Hell University-Chapter 10 - 9: Him

Chapter 9: Him

Zein’s Point of View

The last thing I remember before completely losing consciousness was that, just before I collapsed, someone was already there to catch me. Everything was so blurry, so I couldn’t see who it was. My head throbbed painfully, as if it were being split apart.

"Good thing nothing bad happened to you. We were really lucky that the mysterious woman showed up. The only downside is, she left you with a scar on your chest," Mia said.

I couldn’t help but to smile. I could feel the pain from earlier, as if something in me was torn apart, along with a bland liquid being poured into my mouth. It was just like water.

"That blue elixir. Who do you think gave us that?" Vanessa asked.

No one dared to answer since we didn’t even know who could be. Whoever that mysterious person who helped us, we owe them our lives.

We turned our heads to the door in unison when it opened and Nurse Cha appeared. The smile on her face faded when she saw the shattered window before her eyes found us.

"Y-You’re already awake." She was obviously shocked yet she still tried to cover it with a smile.

"Bitch." I heard Vanessa whisper so I held her hand to calm her down.

"Yes, thank you for the help Nuse Cha." Matt uttered, even though it was sarcastic and anger was evident in his tone, Nurse Cha instead genuinely took it as a compliment as her smile grew wider.

"You are welcome. It’s our job to save lives."

I couldn’t avoid smiling. Really, Nurse Cha? Save lives? O cut our lives short? How dare you?

"That’s why I admire you Nurse Cha." Mia went closer to her while smiling. "You managed to save their lives at the last minute. You’re really good, huh?" Mia praised.

She smiled once more. Is she stupid? Why can’t she read the situation? Your stupidity, Nurse Cha, is what will get you killed. You just follow their orders like a puppet, and in the end, your life means nothing to them anyway.

The next morning, everything went back to what it was before. After the incident last month, no one dared to talk about it, as if they were already used to incidents like that happening all the time.

"Good morning, class." Sir Alvarez greeted us.

As usual, no one responded. I wanted to greet him too but I’m too lazy to do it.

He started teaching. I was only staring at him but my mind was on the other side the whole time.

"Look around." Celine, my seatmate, whispered.

We already had a seating arrangement, and as Shion, I was seated next to Celine Samonte. I did look around, just like she told me to. Everyone was quiet and listening to the teacher. They looked like ordinary students, listening to learn, aiming for high grades to make their parents proud.

"Who do you think is the enemy?" she asked, and I glanced at her.

But she was looking at Sir Alvarez.

What is she saying about the enemy? The enemy is just among our classmates? Who? How did she know?"

"What are you saying?" I asked.

Her gaze remained on Sir Alvarez who was now currently writing equations on the black board. Her smile grew wider until she laughed.

Weird.

"Too innocent and dumb. Not everything you see is real. Not everything you know is the truth. Not all of your friends treat you as one. In the end, they only think of their own safety."

She turned at me and I didn’t know why I dropped my head. She’s right, inside this hell, you really don’t know who you can trust or who to avoid, who to get close to and who to stay away from.

"There’s a hidden secret behind every innocent smile. Don’t embrace anyone too tightly, because you never know who’s holding the knife. Before you realize it, you’ll already be bleeding."

I want to cover my ears but my hands wouldn’t move themselves. I don’t want to think that my friends can ever do such a thing. I don’t want to think negative things about them. I don’t want to ruin my trust.

"How about you, Zein? Can you turn your back on your friends to save yourself?"

Her question sent a chill down my spine, and before I knew it, I had already stood up from my seat.

"Yes, Ms. Shion?" Sir Alvarez asked me.

"May I go out?" The only thing that came out of my mouth. I didn’t wait for his answer and rushed outside. I was catching my breath when I reached the CR. I braced my hands on the sink because my knees felt like they were about to give out. Shit!

No. I can’t bring myself to turn my back on my friends. I could never turn my back on my friends. Even if it meant risking my life, I wouldn’t betray them.

And I know they’ll never turn their back at me either.

I washed my hands before going outside. I already lost my will to attend the class and I don’t want to see Celine yet. I’m getting chills from her.

I decided to go to the gymnasium instead, where no one would be around since it was class time. I was just about to go in when someone suddenly grabbed me.

I faced the person behind me. My brows furrowed when I realized this was the girl that had bumped Matt and I before, she looked so scared then.

"W-Why?" I asked.

She didn’t say anything, but tears suddenly ran down from her eyes. She’s moaning but she didn’t even open her mouth. She’s obviously trembling in fear and seemed like she wanted to tell me something.

"Hey! Are you okay?!" I worriedly asked while holding her shoulders to calm her down.

