāsā¦ a lot,ā you admitted, voice breathy, nails digging into his shoulders. āBut donāt stop. Move.ā
He began to thrustā¦ slow, deep rolls of his hips at first, the wet slide of him inside you echoing softly with the distant stream. The cave wall was cold and rough against your back, grounding you as pleasure built again. His long hair curtained around you both, his scent enveloping you.
āYou feel incredible,ā he panted quietly, picking up pace, one hand bracing the wall beside your head. āI shouldnāt want thisā¦ but fuck, I do. I want it so bad.ā
You moaned softly into his neck, meeting his thrusts. āHollisā¦ harder. Please.ā Confusion still laced your words. āThis is crazy. You were going to kill me.ā
āI know,ā he growled, angling his hips to hit that perfect spot inside you, making your vision blur. āAnd now Iād burn everything down to keep you alive.ā His free hand gripped your thigh, holding you open as he drove deeper, the slap of skin carefully muted.
The rhythm intensifiedā¦ steady, passionate strokes that had you both gasping and whispering. āSo good,ā you whimpered. āDonāt stopā¦ā
āI wonāt,ā he promised, kissing you messily. āCum for me again. Let me feel it.ā
Pleasure coiled tight. You clenched around his cock, the orgasm crashing over you in waves. He followed moments later, burying himself deep with a choked groan, spilling inside you as his body shuddered against yours.
You stayed locked together afterward, breathing hard in the cool cave air, the weight of the hunt and the impossible connection hanging heavy between you.
**
A couple of hours had slipped by in the dim sanctuary of the cave, the distant roar of the stream a constant, muffled backdrop. You and Hollis lay tangled together on the hard, uneven ground, bodies slick with sweat and the remnants of your shared releases. The cool, damp air clung to your skin, carrying the earthy scent of moss, wet stone, and the faint metallic trace of blood from earlier scrapes. His long hair spilled across your shoulder like silk, his chest rising and falling steadily beneath your cheek. Exhaustion wrapped around you both, but sleep remained elusive.
Hollis stared at the jagged cave wall, his face etched with deep concentration. His mind raced, turning over every rule and consequence he had been taught since childhood. If a hunter failed to complete the hunt, execution awaited him on the spotā¦ no mercy, no exceptions. Minutes stretched into what felt like an eternity as he searched for a way out that didnāt end in both your deaths. Then, clarity struck. His father, one of the headmasters of the entire Hunting Grounds operation, knew every secret. Everything. That meant Hollis did as well. Including the hidden exit reserved for council members onlyā¦ an unmonitored door with no cameras, no patrols. And if memory served, it sat just a short distance from this very cave.
He snapped out of his trance and gently turned you to face him. Excitement flickered in his intense eyes, bright even in the low light. āIām going to get us out of this,ā he said, voice low but fervent. āI need you to trust me.ā
You nodded, a mix of nerves and tentative hope twisting in your chest. Your palm rested against his warm chest, feeling the steady thrum of his heartbeat.
Hollis took a steadying breath, his hand cupping your cheek. āOkay. We have to make it look like I killed youābelievable enough to fool the cameras and the Council. Iām sorry, baby, but Iāll have to hurt you just enough to draw blood. I need you to screamāloud, raw, like itās the end. Then go completely silent. Youāll stay hidden here in the cave. Iāll walk out with your blood on me, knife raised in victory. Theyāll announce your death, and Iāll hang back behind a nearby tree for a few minutes. As soon as the surveillance shifts away, Iāll throw a rock into the cave as a signal. When you hear it, run to me behind the tree to the rightāfast. Can you do that?ā
You swallowed hard, the weight of the deception settling over you, but you nodded again. This was really happening. You were about to fake your own death and run with the man who had been sent to kill you.
Hollis reached for his knife, his expression pained. āIām so sorry,ā he whispered, pressing a tender kiss to your palm. The blade flashed coldly in the faint light as he sliced across your handā¦ deeper than he intended. Sharp pain flared instantly, hot and stinging. Blood welled up fast, spurting in rhythmic pulses and splattering onto the cave floor with soft, wet sounds. It soaked into his shirt in dark crimson patches and coated the gleaming blade. He scooped some with his fingers, smearing it deliberately across his face like a gruesome trophy, the metallic scent thick in the confined space. He had to sell every detail.
āNow scream,ā he urged, eyes locked on yours.
You let it ripā¦ a guttural, animalistic scream that tore from your throat and echoed violently off the cave walls, raw enough to scrape your vocal cords and probably carry far into the forest. It felt like it could rupture eardrums, born from real fear, real pain, and the madness of the moment.
Hollis pulled you close one last time, grabbing your face with bloodied hands and staring deeply into your eyes. āGet ready to run,ā he whispered fiercely. āAs soon as you hear that rock.ā
He kissed you once moreā¦ desperate, grounding, then released you. You watched, heart pounding, as he stepped out of the cave with triumphant posture, blade held high. Your blood streaked his perfect features like war paint. Moments later, the loudspeakers crackled to life across the enclosure: āHollis Frazier Herndon has succeeded. Prey Y/N Y/L/N has been eliminated.ā
He disappeared from view.
You waited in the suffocating silence of the cave, pressed against the cold stone, blood still dripping slowly from your palm onto the dirt floor. The minutes stretched agonizingly long, each second thick with dread. Thenā¦ a sharp thunk as the rock clattered inside the entrance.
You surged to your feet, ignoring the burn in your muscles and the throb in your hand, and bolted out. The forest air hit you cooler and fresher, laced with pine and distant smoke from a makeshift fire. You spotted him immediately behind the designated tree, his tall frame partially hidden. He grabbed your uninjured hand, grip firm and reassuring.
āWe have to run, baby. Fast.ā he said, voice urgent.
You both took off, his long strides eating up the ground as you struggled to keep pace, feet pounding over roots, leaves, and uneven terrain. Branches whipped past, stinging your skin. After what felt like an endless five minutes of breathless flight, you reached a plain, unremarkable wall rising abruptly in the middle of the forestā¦ sterile concrete stark against the wild greenery. Hollis knelt quickly, shifting a specific rock on the ground. With a low mechanical hum, a hidden door slid open, revealing a dark, winding tunnel.
He led you through without hesitation, the passage narrow and echoing with your footsteps, the air cooler and stale with concrete dust. Finally, the tunnel opened into a small clearing outside the Hunting Grounds entirely. Sunlightā¦ real, unfiltered by the overgrowth of leaves, bathed the area in golden warmth. Hollis pulled you into his arms instantly, crushing you against his chest. He kissed you deeply, passionately, his blood-streaked face pressed to yours, tasting of adrenaline and relief.
āIām so happy youāre here with me,ā he murmured against your lips, voice thick with emotion. āAlive. Safe. We made it.ā
The world outside the enclosure felt impossibly vast, fragile hope blooming in the space between your racing hearts.
Before you could bask in the feeling of relief and escape further, a spotlight landed on the two of you, a voice booming from the speaker system.
āHollis and Y/N, you have broken the Hunting Ground rules. Be prepared to be dealt with accordingly.ā
holy shit the longest fic iāve ever written!!! plz lmk if yall like this and want me to possibly write a part 2!!! i obviously took inspo from the hunger games (one of my fav movies ever made,) but i really love the twists i added ngl
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