Chapter 8 The Longest Night Chapter 8 The Longest Night Hunter didn't have any unfinished work . +5 Free Coins He'd only used that as an excuse to leave the room . The truth was , he was restless and needed an escape from his thoughts . Hunter had no idea how he was supposed to face Dana the next day . He'd told her he was just going to the shore to pick up some fireworks he'd stashed earlier . The round trip - from the island to the mainland and back - should have taken no more than 90 minutes . But he hadn't returned , gone the entire night . There was no way Dana wouldn't figure it out . It was painfully obvious he had left her there on purpose . What was he supposed to say ? That he'd fallen in the water and gotten swept away ? Even he couldn't convince himself of that lie - it was too pathetic . Dana wasn't stupid . Of course she'd realize he was lying . Maybe this time , she'd finally see through everything . Maybe she'd remember all the other times he'd deceived her , how he twisted the truth , and covered it with sweet words . And maybe this time , everything would come crashing down . Maybe after this , Dana would never look at him the same way again . She might even walk away from him forever . The thought of losing the girl who had been at his side since childhood , who used to follow him around with wide eyes and endless trust - felt like a knife turning in his chest . But none of that even mattered right now . What mattered was that Dana was hurt - seriously hurt - and he had left her all alone on a wild , undeveloped island . Sure , there weren't any man - eating beasts , but the place was swarming with insects ; there could be snakes too . And Dana was terrified of snakes . What if she ran into one ? Would she run ? She probably wouldn't get far - her stitches might tear open from the strain . She could bleed out before help ever arrived . Horrible thoughts flooded Hunter's mind . A gut - deep dread gnawed at him . Something felt wrong - very wrong . He couldn't shake the feeling that something terrible had happened to Dana . And yet , he had made a promise to Celine to leave Dana on that island for one night . It was supposed to be punishment . Celine had sworn that after today , she'd stop messing with Dana for good . Hunter was torn . 1/2 2:57 pm G Ppp . Chapter 8 The Longest Night He sighed heavily and looked up at the moon through the window . Hunter just wanted the night to be over . As soon as the first light broke the horizon , he'd go back and get her . Hunter sat on the edge of his bed , chain - smoking with a knot in his chest . The night stretched endlessly , every second weighted with guilt . +5 Free Coins Finally , the sun crept above the edge of the earth . Hunter didn't waste a second . He bolted from the house , jumped into his car , and tore down the road to the dock . He fired up his speedboat and pushed the throttle to its max , speeding straight for the island . But when he reached the shore , Dana wasn't there . She was supposed to be waiting for him . That's what he told her to do . Dana always listened to him . Always . So where was she ? A wave of dread rose in his chest . Was it really happening - just like he'd feared the night before ? Had she run into a snake ? " No , " he whispered to himself . " No , no . Dana's always been lucky . She's not the kind of person bad things happen to . " Still , he shouted her name at the top of his lungs , " Dana ! Dana ! I'm here ! I came to get you ! Where are you ? " But Dana , by then , was long gone - she'd left with Jamie under the cover of night , far from Hunter's reach . No one answered his call . He yelled again . And again . Nothing . Panic set in . His hands trembled as he stood frozen , helpless , on the beach . He forced himself to breathe . To think . Maybe she was just unconscious somewhere . Maybe she'd passed out from exhaustion and was lying somewhere nearby . The island wasn't that big . If he just searched carefully , he was bound to find her . She had to be here . She had to be okay . He repeated the thought like a prayer , trying to believe it . He took one step forward . Then another . Suddenly , a rustle came from the trees ahead . Hunter's heart jumped . Relief flooded him . Maybe she heard him . Maybe she was coming to him now . He broke into a run , calling her name again . " Dana ! " But what burst from the woods wasn't Dana . It was wolves . Several of them . And in that moment , Hunter's mind went completely blank . Not because he was afraid for himself . But because Dana had spent the entire night out here . On an island with wolves . His face went pallid . 2/2 2:57 pm G ppp . Chapter 9 The Paradise Island