She shook her head.

"Why don’t you want to speak up?! Is someone chasing you?!" I asked.

She wiped her tears before running away. She looked left and right as if she was really hiding from something or someone.

"Wait!"

I ran towards her but before I could get close, she already collapsed to the ground. My eyes widened in fear and shock.

I slowly approached her with my eyes still wide, and covered my mouth in shock.

Her tongue was sticking out and marked with a nail, just like what happened before with Rouge, her tongue was clearly burned with something hot. Blood spurted from her neck where a nail was also pierced.

"Help! Help!" I shouted, hoping for someone to hear us. She’s already having a hard time breathing and her eyes are widening. She forced herself to speak but nothing came out of her mouth.

Is it possible that she might have something she really wants to say to me?

"Zein!"

"OH MY GOD!"

I could feel Matt and Dave shoving me away from the now lifeless body of the girl. Her eyes fluttered open, as if staring right at me, and her finger was pointing straight at me too.

Just what does she want to say?

"Zein! Are you okay?!" Mia asked me.

Jerome handed me mineral water but I couldn’t bring myself to drink it. Who did this?

How did the nail pierced her? I didn’t even see it earlier. It’s possible that someone had fired it in the distance.

"Shit! Zein! Are you okay?" Matt asked me worriedly.

I only nodded my head and gulped down the mineral water. The guards came and carried the girl’s corpse.

"Who did that, Zein? Did you see them?" Dave asked.

I shook my bead. "I didn’t see it. Everything happened so quickly." I told the truth.

"It feels like she wanted to tell me something. But she couldn’t say it because of what happened to her tongue..." I gulped after remembering her moan. "There was a nail marked," I said.

"Ms. Zein Shion, can we invite you to the office?" A woman who looked like HU’s principal because of her id asked.

"Wait! Zein has nothing to do with it!" Jerome insisted.

"We just want to talk to her. We’re not accusing her." The principal simply answered.

"We’ll go with you." Matt said.

"No, it’s fine. Go ahead, we’ll meet each other in the dorm. I’ll follow you guys." I stopped them.

I could see in their eyes that they’re against it, but they really can’t do anything about it. I followed Madame Principal. I couldn’t help but bow my head down because of the looks that were thrown at me, the looks that made it seem like I was the one to blame for that girl’s death.

As soon as we entered, we were greeted by Ace’s presence who was causally just sitting on Madame Principal’s chair.

"Oh, Madame Carmie, thank goodness you’re here already. I was getting really impatient," he greeted.

The principal asked for forgiveness which made my brows knit. Why is that? Why does the principal seem to be scared of him?

"Sit down." Ace stood up from Madame Principal’s swivel chair and sat on the sofa where I was sitting.

The principal sat there and clasped her hands on her table.

"What do you want?" I asked. "If you’re accusing me of what happened earlier, I’m sorry but it was not me who did that." I added.

"How rude, Ms. Shion. You might be forgetting that you are facing the Principal and the SSG President. Learn to show respect," Ace said softly but with emphasis.

I rolled my eyes and didn’t answer anymore.

"This is about you Ms. Shion as the newest secretary." Principal Carmie started.

"How many times do I have to tell you I’m not interested in that position?" I irritably uttered.

I thought they were going to ask me about the incident earlier, but it turns out this is about my being a secretary. Geez.

"As if you have a choice. I chose you personally and that’s final. Period."

"I.don’t.want.to!"

Ace stood up and sat on Madam Principal’s table. And it turns out that this person is only just putting on a show, acting so obedient when in fact he’s a devil inside. Oh well, they were already demons to begin with.

"Ms. Shion, you will also benefit from this. You will know everything you want once you accept this position. You can control the lower people. They will fear you." Ace chuckled slowly.

I almost laughed at what he said. Does he really think I would take that position just to feel superior to others? Is that really how people in power are? Do they think they can control everyone using their authority?

"I’ll think about it." I gave up.

I’m tired of arguing with them, and I know I don’t stand a chance. I hate him!

"Fine. Anyway, how are you? I’ve heard what happened to you last night."

"Thaks for the concern but I’m fine."

I stood up and dusted myself. Ace chuckled weakly. This guy is getting on my nerves.

"I know who did that to you."

I froze before looking at him. He jumped down from where he was sitting on Principal Carmie’s desk and headed for the door ahead of us.

"Tsk, tsk. Don’t make a fool out of yourself. I know you already noticed something, your hunch is right. THAT person did it."

He left me standing there, stunned. No, my thinking is wrong. I shouldn’t accuse anyone; it’s NOT that person’s fault.