Hell University-Chapter 33 - 32: Celine

Zein’s Point of View

I was sure I heard someone whistling somewhere in the forest. Maybe they really owned Hoy, but... who were they?

A cold sweat ran down my back as I slowly stepped into the forested part of the HU. Light and shadow clashed around me, only heightening the fear I felt.

I let out a startled scream when someone grabbed my arm. They were smiling, staring right at me.

"C-Celine." I yanked my arm free from her grip.

She stayed smiling, then chuckled slightly before becoming serious.

Celine is really weird.

"Do you know who owns that cat?" she asked, and I quickly shook my head.

She chuckled a little at my answer.

"That cat was owned by Lux. The former Supreme Student Government President..."

I shivered at hearing that. She closed her eyes in front of me.

The former Supremo? That cat belonged to him?

"Where is the former Supremo now?" I asked.

She held her chin as if recalling something, glanced upward for a moment, then suddenly snapped her fingers like she remembered.

"Dead." she said with a laugh.

I took a step back at their words. Hoy, the pet cat of Lux, the former SSG President, was dead.

But, my eyes darted behind me, toward where Hoy had gone. Who called him if his owner was already gone?

I turned back to Celine. "W-What killed him?" I asked next.

They shook their head at me. "He was killed... by Violet and Francisco. They were the ones who killed him," she replied. "Even his girlfriend, Samantha, was killed by them, and the late Headmaster Valdez, Lux’s father, they killed him mercilessly as well," she added.

My throat went dry after hearing that. They were killed? Not just one but many died. Just how many people have they already murdered?

"Do you want to know everything?" Celine asked, and I quickly nodded.

Celine looked up at the sky. "In just a few minutes, it’ll be a bloody night," she said before turning her gaze back to me.

"Please," I begged.

"Fine," she replied. "Meet me tomorrow at one in the afternoon at the library. I’ll tell you everything I know," she whispered with a smile right next to my ear.

I couldn’t really sleep after what Celine told me. No wonder Madame Violet reacted so strongly when she saw Hoy, she knew who the cat’s owner was, the person they had killed.

But if Lux is dead, then who was whistling in the forest? Could it be that someone new is taking care of that cat?

I started walking toward the SSG Office. I smiled when I saw the booths set up by each class. Today was Booth Day, when every class had to present their booth.

I was the one who made this. I wanted to see smiles on the faces of students who had long been trapped in this hellish cage. It seems I didn’t fail, because somehow, the participants were smiling.

I was about to turn the doorknob of the SSG Office when I heard voices inside. The door was slightly open, so I could hear them clearly.

"Don’t do this, Supremo. You’ll only put yourself in danger," Vice Ty said.

"I know," Supremo replied without enthusiasm.

What are they talking about?

"You know the rules, Supremo!" I heard Teacher Kath shout. "She violated the most important rule! She pointed a knife at you! Respecting the President is the top priority, and she just broke it!" she added.

I don’t know why, but my chest tightened. I knew what they were talking about, my death.

"You will lose your power."

"I can live without this position..."

I went deaf at Supremo’s words, and what surprised me even more was how fast my heart was beating.

What’s happening to me?

"Why, Supremo? What is Secretary Shion to you?" Teacher Kath asked seriously.

"She is my secretary." I could still feel Supremo’s lack of interest in what Teacher Kath and Vice Ty were saying.

"The Headmistress and Mr. Francisco already know about this. You will sink if you continue protecting her..."

"Well, I don’t care. I’m not going to lose her, not now, not tomorrow, not in my plan."

Gasping for breath, I grabbed the sink in the restroom. I stared at myself in the mirror, my face was flushed, my heartbeat was deafening, and the most puzzling part of all...

Why am I smiling like an idiot?

I must be catching Celine’s habits.

Speaking of Celine!

I needed to go to the library. I fixed myself before heading there.

As soon as I entered, the librarian greeted me and pointed somewhere, so I followed. Celine was sitting at the far end of a table, clearly waiting for someone.

I gave a slight bow to the librarian before taking a seat in front of Celine.

She was leaning back in the monoblock chair, eyes closed.

"You really want to know?" They opened their eyes. I met their gaze and showed that I was ready to learn even more.

I wondered, why does Celine know so much? Maybe because she have been here for a long time, but what she know is different from what everyone else knows.

I suddenly remembered that because of her, I ended up trapped in this hell in the first place. The very first secret she told me, the secret of HU.

"Dominique, Violet, and Francisco were once part of the Administration. They were led by Dr. Quizon. Dr. Quizon told them about his plan, the plan to complete the formula and use it as a weapon so he could seize control of the world..."

"Madness. Does he really think he can conquer the whole world just by creating a medicine that can bring the dead back to life?" I said.

