Hell University-Chapter 13 - 12: Innocent Evil

Zein’s Point of View

It’s already been a month since we came into this place. Everyday wasn’t easy for us — staying in this hellish place will never be easy. As a matter of fact, we’re just lucky we’re still breathing.

"You know? This is so new to me," said Vanessa as she watched the students greet us.

They’re smiling at us now. Since that’s the order of Supremo, that they have to show us kindness. Even though I know they’re just forced.

"Just let them be. You’ll get used to it," I said.

We went straight to the library, where I would help Vanessa look for a book for her assignment. As for Mia, she had a headache, so she stayed in the dorm, and the boys? Who knows, they were probably just wandering around.

My attention was immediately caught by the elderly librarian. She was grinning at me, so I quickly looked away. What’s with that grin?

I sat on one of the tables while waiting for Vanessa to return with the book she was looking for. I briefly scanned my surroundings, it looked just like an ordinary library, it was filled with countless signs of silence, with only a few students scattered around.

"Are you Zein?"

I almost jumped in surprise when the face of the library greeted me when I turned my head right. She smiled at me. I don’t like that kind of smile.

"Y-Yes." I answered.

"So the news was correct. You quickly rose to a position and reached the ninth rank," she said, looking at my uniform.

I couldn’t bring myself to answer her because I still hadn’t gotten over the shock.

"It’s like everything is repeated again. I hope..." she trailed off. "I hope this time, it will succeed." She added.

I couldn’t remove my eyes from her. Her hair was long, curly, and white; her skin was wrinkled, and her eyes were covered by thick glasses. On the nameplate on her left chest was the name ’Leonora.’

"W-What are you saying?" I asked. I don’t understand. What is she talking about? Everything is repeated? What is she referring to?

"Is that your friend?" She asked and pointed at Vanessa who’s skimming through the pages of a book.

"Do they know?" She asked.

"The what? Wait, what are you saying?" I really don’t understand anything.

"They’re studying hard so they can join the Highest 10, to leave this place. But you, you’re already in. What are you still doing in this hell?" She asked and laughed.

I gulped when I realized what she was trying to say. I shut my mouth.

"You’re already aware of it, right? And you fell for it?" she asked. "There’s a flaw in every story, Zein, remember this, no one will help you except yourself. Even your friends, don’t trust them. You too. What happened before might happen again. Take care."

She turned her back to me and went to her table.

Everything still hasn’t sinked in yet. That’s not right, they’re my friends, I should trust them. She’s only confusing me, that’s it! They’re playing with me. I will not listen to them, I will trust my friends just like how they trust me.

"Oh? What happened to you? You’re spacing out." Vanessa asked when she sat down in front of me.

I only shook my head and watched her read the book. They can’t betray me, and they won’t turn their back against me. Not ever.

"Vanessa? How much do you want to leave here?" I asked.

She suddenly looked at me with her brows knitted. Her right brow raised, as if she was weirded out by my question.

"What kind of question is that, Zein? Of course, I really really want to leave." She replied.

"Why, what about you? You don’t want to?" She asked.

"Of course I want to!" I replied and then chuckled.

My chest tightens, even though I want to leave, it’s not possible anymore. No matter what I do, I’ll end up rotting here anyway.

I went outside the library and left Vanessa who was still not done yet.

I casually roamed around and as usual, everyone I met would smile at me. I accidentally ended up in the music room where I heard someone playing.

I peeked inside and saw a guy holding a guitar and singing. He’s wearing glasses, and he looks just like a nerd. His voice is so good that I couldn’t help but enter the room. He stopped playing when he saw me.

He quickly stood up and dropped the guitar.

"S-Sorry, miss." He said, and lowered his head. "No. It’s okay, you play so nice." I praised him.

He raised his head and stared into my eyes. His eyes look so innocent, as if there’s no hint of a single evilness inside.

"T-Thank you." He replied.

"What’s your name?" I asked.

"I’m Nazzer Lumia."

My jaw dropped after hearing his name. The smile on his lips still hasn’t disappeared. Did I hear it wrong? Nazzer Lumia? No! It’s not him! He’s not the leader of Black Blood Gang. Not this innocent guy.

"W-What?"

"Nazzer Lumia po." He repeated.

He lifted a part of the fabric of his polo shirt, revealing the number 3 written on it.

