Hunter didn't turn to look at Willow. He knew that if he dared to look at those beautiful eyes in which he had reflected himself many times, he would only find pain and disappointment within them. He didn't want to see that flower that had always smiled at him and warmed his ruined heart cry. He wasn't sure he could stand it. And incredibly, Willow didn't complain once: Hunter had expected her to scream and ask him to come back, but instead she remained silent. But if initially he was happy about it, soon that silence began to become more oppressive than ever.

Finally they emerged from the enormous mouth, and could once again see the sea in front of them; the moon was still high and the sky was studded with stars. It was almost a contradiction to see that sight so placid and calm while an unprecedented storm was taking place in his heart. Willow still said nothing, and neither did Flapjack. Hunter knew that the best option was to fly as far away as possible right away, but he couldn't stand the silence any longer, so he flew towards the tip of Belos's right horn and landed on it; he had no problems to do so since this surface was curved towards the inside of the head, which created a flat area that on a normal head would not have been wider than a few centimeters, but given Belos' size it was as large as an entire football pitch soccer. There he stepped down from the staff and without looking at Willow he murmured: "Okay, go ahead. Say what you have to say, don't hold back"

He knew what she would tell them. She would have called him a coward, a treacherous snake, a traitor, a son of a bitch. Maybe she would have punched him in the face. Maybe even twice. Or maybe she would have started a beating. She probably would have cried. Hunter didn't know which option was the worst; he didn't want her to do any of those things.

Willow was silent for a few seconds, and then she took a deep breath, as if gathering courage to say something to him. Hunter continued not to look at her, not wanting to see her furious and disappointed face when she would throw all her pain for his betrayal at him.

But what finally reached his ears was totally unexpected.

"What did that monster do to you?"

Hunter's heart skipped a beat; of everything he had expected Willow to say, that was definitely not in the cards. Why did she ask him that? What did she care? And why hadn't she heard any anger or disappointment in her voice? Why did he only hear... pity and sadness?

Gathering courage, he turned towards her. Willow was less than a meter away from him, Flapjack on her shoulder; her right hand was slightly raised, as if for a moment she wanted to place it on his shoulder. She was clearly barely keeping herself from crying… but Hunter saw no disappointment in her eyes. He read no anger, he read no fury. He only read a great concern towards him. "Why do you ask me that?"

Willow made a strangled sound. "Because I want to know how he broke you"

Hunter shook his head. "Seriously? You just found out that I've been working for that monster all along, that I've ruined your life, and that I've tried multiple times to hand you over to him, and all you can do is wonder what he did to me?"

"Yes, because you would never have helped him voluntarily" Willow replied. "You're not like that, Hunter. You... you're not like him"

"I'm not like him!?" Hunter snapped. He didn't understand why he was raising his voice, or why he felt a sharp pain in his heart, but he didn't care. "Damn you, can you open your eyes!? I fooled you all from the beginning! Do you have any idea what I've done in my life? Of all the people I've killed? Of all the lives I've taken? And you still believe that I am not a profiteering bastard!?"

"Yes" Willow replied in an extremely confident voice, without the slightest hint of doubt in it.

Hunter tightened his grip on his staff. "Why?"

Willow was silent for a moment, and then she took a step towards him and touched his cheek, right where his scar was; Hunter had the urge to pull away, but he didn't. Willow looked him straight in the eyes, and then she said: "Because I saw the real you. When you were being bold, or fighting for yourself, or refusing to listen to others... that wasn't you. That's why you put on a mask, because you didn't want to let others see that you were pretending. The real you... is that wonderful person who fought for his friends against a giant fisherman, or a fanatical cult, or a mass of raging Abominations. The real you is that hero who threw himself at Belos to stop him to destroy Bonesborough, knowing he would die. The real you is that boy who enjoyed playing rugby, or teaching me to fight, or spending time together on the beach. This is the real you"

"How can you be so sure?" Hunter asked her.

"Because that's what I want to believe. Because that's what I feel in my heart. And because your face right now is very telling" Willow answered him, and then she repeated: "Hunter... what did that monster do to you?"

Hunter was speechless. Of all the possible scenarios, this was the one he had expected least, or rather what he hadn't expected at all. Even after what had just happened, did Willow still want to put her trust in him? He stared back at her, and was unable not to answer her question. "Belos... after he created me, he tempered my body by torturing me every single moment of my life" he answered her. "He introduced me to a suffering that would drive normal people mad… and even worse, he just showed me a suffering even worse than my own, there in his hideous gut. He purposely shaped me to be his perfect soldier, and also a perfect body that he would take when I became too old and useless. I don't remember having a single moment of relief throughout my entire childhood... and when he finally let me go out into the world, my only interest was to please him so that he would consider me useful for as long as possible"

Willow had opened her mouth slightly, and a few tears were streaming down her cheeks. "Hunter..."

"I tried" Hunter told her. "I tried to believe that I could have a life different from this, that I could really be that person who wanted nothing more than the good of his friends. I tried first by asking Darius to free me from his control... and then by fighting directly against Belos. When he came to Bonesborough and I threw myself against him, I thought at least I would die for something I truly believed in, but that wasn't the case. He spared me and forced me to accept his deal. It was my only way... to save you at least". He looked down. "I tried to be different, but I'm not. I'm not a hero, I'm a killer. My life is based on this. I wanted to at least..."

He couldn't say anything else: Willow grabbed him by the waist and pulled him into a tight hug. Hunter was taken aback, not understanding the girl's gesture, but he didn't need to ask questions because she looked up at him and said: "Hunter... I forgive you"

Hunter's eyes widened. "What?"

