Hell University-Chapter 24 - 23: Bloody Week

Zein’s Point of View

It felt strange. I was used to seeing everyone calm, but today was different, I could feel the fear and anxiety in them. It was written on their faces that they were truly uneasy.

They couldn’t not go to class either, because Supremo might bring them to death if they didn’t.

"I’m terrified," Mia said, hugging herself as she watched people pass by.

"Shh. What matters now is that we are together. No one will be left behind," Matt reminded us.

We were in a wide open area, seated on the benches. The sky was overcast, and it seemed as though the clouds were concealing the sun, intensifying the sense of dread we felt.

"Those defensive items I gave you, do not take them out unless it is absolutely necessary," Dave reminded us once again.

I was reminded of the box Supremo had given me. Inside it was a different kind of blade. I had not brought it with me; I left it in my drawer. I would not hold a blade, no matter who it came from, even if it was from Supremo.

"Ahhh!"

We all jumped to our feet when we heard a scream from one of the classrooms. We immediately made our way there, following the students who were also running toward it.

I squeezed myself into the crowd of onlooking students.

I covered my mouth, shocked by what I saw.

"W-why are you doing this?" a woman asked the girl standing before her, holding a knife.

The woman seated on the floor was drenched in her own blood, flowing from her arm, an injury that, from the looks of it, had been inflicted by the girl holding the knife.

"Why?! You’re stealing him from me!"

"I’m not stealing anything from you!"

I squeezed my eyes shut when the girl with the knife suddenly kicked the seated woman in the stomach, causing her to double over in pain.

I can’t just stand here. I need to do something. She might kill that woman.

I shut my eyes tightly before stepping toward the two of them, but I had only taken two steps when Matt pulled me back.

"You can’t do anything to save her, Zein. She might turn her anger on you as well."

"But, Matt– if I don’t act, she’ll kill that woman," I said, pointing at the woman coughing up blood after being kicked in the stomach once again.

"What do you think the purpose of this Bloody Week is if no one dies? Zein, there’s nothing we can do. Killing is legal now."

I could only turn my eyes back to the scene. He was right, killing was now legal. There was nothing I, nothing we, could do but watch them kill each other.

This is insane.

"I’m sorry. You should die now."

I turned away and walked off just as she raised the knife to stab the woman seated on the floor. She had probably already killed her.

"Zein!"

I ignored Mia as she called out my name. It was infuriating, there was nothing I could do.

I stopped walking when Vanessa blocked my path, glaring at me.

"It’s only just beginning, Zein. You haven’t even witnessed anything worse than this yet, and you’re already breaking down," she said to me.

Dave, Mia, Matt, and Jerome also came closer, all of them looking at me.

"I can’t do it," I said honestly. "I can’t bear to see someone die." I could only clutch at my hair in frustration.

"We can’t stop it or avoid it," Jerome said. "Be strong, Zein. The real battle hasn’t even begun yet."

I could only lower my head at the truth, this was just the beginning. It was only the beginning, yet I was already breaking down. No matter how hard I tried to stay strong, I couldn’t stop myself from feeling afraid.

"Zein."

I raised my head again and forced a smile. Our eyes were drawn to the bodies being dragged away by the guards.

My chest tightened when I realized that the two women who had been fighting earlier were now lifeless. What stood out was the knife still embedded in the chest of the woman who had been holding it before, the very same weapon she had used to kill the other girl.

Is it possible that she also took her own life? Damn it.

The bell rang, signaling the next subject. I excused myself to go to the restroom and told them to go ahead.

Absent-mindedly, I walked toward the restroom when I was stopped by the woman who had become the human test subject. She had grown thinner, and her skin was beginning to wrinkle. Is this truly the effect of an imperfect formula?

"Come with me," she said, turning and walking away. I do not know why, but I followed her.

We went again to the place where she had pulled me previously.

She glanced around us as if terrified that someone might overhear what she was about to say to me. Her gaze finally fixed on me after she finished looking around.

"Their laboratory," she began. Sweat dripped from her forehead.

Even my palms began to sweat upon hearing the words she had spoken.

"Please, tell me," I pleaded.

She looked directly into my eyes. "The laboratory you’re looking for is-"

Suddenly, she collapsed to the floor, blood gushing from her back where a nail had been driven in.