It’s him. He’s really the leader of Black Blood Gang. But why is it like that? He looks so innocent. You wouldn’t even think that he’s also a demon. Shit!

"Is there a problem?"

"You’re the leader of Black Blood Gang?" I asked.

He slowly laughed. A terrifying kind of laugh. One that’s hard to forget. Innocent evil. People shouldn’t be underestimated based on their appearance because we never know what’s inside them.

"It’s indeed me, miss."

My throat dried up. It’s only now that I noticed the tattoo on his right arm, a nailed snake. Could this be it? Is this the symbol of the BBG? The nail is poisonous. No wonder it had such an effect on Matt.

"Not everything you see is real, not everyone who is good to you is genuine, because sometimes... they’re even more demonic than the demons you think they are."

I couldn’t bring myself to move a muscle when he walked closer to me. He fixed his eye glasses and stared directly into my eyes.

Those eyes! Those eyes who seemed innocent earlier now had eyes like Nicky’s. You shouldn’t stare at them for long because it felt as if they were draining all your strength. It was far too terrifying.

"Number 9, huh? You’re impressive. But you’re still useless to us, and to them, you will still die, maybe it’ll be by me, or them who will kill you. You’re such a waste, but I’ll ask you this."

His eyes remained on mine while I didn’t know what to do. The real demon inside of him is finally revealing itself. The demon hidden behind that innocent facade.

"Join us. I’ll make you a Queen. I’ll save you myself."

My jaw dropped. "No." I firmly replied.

I don’t want to be the Queen of demons. I would rather die than join evil. I will never side with any demon.

"You’ll be a waste. You will die anyway. Or what about dying... right now?"

I paled when he pointed a nail in my neck. I couldn’t breathe properly. It’s so tight and I feel like one wrong move and it’ll be the end of me.

"You’re also a demon, more demonic than us." He whispered.

I could feel the tip of the nail in my neck. It feels so cold. So terrifyingly cold. My body was still trembling.

"Just kill me already..." I replied.

He laughed out loud and removed the nail from my neck. He laughed at me as if I had just said the funniest joke he’s ever heard in his entire life.

"They’re right. You’re not afraid of death, as if the death itself is scared of you. But, you’re not going to die yet. Not now, when we can still use you."

The door suddenly opened and revealed three guys.

"That’s him!"

I felt so cold when they suddenly ran towards Nazzer and punched him. I was statued in where I was standing.

Why is he not fighting back? He is a monster too but why the hell is he not fighting back?!

"Stop that!" I shouted.

They suddenly stopped and faced me. They seemed to be surprised when they saw me. They probably didn’t notice me earlier.

"S-Sorry, miss."

I didn’t pay them any attention and directly went to Nazzer who’s grinning.

"Why didn’t you fight back?" I asked.

"Miss! Stay away from that nerd! He’s trash!" the other guy shouted behind me.

My eyes widened when I realized something. My eyes widened when I realized something. Could it be... they didn’t know that this man was part of the H10 because he was hiding the number on his polo shirt?

Shit.

"That’s right, miss. They don’t know who I am, they don’t know that I’m a demon."

I stumbled backwards when the guys punched him again. I quickly went outside the music room.

That’s why. That’s why they’re treating him like that because they don’t know who he is. That he’s the leader of Black Blood Gang! The devil himself! They don’t know it’s him. I don’t know who I should be pity for. For Nazzer who’s beaten up badly or those three guys whose fate is already sealed.

"Are they done beating him up?"

My eyes landed on the red haired guy. I remember him. He was the one Mia saw when she witnessed the death of Rouge Silvenia.

He has a tattoo of a small nail in the corner of his arms surrounded by a crown of thorns.

"You’re also one of them?" I asked.

He slightly peeked inside the door and shook his head.

"This is making me impatient. They’re not done beating him up yet. " He muttered and looked so sleepy.

"Help him," I said.

He looked at me shortly and laughed. He fixed his red hair before shaking his head.

"I can’t. But remember the faces of those three men... they’ll be next to follow in the footsteps of the others who died."

I was terrified. I’m sure what he said is true. Those three guys will pay for their cruelty.

The nerd that they were beating up is a leader of the most feared gang here. Black Blood Gang, Nazzer Lumia. The one who ranks third highest within this hell.