Hell University-Chapter 54 - 53: Started

Zein’s Point of View

It was dark...

I don’t know where I am. I can’t see anything. Fear and dread wrap around me.

Where am I?

I walked... slowly. I didn’t know if this darkness had an end, until blurred images suddenly appeared.

Chaotic... people running... the screams were deafening.

Among the crowd in turmoil, there were two people who distinctly caught my attention.

My chest tightened as I saw their hands clasped together...

I watched as they were surrounded by many people... I couldn’t understand anything, but it felt like I was about to die.

I squeezed my eyes shut when I saw him hugging the person he was with. In the man, I could see the figure of someone I was ready to fight for, but... who was the woman he was embracing?

Who?

Sweat-soaked, my eyes flew open in a white room with no furniture, the only door made of steel.

I tried to stand, but my body was in so much pain. I could still feel parts of me trembling... probably because of the electric shocks.

Mia and the others... they escaped.

Somehow, I felt relieved. I hope they’re safe now. At least this time, I was able to stand by the promises I made to myself.

It’s just... sad that it seems I won’t be able to keep my promise to come back. They won’t let me go. I smiled faintly to myself and stared at the white ceiling.

Suddenly, I remembered that dream again. What did it mean? Why did it affect me so much? I’m confused... but I’m even more confused by what I feel.

Supremo? Where are you? I hope they haven’t hurt you-

I closed my eyes as a strange feeling washed over me while imagining that they might have harmed Supremo.

Dare me... I’ll kill you. Don’t you dare hurt him.

I tried to stand again, and this time I managed somewhat, even though I was still weak. I tried to open the door, even though I knew it was locked.

I bit my lip as pain shot through my back from the force I used trying to open the door.

I could only lean against the wall, catching my breath. I really couldn’t move properly yet because of how weak I was.

Shit!

Am I really not going to escape? Is this really the end? Does it all end here?

Zein... is this as far as you go?

I froze for a moment when I heard a rattling sound from the lock outside. I waited for it to open.

I could only watch as two people in lab gowns approached me and grabbed both of my arms. I tried to pull away, but my body couldn’t handle it, and the fact that they were much bigger than me.

"Let go of me!"

They didn’t budge, and since I had no strength to fight back, it was easy for them to drag me out of that room. Like a withered vegetable, I just let them carry me.

We came out of a building.

I scanned the empty surroundings. It felt strange not seeing any students around. They were probably all locked up by now. Everyone who wasn’t part of their plan was their captive.

We walked silently toward the Admin Office, where guards were now stationed.

There were many guards scattered all around, people I assumed were Madame Violet’s men, protecting the area as if it were a fortress.

We stopped just as we were about to enter, when several people in laboratory gowns came out, carrying an unconscious man.

Fuck! Don’t tell me-

As we entered, my attention was caught by another door, one I had only just noticed. I couldn’t help but smile as the ideas forming in my head slowly began to make sense.

I grimaced when they suddenly yanked me forward. We went through a door that led to a staircase going down.

Underground.

So I wasn’t wrong. The place we were in now was none other than the Hidden Laboratory.

It really was well concealed, built beneath the ground. They were clever, I’ll give them that. No wonder nothing seemed out of place above; a secret only they knew was hidden below.

A strange feeling washed over me the moment we stepped inside, where countless people in lab gowns came into view. Each of them was busy with their own work, as if completely indifferent to everything around them.

The air inside was suffocating.

There were so many liquids of different colors everywhere, but what caught my attention were the human-sized incubators, each holding a person lying inside. Countless devices and monitors were scattered around the room.

My chest tightened as I watched one of them. Their eyes were closed, but you could tell from their appearance the extreme suffering they were enduring.

They’re beasts, truly. Their souls are corrupt to be able to do this to innocent people without shame. Even while still on earth, their souls are already burning in hell.

Don’t they realize how inhumane their actions are? They turn innocent people into animals, tools for their twisted desires.

"Well... well... well..."

My gaze settled on a woman and a man. Madame Violet, wearing a mask over her nose, stood with Liam behind her, staring at me with an emotionless face.

The evil mother and her son.

"Hello, Miss Secretary... How are you?" Madame Violet said with a smile, clearly enjoying seeing me in this situation.

I felt the grip on my arms release, and I was left standing in front of Madame Violet and Liam.

I raised an eyebrow at her before smirking. "I am better than fine." My teasing reply earned a faint laugh from her.

She let her eyes roam over the entirety of the laboratory. You could see the satisfaction in her gaze and smile at what was happening. I could hardly call this woman human anymore.

"Welcome to our Hidden Laboratory."

"Thank you."

She smiled and approached someone busy watching the monitors. I glanced at Liam, who quickly looked away from me.

"You must be happy too... Come on."

He didn’t look at me and kept his eyes averted. I just shook my head.

"Sorry..."

"For what?"

He finally looked at me, and this time I could see the sadness in his eyes. "Forgive Mommy," he said in a mournful tone.

Forgive?

I just laughed at what he said. Does he really think it’s that simple? "Do you think saying sorry can undo the atrocities your mother committed? So many lives have been lost, and more are still being lost," I said bitterly.

