Zein's Point of View:
The next few hours went by without anything weird happening. It felt like a totally ordinary day. No chaos, no trouble. Peaceful, even.
"Good morning, class," our physics teacher, Teacher Kath, chirped as she walked in.
Nobody even bothered to greet her back. I didn't bother opening my mouth either. Boring.
"Before we start, I have a big announcement!" She said, which actually caught my attention. There was this weirdly joyful vibe in her voice that I couldn't quite place.
She instantly had everyone's focus. She looked happy, but my gut was telling me something was off. Was I just being paranoid again? Or was there something truly sketchy about what she was about to tell us?
"It's been a long time since we last held this event, but we're happy to announce that the acquaintance party is finally happening!"
A deafening silence fell over the room. The teacher's wide grin only grew bigger.
An acquaintance party. In a normal school, everyone would be screaming with excitement. But here? Everyone just looked terrified.
Is this even good news?
"Teacher Kath," One of my classmates, Celine, stood up. I'd heard someone call her that earlier.
I just realized that while our classmates seemed close with each other, they were totally distant toward us. Not that I wanted them to approach me or be their friend, but I found that weird.
"Yes, Ms. Samonte?" Teacher Kath asked.
"I don't think we should be celebrating anything right now. Especially not with all the killings that have been happening these past few weeks," She said, her tone respectful but firm.
"I'm sorry to say this, but we can't do anything about it. Madame Violet has already finalized the decision, and it will take place this coming Friday at Wide Space."
"You can do something about it because you have a position-----"
"Enough, Celine Samonte. Okay, class, let's start."
Celine had no choice but to sit down. The girl next to her gave her a supportive pat on the shoulder.
If they hadn't had an acquaintance party in a long time, the only reason they were bringing it back now was because of us. Shit. I knew they were up to something.
I couldn't help but smirk to myself. If they thought they could just trap us with their little plans, they were wrong. Maybe they were right that the six of us were idiots coming here, but uncertainty didn't scare us. If anything, it fueled us.
Whatever they were planning, we'd be ready.
***
Finally, break time.
Hell University only had one cafeteria, but it was huge, three times the size of a normal one, and it functioned like a restaurant. Diners had waiters to take their order, and there was a section where students had to line up for their takeout food. And just like Madame Violet said, everything was free.
"Are you sure you're okay now, Matt?" I asked as he ate his spaghetti.
Mia, Van and Dave all looked at him. Jerome was looking at me with his annoying, dog-like smirk. He knew I had a crush on Matt. I honestly had no idea how he figured it out; I never admitted it to anyone. Was I really that obvious?
"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm pretty sure the poison died the second those three chilis hit my system," He joked, and I laughed.
Our friends just looked at us, totally confused by the inside joke.
"So, what now, guys? When we are actually getting out of here?" Vanessa asked, looking bored out of her mind.
"Dave and I went back to the path where they let us in, it's gone. It's just a massive wall now," Jerome said, sounding baffled.
They seemed to have total control over the entrances and exits. Escape was no option. They were playing with us----not just us, but everyone student here. We were trapped in a cage, and the only way out was hidden.
"I really think they are planning something...." Matt muttered, lost in thought.
"Really? What do you mean?" Dave asked.
"I don't know. I have no idea. But they're definitely up to something."
We were thinking the same thing. We were all just pawns in their game.
"I have a plan," I said.
Everyone looked at me. Nobody spoke or asked; they just waited for me to lay it all out.
"Haven't you guys noticed? We walked into HU knowing absolutely nothing. We don't know it's history or who's actually running the show. They're making fools out of us," I began.
That was how they could toy with us. We were ignorant.
"What are you getting at?" Dave asked.
"Matt right. They are planning something, and we're probably the main ingredients. We can't just walk out of here, so our only choice is to fight. To kill so we can live. We need to get ahead of their plan. We need information," I said firmly.
If we didn't act and just keep being clueless like everyone else, we were never getting out. We might actually die here.
"Celine. She knows something," Mia said, thinking deeply.
Mia and I were on the same page. Based on what happened in class, that girl Celine definitely knew things. We just needed to talk to her to get information.
"How? They avoid us like they're scared of us. How will we approach her?" Vanessa asked.
"I'll handle it," I said.
"What about the gangs? What should we do about them?" Matt asked.
Right. The two clashing gangs of Hell University: the Black Blood Gang and the Devil God Warriors. How did they even start? What were they fighting for? It was probably tied to the school's history.
"No. Don't mess with the gangs!" Dave suddenly snapped. He looked genuinely terrified.
"It's all connected, Dave. Once we figure out the history of HU, everything will fall into place----including the gangs," I argued.
"Why are you being so dramatic?" Mia asked him.
"I-it's n-not that," Dave stammered. "It's just.... we should focus on the school's history before we go poking the gangs."
He actually had a point there.
I suddenly thought of Nicky. She was a BBG member. She definitely knew more than most, but I knew it was impossible to get info out of her. I'd probably end up a corpse first, given how dangerous she was.
