Hell University-Chapter 25 - 24: Control

Zein’s Point of View

Of all that my friends and I have gone through, this is the most unusual, and the most life‑threatening of all. We have grown accustomed to constantly placing our lives in danger. We love flirting with death. We love dangerous adventures; we are the kind of fearless group you would see walking down the street with smirks on our faces.

Hell University. This is where we are now. We are trapped in this place. We do not even know how to get out—if there is a way at all. We almost lost hope, almost. I am slowly losing hope that we will ever leave this place, but whenever I see my friends, I find renewed courage and strength. My friends are my source of strength and, without question, my weakness as well. I promised myself that I would keep fighting as long as they remain by my side. I will protect them for as long as I am able.

"Hey! You’re spacing out again..."

I took the juice Mia offered as she sat beside me. We were in the wide common area, the vast open space that serves as everyone’s hangout. The sun stood high, but all the benches were shaded by the towering trees surrounding the area.

"Where are they?" I asked.

She gestured toward the four people approaching, laughing together. Vanessa and Dave waved at me, while Jerome and Matt merely greeted me with smiles. Ever since the bloody week began, we have not left one another’s side, but I know there are still responsibilities we cannot always carry out together, for instance, my duties at school.

"I need to go..." I said goodbye.

"I thought you said no one would be left behind?" Mia asked teasingly.

"No one at all. Who said I was leaving you guys? We’ll see each other later; I just have something I need to do. You know? Sexytary." I tried to be funny to divert the topic.

I merely nodded before walking away. Leaving them, even for just a few hours, is truly difficult for me. I may appear strong for them, but inside, I am weak. I am also afraid of leaving them and never seeing one of them again.

I shook my head firmly, trying to push away these thoughts.

When I arrived at the SSG Office, Supremo was the only one there, and he immediately greeted me with a menacing glare.

What’s his problem?"

"Always late. Get those papers and follow me."

Bossy. I took the papers he pointed to, including the logbook where all the students’ names were written along with their offenses. Seriously, Ace? Manually?

We walked at a slow pace, yet everyone we passed immediately avoided us. We won’t eat you, people.

"Where are we going?"

"Somewhere."

Nice. Very well answered, Supremo. You enlightened me, you answered my question directly to the point. Somewhere? Somewhere where everywhere? The heck?!

I froze when I saw the corpse of a man being dragged by a guard. Foam was coming out of his mouth. It appeared that he had been poisoned by someone. Supremo and I approached the guard, causing him to stop.

"Alex Mendoza, Supremo," the guard suddenly said..

"Find it, Miss Shion, and mark it with an X."

I froze. I understood what he meant, but I did not move. I just continued to stare at the man, trembling with foam at his mouth.

"Do it." Supremo’s tone carried a hint of irritation.

"He is still alive, for Pete’s sake!"

It is still possible to save this man from death. He is alive, but if we just stand here idly, it is likely too late. I looked at Supremo, whose expression remained unreadable. He raised an eyebrow, silently waiting for me to carry out his orders.

"We are wasting so damn much time here, Miss Shion," he said impatiently.

Despite my reluctance, I immediately searched the list for the name of the man who was convulsing. With trembling hands, I marked an X beside his full name. Supremo nodded to the guard, who then continued dragging the man, now lifeless.

I still could not believe it. A human life is invaluable; it cannot be bought with money nor replaced. Yet inside this hell, a person’s life holds no worth. That man had a strong chance of surviving, but—there was nothing.

"If you were me, what would you do?" Supremo asked, seemingly curious about what I was thinking.

"I would help him! He is still alive!"

Supremo shook his head, as if my suggestion were wrong. "Do you know who poisoned him? What do you think was that person’s purpose?" he asked.

That hit me. I understood his point. I grasped what he meant.

"What if we help him? Yes, he survives. What do you think will happen next? The same thing will only happen again. It is human nature to be discontented; do you think whoever wants him dead will simply allow him to live? Definitely not. So then, Miss Shion, why would I waste my time saving someone who was meant to die in the first place? You cannot save everyone, even if you are supernatural. Everything has its limits, and this is as far as our capabilities go."

I fell silent. There was no denying that he had a significant point. He thinks logically. He is truly a remarkable leader. Every second matters to him. His mind is broad; I cannot keep up.