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t see how he could possibly achieve what he desired.

"You’re wrong about that," a grin appeared on Celine’s lips. "Anyone would pay any amount just to have it. Anyone would kneel before him just to obtain that medicine. They would even praise Dr. Quizon for such an excellent experiment. They would treat him like a god who could bring life back from death," she said with a smile.

I felt goosebumps rise on my skin. Are there really people who would kill just to obtain something like that? I suddenly thought, if the formula were completed and fell into the hands of a demon... she was right. The whole world would descend into chaos.

"Because of the inherent power of this medicine, many became interested, even Mr. Valdez, Violet, and Francisco. Dr. Quizon was truly clever. He knew they would betray him, so he stopped the experiment. The three caught on, so they took action to obtain the formula for this extraordinary medicine, which eventually led to murder. Mr. Valdez, Violet, and Francisco killed their headmaster just to get the formula, which was obviously incomplete..."

I couldn’t bring myself to speak. I already knew this had happened, but I thought Mr. Valdez was kind, why was he blinded by this?

"As the second-highest in rank, Mr. Valdez succeeded Dr. Quizon. Along with Violet and Francisco, he continued the research on the missing formula, while at the same time, there was only one person who knew the secret ingredient to complete it."

"I thought Mr. Valdez was kind? Why is he interested in that medicine? For power?"

"No. Because he wants to bring his wife back to life, her body was preserved."

My eyes widened at that revelation. So that’s why he wanted to complete the formula, to use it on his wife.

"Mr. Valdez had one child, Luxury Valdez, who was the SSG President at the time... until the three of people arrived, lost in this hell as well. But the only name that stuck with everyone was Samantha’s..."

Samantha...

"Just like you, demon," she chuckled softly at her own words. "She became a huge influence on Supremo Lux. The weak-willed Supremo suddenly came alive. She convinced Lux to speak to his father and make them stop everything, because they were only making life harder for themselves..."

Samantha... Samantha... I haven’t even met you yet, but I admit, I already admire you.

"Lux convinced his father, who seemed to awaken from a nightmare, and they planned to reopen the HU, unaware that two people were plotting to stop them: the devil couple, Violet and Francisco."

"The HU was reopened for only a few days, but it closed again due to the deaths of Mr. Valdez, Lux, and Samantha... They killed them."

We suddenly heard a rustling sound from the window nearby. Whoever it was ran off immediately, so Celine and I quickly ran outside to chase after them.

We were both gasping for breath from running when we suddenly realized we were in the overgrown part of the HU.

"W-Who is he?" I asked, panting.

"I know him..."

I looked at Celine at her words. Her eyes were fixed on something in the distance.

"Who?"

"I don’t know his name. I just always see him... he’s been following you."

A chill ran down my spine at what she said. My mouth fell open slightly in shock.

"W-What do you mean?"

"Whenever I see you, he’s there too. You don’t notice him, but he’s always nearby... the question is, what does he want from you?" she said, frowning.

"I don’t know."

I glanced at what Celine was holding, but she suddenly hid it behind her back.

"What’s that?" I asked, looking into her eyes, and I saw fear there.

I was startled when Celine grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the overgrown part of the HU. As we ran, I couldn’t help but shiver.

I could feel that it wasn’t just Celine and I here, there were others. Not just one or two, but many eyes watching us.

Gasping for breath, Celine finally let go of my hand. My heart was still pounding from fear.

"W-Who are they?" I asked.

"I-I don’t know, but they’re terrifying..." I noticed Celine’s body trembling.

"It’s horrifying. Zein... if something happens to me, please... tell Supremo I’m sorry," she said, her voice heavy with sadness.

"H-Huh? What are you talking about?!" I asked, confused.

"I need to confirm my suspicion. Z-Zein... this is the first time I’ve been this shaken," I also noticed her hand trembling behind her back, hidden so I wouldn’t see it. "Something’s wrong. A huge, terrible wrong."

Suddenly, she ran back into the woods.

"Celine!" I shouted.

I just sank down to sit on the ground. "What are you doing, Celine?" I muttered to the air, lost in my own thoughts.

I had been standing outside the forest for hours, where Celine had gone, and she still hadn’t returned.

Fear wrapped around me, and I forced myself not to follow. Where could she be? Why haven’t she come back? Did something bad happen?

I looked up at the sky when suddenly drops of water fell, until the rain poured heavily. The cold wind blew, and I could feel my body trembling.

I didn’t want to leave, I would wait for Celine to come back.

"C-Celine." I squeezed my eyes shut tightly, then started running into the forest.

Every step I took only made my fear grow stronger. I couldn’t abandon Celine, I had to help her.

In an instant, everything went dark. I felt my body gradually giving out.

What’s happening?