No matter how often he utters the word ’forgive,’ it will never be enough for the unforgivable acts his mother and Francisco have done.

"Liam! Bring that woman here!" Madame Violet shouted at Liam, who glanced at his mother.

Liam looked at me but didn’t move from where he stood. Somehow, I felt pity for him. I knew he was just obeying his mother. He had no choice but to follow her. It was just sad that he didn’t have the courage to do what he wanted... what was right.

I stepped closer to him and extended my arm. "Give me to your mother," I said.

He swallowed hard and looked into my eyes. Slowly, he took my arm, and I could feel the tremor in his hand.

We were met by Madame Violet and the man in the laboratory gown, most likely the head of this study.

"M-mom-"

"You take care of her..." Madame Violet cut Liam off as he faced the man in the lab gown, then glanced at her son. "Follow me." Madame Violet’s voice was firm, and Liam had no choice but to obey.

We were left alone with the man, who simply stared at me. "I am Mr. Razon. The head of this operation," he introduced himself.

"I don’t care," I replied.

He laughed at my answer. He was the same man who had been with Madame Violet and Francisco in the gymnasium, the one who confronted me in the hidden laboratory when my life was hanging by a thread.

"You really look like her. Samantha."

I didn’t respond as he grabbed my arm and opened an incubator. I swallowed hard as I watched the transparent incubator slowly open.

What are they going to do to me?

"This is for what?" I asked.

He looked at me for a moment before pressing some buttons on the side. "For the sake of that formula," he answered.

"What exactly is the secret formula?" I couldn’t help but ask.

I wanted to know what that secret formula was and why we had to be subjected to this.

"The rarest type of blood," he said with a smile. "Don’t worry. If you don’t match, you won’t have to suffer anymore."

I couldn’t do anything as he forcibly laid me down inside the incubator. I felt too weak to resist.

I could only watch as he attached all sorts of devices to my body. Lifelessly, I let them do whatever they wanted to me.

I feel hopeless...

I screamed in pain when something pierced my arm. It felt like my bones and flesh were being torn apart. My vision blurred, but it wasn’t enough to make me lose consciousness.

Damn! It fucking hurts like hell!

The incubator closed, and along with it, all the pain I was feeling disappeared. My entire body felt numb. The only thing I could hear was the deafening thud of my heartbeat.

For the first time in my life, I felt alone. I had never felt this way before because I had my friends, but now, I do. It feels like there’s nothing left of me.

I closed my eyes when something pierced my other arm again. I felt tears fall from my eyes, a mark of the pain.

I was too tired to scream, so my tears became the only symbol of my suffering.

Minutes passed... I felt my body grow heavier. I felt my heartbeat slowing. My eyelids grew heavy. It felt like I was about to be swallowed by endless darkness.

I’m scared. I don’t want to die yet, but what can I do?

My mouth fell open as I struggled to catch my fading breath.

Is this the end?

* * *

Nurse Cha’s Point of View

I don’t know if I should be happy. I’m relieved that the formula they’re looking for requires a rare kind of blood, something not easily found. That kind of blood is nearly impossible to come by, so they’ll have a hard time finding it.

My gaze landed on a black liquid at the very center. Just one more ingredient, and it would be complete.

I was deep in thought when I heard a sound that made my heart leap. I wasn’t the only one who froze, everyone in the laboratory stopped what they were doing and stared at an incubator that had begun to glow.

This ain’t happening...

There was only one meaning to this. Someone had matched the formula.

We rushed toward the incubator, and I didn’t know how to react when I saw who was inside.

Zein Shion...

My legs went weak as I looked at her, crying.

"She won’t be able to handle it, Madame. Her life could be in danger," Mr. Razon said to Madame Violet, who only smiled.

I felt frozen in place as I stared at the pitiful woman, her face growing pale.

Zein Shion... you’re the one who will complete the formula. Out of all the people in this place... why did it have to be you?

This can’t happen. They can’t do this to her. They have no idea how dangerous it is to provoke someone who could explode at any moment.

Supremo... Zein needs you.

"Take all of her blood," the Headmistress ordered with a laugh. "I don’t care if it kills her," she added with a smile.

My jaw dropped at Madame Violet’s words, there was no hint of a joke in them. Shit! This isn’t good. Zein’s heartbeat is slowing down.

Just a few more minutes and it could, shit!

I couldn’t stop myself. I rushed to the incubator and pressed the stop button. It was reckless, but I had to act.

I won’t let this woman’s life be put in danger.

From her, I learned how important it is to fight. She’s so brave, that’s what I admired most about her. Because of her, I found the resolve to avenge my sibling. I learned the value of fighting for justice because of her.

Thank you... Zein. One of a kind.

"Nurse Cha!"

I screamed when I felt electricity strike my back, at the same time two men grabbed hold of me. Even while weak, I smiled when I saw the incubator open.

I shut my eyes when the Headmistress slapped me. "Lock that traitor up!" she shouted.

I smirked at her. "Y-You don’t know her... If I were you, I’d hide... he’s coming," I said before the guards dragged me away.

Supremo...

We hadn’t even made it outside when a massive explosion erupted, shaking the entire area.

I laughed without thinking. The bloody ending has finally started...