I didn’t realize that I had stopped walking. I looked for Supremo and saw that he was already conversing with Sir Alvarez.

"You are ten minutes late for your next subject, Mister Alvarez," Supremo said flatly.

Sir Alvarez remained unfazed, still looking at me. "I was just taking care of something, Supremo," he replied, his gaze fixed on me.

I understood the meaning behind his gaze, and I lowered my head in embarrassment. I had not yet been able to help him, and I knew he was merely waiting for me. Supremo was unusually quiet these days, and even Teacher Kath remained silent; I could not find or see anything unusual about where they were headed every time.

"Unprofessional," I heard Supremo mutter, which made me look in their direction.

Sir Alvarez clenched his fist before walking past us. Speaking to someone like that hurt, and Supremo’s words were below the belt. Words are far more powerful than anything; they can destroy in an instant.

"What is your connection with him?"

I looked at Supremo and blinked for a moment. Was he speaking to me? Who? Sir Alvarez? "Teacher?" I asked, seeking clarification.

We continued walking. Supremo signaled for me to stop, so I did. He went on ahead. I squinted, trying to see whom he was speaking to.

A woman, slightly taller than me, stood before him. Her skin was fair, her features smooth, and her expression was gentle. I simply stared into the air, stunned.

Seriously? What important matter could they be discussing that he doesn’t want me to hear? Really, Supremo? So you can be flirtatious too.

My eyes widened even more when I saw that the woman had pointed at me. What?! Do you want me to cut off a finger? Gosh.

"You may leave now," Supremo said. I almost gaped when he suddenly took the logbook and other papers from me. I stole a glance at the woman still standing at a distance, waiting for Supremo.

"But, I am not yet done with my duty!" I almost rolled my eyes.

The heck! I should be glad. My work with him is done for now, and I can finally be with my friends again, but the fact that he is with that woman is something I cannot accept.

"Angelica and I will finish this," he said irritably as I hesitated to release a nearly crumpled paper.

Really, Angelica? He called her by her first name! And me? He only called me by my full name, once! Miss Shion! What is really happening to me?!

"Then do it! Stick it in your chest! ...flirtatious." I almost whispered the last word, but I knew he had heard it.

What do I care if he heard? It’s true! Damn flirt, Supremo! And here I thought he was some nerd, but as it turns out, he’s flirty inside!

"Go to your Matthew now..."

"Of course!"

I rolled my eyes before blinking away a strand of hair. I turned around, but glanced back once more to glare at Supremo, who was frowning.

I froze in my steps as I remembered that my friends had class today. I had no choice but to wait until their lessons were over so I could be with them again.

I decided to go to the cafeteria to eat. I was halfway through my meal when I saw who was approaching. He wore his usual poker face, while the angelic girl smiled. The Devil and the Angel, they really suit each other.

I quickly turned around and left the place. I still could not accept that Supremo had left me for that girl. Don’t get me wrong, am I not his secretary?!

Before I could completely exit the cafeteria, someone grabbed my arm and pressed a knife against my neck. I nearly went cold, my heart pounding violently in my chest.

People began to scream as they gathered around us. This man had lost his mind.

"Don’t come any closer! This woman will die!" he shouted, pressing the knife more firmly against my neck. "Get me out of this hell!"

I could not move, and I could feel the cold blade pressed against my neck. I knew that a single wrong move would cost me my life.

I searched the crowd for the person I wanted to see, but he was not there. He was the only one who could help me. I needed him, yet he was absent. He was probably still with that woman.

I was holding my breath when I finally saw him, and hope stirred within me, but he merely passed by without stopping. I did not know what I was supposed to feel. The person I expected to help me ignored me completely.

I smiled bitterly. To them, a person’s life holds no value at all, not even mine. I do not know why, but it felt as though the anger that had long been dormant within me was slowly resurfacing.

Of course, why would he help me? We are not even friends. I am merely his secretary. Like everyone else, I mean nothing to him.

"Let me go."

I could hardly recognize my own voice. I did not know where that cold tone was coming from. I thought he was different, but it turns out he is just like the others, a monster.

I should never have allowed myself to grow close to him. I considered Supremo a friend, even though he never regarded me the same way. That was my greatest mistake. I will have no friends in this place except the ones who were already my friends long before we were brought here.

"Be quiet!"