"I forgive you for everything you've done" Willow repeated. "I forgive you for every life you have broken in the past, for every bad deed you have ever committed, for spying on us, for trying to hand us over to Belos multiple times, and for betraying us. I forgive you everything"

Hunter felt the urge to push her away, and he could have done so without any effort, but he didn't. "Why? Are you not clear about what I did? You should hate me..."

"So your hate will have someone to keep it company?" Willow asked him. "I don't mean to hate you as much as you hate yourself, Hunter. I... I forgive you everything"

Hunter was silent for a long time, then she whispered: "Stop... stop, Willow. Stop thinking there's anything good left in me"

"I don't think so" Willow replied. "I'm sure of it"

"You're a fool" Hunter muttered.

Willow smiled slightly despite her tears. "I'm friends with Luz, what did you expect?"

Hunter looked into her eyes, and a small tear fell from his right eye. "Why do you behave like this?"

"Because I want to act like this" Willow answered. "I want to live loving you as much as I did before, and I don't want to bear you any grudges. I don't want anger, hatred, sadness or any other negative feelings. I just want... for you to stop having these feelings too for yourself"

Hunter made a strangled sound. "I can't"

"Why not?" Willow asked him.

"I don't know how to do it" Hunter replied. "These feelings... have been part of me my whole life"

Willow cupped his face in her hands. "If they've been part of you your whole life, then it's really time to get rid of them, don't you think?" she told him encouragingly. "You've already taught me. Let me teach you now. Let me show you... how to get rid of these feelings"

Hunter let out a deep breath. "Willow... I love you" he whispered.

She gave a small laugh in response. "I know. I also forgive you for breaking my heart to protect me" she replied. And with that she closed the distance between their lips and kissed him.

For a split second, the world seemed to disappear around them. They both felt as if something had just exploded, and colored the sky with a warm and comfortable light. They could both taste the other's lips, and when they separated they felt their cheeks on fire. They said nothing for what seemed like ages, then Hunter finally asked: "How was it?"

Willow blushed even more. "Beautiful" she confessed. "Um... and what about me? Was I good? You know, technically it was my first kiss... I haven't had much luck with boys living in the body of a cricket in a plant in a store for most of my life..."

"It was my first kiss too" Hunter pointed out. They both looked at each other, and then burst out laughing.

That hilarity was short-lived, however. As soon as they finished laughing, Willow became serious and said to him: "Hunter... I know you did all this to protect me... but I have to go back. We have to go back. Our friends need us"

Hunter frowned. "I could drag you away by force"

"You will do it?" Willow asked back.

Hunter bit his lip. "Willow... stopping Belos... it's impossible. You're asking me to send you to your death, no... to condemn you to a fate worse than death"

"I know" Willow confirmed. "But no fate will be worse for me than to live somewhere far from here knowing that I have abandoned my friends. I couldn't live with that regret"

Hunter looked into her eyes, and saw not the slightest doubt in them. And he was sure that even if Willow knew of the horrors that Belos could unleash, she still wouldn't hesitate to go back. Because truly for her the worst fate was to abandon her friends... and perhaps it was for him too.

He felt something land on his shoulder; he turned his gaze slightly and saw Flapjack staring at him with serious eyes. "Hunter... you know she's right. You'll only hurt her by taking her away from here"

Hunter looked at the Palisman trying to show indifference, but he failed. "Are you going with her?"

"You know I won't abandon her. And I won't abandon you either" Flapjack replied. "Hunter, you're right to hate me. I know I've done you a great wrong. I'm an idiot. I was born as an idiot and I'll die as an idiot. But I love you, Hunter, you don't have to doubt that. You're not my way of making amends, you're... just Hunter. And I love just Hunter"

Hunter stood still for a moment, then he raised his hand and placed the Palisman in his palm to bring it before his eyes. "You were an asshole" he told him. "You have kept the truth from me. You have betrayed my trust and my friendship. And you have been complicit in the creation of this horrible creature"

"Yes" Flapjack confirmed with a nod. "And I don't expect your forgiveness. But please, listen to my advice one last time. Don't live in regret for what you did, and don't force her to"

Hunter was silent for a moment, and he looked at the little red cardinal in his hand, who held his gaze even though clearly felt very uncomfortable and ashamed staring into his eyes; and then he looked at Willow, who despite not being able to hear their entire conversation had made up her mind, and fixed her eyes on him encouragingly. In the end he said the same thing she had said to him: "I forgive you"

Flapjack gave a shudder. "Really...?"

Hunter nodded. "You were an asshole... but I'm tired of feeling hate and resentment". And after a short pause he added: "And... I love you too, Flapjack"

The Palisman seemed to smile even though it was impossible since he had a beak and not a mouth. "Hunter... I chose you as my master not because I knew who you were, but because I saw that enormous kindness in your heart drowned out by all that hatred you felt towards yourself. I chose you because I knew how good you were deep inside. And I don't and will never regret my choice"

Hunter tried not to let it show, but his heart sank at those words; Willow clearly noticed this though, because she squeezed his hand tightly. "Okay" he said finally. "We will do this total madness. We will probably go to ruin..."

"At least we'll go together" Willow told him with a smile.

Hunter looked at her, and couldn't help but smile back. He gave her another kiss, and then he said: "I have an idea to save everyone... but we're going to need Amity's help"

Willow has always believed in Hunter's good heart, and she wasn't disappointed. And finally they kissed. It took them 167 chapters from their first meeting, but they finally did it