I almost screamed, but I quickly covered my mouth with both hands. My knees trembled in shock, as did my heart.

"Noisy."

My eyes automatically fell upon Nicky, who was leaning against a tree while playing with another nail. She looked at me with a grin.

"She would have died at any moment anyway, so I simply hastened her suffering. And one more thing, she knew too much, so it was only right that she be silenced."

I clenched my fist in anger. She killed this girl! She had done nothing to her. I still have not discovered the hidden laboratory. Damn you, Nicky.

"Why are you doing this?! You crazy bitch!" I gritted my teeth in anger, and she merely smirked.

"I am just saving you, saving us."

I shut my eyes tightly and forced myself to calm down. She says she wants to save us? But she just killed the key to finding the hidden laboratory!

I glanced once more at the lifeless woman before me, then quickly looked away, unable to stomach the sight of the nail embedded in her back.

"Save us? Well, congratulations, you saved us!" I said, my words dripping with sarcasm. I then turned my back and began to walk away.

She was always a hindrance! Why the hell was she blocking my way! That had been my chance to discover their hidden laboratory and report it to Sir Alvarez before they could complete their haphazard formula!

I skipped the restroom, which I was supposed to go to, out of irritation. I went straight to our classroom, arriving just as the lesson was beginning. They were momentarily startled upon seeing me and the expression of anger on my face.

I sat beside Vanessa, who was frowning as she looked at me. I dropped my bag heavily and crossed my arms.

"What’s wrong?" Mia asked, peeking from Vanessa’s side.

Even the boys were now frowning as they looked at me. I merely shrugged before directing my attention to our teacher, who was already lecturing.

It was truly frustrating that I was about to obtain the information I needed, but it was thwarted because of Nicky.

Why, indeed, does she not want me to find out? Is she also involved with those who are making the formula? Is she an accomplice as well? That bitch!

"That’s just a simple question, Ms. Romualdez!"

"I-I am sorry."

Teacher Riza and Kris Romualdez immediately drew my attention.

"Sorry?! How stupid of you!"

Kris lowered her head in embarrassment at Teacher Riza’s words. That was below the belt. Even if Kris did not answer, she should not have humiliated her in front of the class, in front of us.

"That’s just a piece of cake! Idiot! You’re not listening, so you know nothing! You’re ugly and on top of that, stupid!"

I was about to stand up to stop Teacher Riza, but I was frozen in my seat when Kris suddenly slapped the teacher.

"How dare you!" Teacher Riza shouted in shock.

"Go on! Come closer!"

My eyes widened and I swallowed hard when I saw what Kris pulled out of her pocket, a knife.

"I am utterly exhausted! You always single me out! You always humiliate me! I have no dignity left for myself!"

Tears streamed down Kris’s face as she stared at Teacher Riza, who was trembling and backing away while Kris advanced toward her.

"D-Don’t do that. That’s not a funny joke," Teacher Riza warned nervously, but Kris seemed deaf to her words, now wearing a twisted smile.

"Yes, I’m stupid! And you- are you intelligent? Go on then! Answer my simple question..." The grin on her lips widened. "Guess when you’re going to die."

At that cue, Kris drove the knife she was holding into Teacher Riza’s chest.

I nearly shut my eyes at what I had just witnessed.

She collapsed to the floor with the knife still embedded in her chest. Thick blood spread across the floor.

Kris’s eyes widened as if she had come to her senses. She stared at her bloodstained hands before looking at our lifeless teacher.

"N-No," she muttered incoherently, before sinking to the floor and wrapping her arms around herself.

She broke down in sobs, shouting as though she had completely lost her sanity.

No one attempted to approach them, nor did anyone even stand up. It was as if we had all been rendered speechless. The shock was still evident in our eyes.

This bloody week is worse than I expected, for it is we ourselves who are killing one another.

I looked at my friends. Could it be possible that we would be next as well? I firmly shook my head.

Yes, it is they themselves who will turn against one another—grudge against grudge—but my friends and I are an exception. We bear no resentment toward each other. We would never do what the others have done.

We will not kill one another, and if it ever comes to that, I would rather be the one to stab myself. I could not bear to see one of us holding a knife, pointing it at another.

I would rather die than witness that.