Chapter 25: Chapter 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 accustod 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 . 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 , while Jero and Matt rely greeted
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 sothing I need to do. You know? Sexytary." I tried to be funny to divert the topic.
I rely nodded before walking away. Leaving them, even for just a few hours, is truly difficult for . 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 imdiately greeted
with a nacing glare.
What’s his problem?"
"Always late. Get those papers and follow ."
Bossy. I took the papers he pointed to, including the logbook where all the students’ nas were written along with their offenses. Seriously, Ace? Manually?
We walked at a slow pace, yet everyone we passed imdiately avoided us. We won’t eat you, people.
"Where are we going?"
"Sowhere."
Nice. Very well answered, Supremo. You enlightened , you answered my question directly to the point. Sowhere? Sowhere 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 soone. Supremo and I approached the guard, causing him to stop.
"Alex ndoza, Supremo," the guard suddenly said..
"Find it, Miss Shion, and mark it with an X."
I froze. I understood what he ant, 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
to carry out his orders.
"We are wasting so damn much ti here, Miss Shion," he said impatiently.
Despite my reluctance, I imdiately searched the list for the na of the man who was convulsing. With trembling hands, I marked an X beside his full na. 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 , 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 . I understood his point. I grasped what he ant.
"What if we help him? Yes, he survives. What do you think will happen next? The sa 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 ti saving soone who was ant 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 . "I was just taking care of sothing, Supremo," he replied, his gaze fixed on .
I understood the aning behind his gaze, and I lowered my head in embarrassnt. I had not yet been able to help him, and I knew he was rely waiting for . 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 ti.
"Unprofessional," I heard Supremo mutter, which made
look in their direction.
Sir Alvarez clenched his fist before walking past us. Speaking to soone 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 mont. Was he speaking to ? Who? Sir Alvarez? "Teacher?" I asked, seeking clarification.
We continued walking. Supremo signaled for
to stop, so I did. He went on ahead. I squinted, trying to see whom he was speaking to.
A woman, slightly taller than , 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
to hear? Really, Supremo? So you can be flirtatious too.
My eyes widened even more when I saw that the woman had pointed at . What?! Do you want
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 . 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 sothing 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 na! And ? He only called
by my full na, once! Miss Shion! What is really happening to ?!
"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 so 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 rembered 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 al 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
for that girl. Don’t get
wrong, am I not his secretary?!
Before I could completely exit the cafeteria, soone 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 co any closer! This woman will die!" he shouted, pressing the knife more firmly against my neck. "Get
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
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 . 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 , but he rely passed by without stopping. I did not know what I was supposed to feel. The person I expected to help
ignored
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
was slowly resurfacing.
Of course, why would he help ? We are not even friends. I am rely his secretary. Like everyone else, I an nothing to him.
"Let
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
the sa 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 ford on my lips. The forr 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
within this campus. No one at all.
I drove my elbow into the man’s abdon, then turned and kicked him in the stomach. Rage burned within . 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
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 , 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 soone pull
away from the man, who was still breathing. I shot Jero 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 exclaid, nearly shouting.
"Almost," I replied. "He’s still alive."
I turned to walk away when Matt suddenly pulled
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
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 , 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
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 rely 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 cri. 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
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," Jero 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 beco a monster when you’re angry. You lose control."
"No, Matt, you’re wrong!"
Shit!
"I’m afraid for you, Zein. I’m afraid that you might do sothing even worse next ti."
I could no longer endure everything they were saying, so I walked out. They were about to follow , 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 soone 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 consu 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
to protect my friends, even if I have to hold a knife and take lives–
I will.
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