I felt the knife press into my neck, yet instead of fear, a grin formed on my lips. The former Zein Shion was returning, the girl who is not afraid of death.

I made a promise to myself then. No one would be allowed to get close to me within this campus. No one at all.

I drove my elbow into the man’s abdomen, then turned and kicked him in the stomach. Rage burned within me. Once again, I could no longer restrain myself.

He nearly doubled over in pain, but I was not yet satisfied. I took the knife he had been holding and sat beside him, pointing it at his neck.

"You should have killed me while you still had the chance, but you were too slow," I said, pressing the blade closer. I could feel his fear as he looked at me, his body trembling when I drove the knife into his neck. Blood began to flow, and I could not help but smirk.

I could feel the eagerness to kill him now.

"Shit!"

I suddenly felt someone pull me away from the man, who was still breathing. I shot Jerome a sharp look. They were already there, I hadn’t noticed.

"What’s happening to you, Zein?" Vanessa asked.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Matt staring at my neck, where there was also blood caused by the man who had fled in fear.

"You almost killed him!" Mia exclaimed, nearly shouting.

"Almost," I replied. "He’s still alive."

I turned to walk away when Matt suddenly pulled me closer to him. His expression was unusually serious.

"You’re bleeding. Can’t you feel it?" he asked.

I reached for the back of my neck. I did feel a slight sting from where the man had pressed the blade against my neck.

"I can feel it, but it’s just blood. I’m not going to die," I said, almost laughing at my own response, though his brow remained furrowed.

He pulled me along, and I did not struggle. My other friends followed closely behind. Yes, they are the only ones I should consider friends. They are the ones who truly care for me, after all. Only them.

We went to the clinic. Nurse Cha greeted us with a smile, but we did not acknowledge her.

"What happened to her?" she asked.

"Stop asking as if you care. Give me your first aid kit."

Nurse Cha fell silent and did not speak again. She quietly handed the first aid kit to Matt.

I glanced at Vanessa, who merely shook her head, while Mia watched Nurse Cha as she observed Matt’s actions. Because of Matt’s gentle care for the wound on my neck, I did not even notice when he had finished.

"Th-thank you," I said shyly.

"You may rest her-"

"Will you please leave us alone, Nurse Cha?" Mia cut her off, leaving Nurse Cha with no choice but to step outside.

I nearly doubled over, trying to avoid their harsh stares. It felt as if I were on trial, accused of committing a heinous crime. But wasn’t that the case, Zein?

"What was that for?" Dave asked, still in disbelief.

I didn’t really know how I had done what I did earlier. I had simply awakened to the truth. I was angry at the man who would have used me to escape this hell. Geez. He deserved more than that!

"When I saw you earlier... your eyes were terrifying, Zein. I almost couldn’t move fast enough to pull you away from the man you nearly killed," Jerome said, his brow still furrowed.

I didn’t know if he was overreacting. Could it be true? Was the man earlier as terrified while looking into my eyes?

"You lost your temper. You were furious unconsciously," Mia said.

What is this? I felt like I knew where their words were leading. I shook my head firmly.

"You become a monster when you’re angry. You lose control."

"No, Matt, you’re wrong!" 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Shit!

"I’m afraid for you, Zein. I’m afraid that you might do something even worse next time."

I could no longer endure everything they were saying, so I walked out. They were about to follow me, but Matt stopped them.

I leaned my back against the wall behind the clinic.

Could what Nicky said be true?

Am I becoming a monster? Or worse, a demon? Am I really no different from them?

"Looks like the little devil is starting to show..."

I shot Nicky a murderous glare. She was holding a nail in her right hand. It was not an ordinary nail, it was intricately designed, capable of killing someone in an instant. The symbol of the Black Blood Gang.

"But that will never be enough. You have to let the devil out completely, now."

"Not so fast." She frowned, and I could not help but smile. "If I were you, I wouldn’t want to see the demon you’re talking about." I stepped a little closer to her.

"If I were you, I’d learn to control that devil, it could consume you, Zein Shion."

"Yes, I know. It’s so dangerous that even I myself can’t control it," I added. "Don’t worry. You will see the demon you’ve been waiting for." I then walked away.

If being a monster—or worse, a demon—is the only way for me to protect my friends, even if I have to hold a knife and take lives–

I will.