After our discussion, we didn't waste any time and split up to gather leads. Mua and Vanessa headed to the library, while Matt, Dave and Jerome went scouting for clues.
I jumped up from a bench the moment I saw Celine walking with another girl. They both flinched when I stepped in front of them.
"Wait! I'm not going to hurt you. We need your help," I said, stopping them.
"Don't come near us. You'll just get dragged into this," Celine's friend said, making my brows furrow.
"We're already dragged into this the moment we stepped into HU. So please, I need your help, Celine." I was almost ready to beg on my knees.
People were starting to stare, acting like us talking to them was a huge deal.
"Please...." I pleaded.
Celine signed and gestured for me to follow her.
I followed, leaving her worried friend behind. We went into their dorm, and she immediately locked the doors, as if she was terrified someone would eavesdrop.
We sat on the sofa, facing each other.
"Let me ask you this, Zein. Are you willing to stake your life on the information I'm about to give you?" She asked seriously.
My chest tightened. The thought that this information might trap me in this hell forever crissed my mind. I didn't want to, but something was pushing me to go through with it.
"Tell me everything," I answered bravely.
"You're brave, Zein. But you're just like the rest. Driven by curiousity."
I didn't say anything. Yeah, I'd admit it started as curiosity. But now? It was more than that. I didn't just want the info for my own peace of mind. I wanted it so we could be free.
"Hell University...." She began.
My palms started sweating. Shit. This is it.
"That's wasn't the original name. It was once called Philippine High University, Or PHU," She said.
Well, that made sense. I mean... Why would anyone name a school Hell University?
"It was a prestigious school where only the rich could get in... until a greedy leader took over. He was a mad scientist. His cunning allowed him to seize the wealth of everyone here. Then one day, everyone woke up to find the exits gone. He managed to hide the university from the rest of the Philippines. It was never mentioned on the news, TV, or papers again. The parents couldn't do anything. It's heartbreaking to think that... I'm one of the people trapped in this hell-school.
I couldn't speak. I was so shocked. I always knew this place had a dark past, but I didn't realize it was this dark. I could feel Celine's grief. That leader was a monster.
"Why did he close PHU?" I asked, my nrow furrowing.
What was that mad scientist planning?
"After he closed PHU, he renamed it Hell University. We were devastated. We were just kids when we got trapped here in this hellhole, and we're still here now. We couldn't help but resent our parents for not doing anything. People started rebelling, and gangs formed, including the two that are at war now----the Black Blood Gang and the Devil God Warriors."
I swallowed hard. So, the gang members were rebels?
"That scientist was Dr. Quizon. He was so brilliant, he lost his mind. Before he took over here, he created medicines that the whole world fought over. The reason he closed HU? He turned us all into experiments for a formula. Many lives were wasted before he succeeded. It's a liquid formula that can bring the dead back to life."
My hair stood on end as a chill ran down my spine. A formula that could resurrect the dead? Impossible. That man was a monster. His experiments were inhumane.
"Are you listening, Zein? Dr. Quizon succeeded! He actually finished the formula!"
"Is Dr. Quizon still here?" I asked.
She shook her head.
"He died before the world could find out about it. He didn't even get to use it on himself. But he had one student back then who knew the formula. The problem is, nobody knows who that student is. The reason HU is still closed is because the officials here are hunting for that person. They want the formula to complete their experiments."
Celine started into my eyes, looking absolutely petrified.
"That's the secret of Hell University that they never want to get out. I'm certain that person---the one who knows the formula---is right here among us, Zein. That person is in grave danger. I'm sure the officials are close to catching them. You know what I'm most afraid of? If those demons get their hands on that person and the formula, they'll use it for pure evil."
I stood up; my head was starting to throb. I couldn't porcess it all.
"I'm leaving," I said.
Celine suddenly grabbed my arm. I could feel her shaking. Despite that, she had a smile on her face.
"Now you know the secret of HU. You're never getting out. You're going to die too!"
Terrified of her sudden change in behavior, I pushed her away. She just started laughing.
"Zein Shion. Do you know who they're looking for? If you do, stay away from them. You'll just get dragged down with them."
"Stop it! I don't know who it is!"
I ran out of the room, her laughter still ringing in my ears.
I collapsed at the base if a tree, my body feeling completely drained. Now I knew the truth. The secret of Hell University was that they didn't want anyone to know about the resurrection formula because someone alse might get to it first.
"You really don't know how to listen....."
Nicky suddenly appeared in front of me. She was smirking, but I could tell she was annoyed. What was her problem? I wasn't going to get answers from her, so like she said, I had to find them myself!
"I know everything now," I said, which made her laugh.
She crouched down to my level and leaned in close, almost like she was going to kiss me, and stared into my eyes.
"Not you, Zein. You only know half the story, not the whole thing. You're close to dying too. You're their target now. So, get ready."