Hell University-Chapter 55 - 54: Awaken

Zein’s Point of View

I can’t breathe...

I closed my eyes as everything faded into darkness. I’m scared... so scared. I hate the dark. I don’t want to be trapped in the dark.

I felt tears fall from my eyes again as memories came rushing back.

I thought I was right. I thought it was right to stay away from you. I thought I made the right decision.

I was right, staying away from you was the right thing to do. The damage was huge, but why is it like this? The mistake was so small, yet it outweighed everything else.

I gasped in the darkness as I felt my chest tighten.

So many chances were wasted. Moments when I should have been with you. Moments I should have devoted to you. Moments that can never be taken back.

I should have trusted you.

I hope... it’s not too late, because if I’m given a second chance, I’ll make sure I won’t make the same mistake again.

I felt someone hold my hand. Even with my eyes closed, my heart seemed to know who it was, it was beating wildly.

"Darling... I’m here. Open your eyes."

I don’t know how, but it felt like all my strength came back the moment he held my hand and I heard his voice.

My heartbeat was deafening, as if it wanted to break free from my chest.

I could finally breathe easily, most likely, the incubator was already open.

I tried to open my eyes. My vision was shaking and terribly blurry. Blurry, yet I could see a figure I longed to hold.

Little by little, everything grew brighter. I smiled when I realized he was the first person I saw.

"I’m sorry... Darling, forgive me."

Even though I was weak, I lifted my arm to touch his face. I thought I’d never be able to face him this close again.

"S-Supremo..."

He helped me stand. I clung to him when I felt my knees tremble. I was still weak from the amount of blood I had lost.

"Can you walk?"

I couldn’t speak when I finally took in what was happening around us. I frowned as I looked at Supremo, who was smiling at me.

"W-What the hell is happening?"

Surrounding the two of us were people wearing red and black masks, as if they were guarding us.

I stepped a little away from him and somehow managed to stand on my own.

"You came back to me," he said with a smile. "You said that," he added.

I frowned before realizing what he was referring to. "Yes. I’m back, and I will never turn back again." I stepped closer to him.

"Promise me... you’ll never leave me again. I don’t want to be alone again."

I held his hand and looked into his eyes. I smiled when I noticed he wasn’t wearing his glasses. His eyesight isn’t really bad anyway.

"I can’t promise, but I will stay no matter what. I will never make the same mistake again. Never. Ever."

His grip on my hand tightened when an explosion went off. I frowned, but the smile never left his lips.

"W-What’s that?"

"They will pay for what they did to you. They hurt you. I will kill them. Darling... I am willing to kill anyone who dares to hurt you."

Even though I was confused by everything that was happening, I couldn’t help but smile.

Damn!

I miss him so damn much that I want to kiss him right here, right now.

How did I ever bring myself to hurt a man like this? How did I manage to leave him? He deserves to be happy.

His grip tightened even more as a series of gunshots rang out.

"W-What-"

"Shut up and hold my hand..."

He took my hand again when he realized I wasn’t about to grab onto him.

"Darling, hold my hand."

We started running, his hand tightly holding mine. As we exited the Hidden Laboratory, armed men confronted us.

"S-Supremo..."

"Sshh. Close your eyes."

Though confused, I shut my eyes. I nearly jumped out of my skin at the sounds of gunfire, things crashing to the floor, and then... silence.

I opened my eyes. I could see just how fast Supremo moved, as if in an instant, he had taken down the two remaining armed men with just a knife.

I shivered, not because he was so skilled in combat, but because he was smiling while doing it.

Damn! He really is a demon!

He glanced at me as I caught him staring at me.

My eyes widened when I noticed a man sneaking up behind Supremo, aiming a gun at him. Supremo hadn’t noticed because he had his back turned.

Shit!

My heartbeat slowed when I saw him pull the trigger, but my jaw dropped when I saw how fast Supremo dodged the bullet, which shattered the window as it hit.

In an instant, the man was drenched in blood, two nails embedded in his head.

"Are we late?"

My attention was immediately drawn to three people standing at the doorway.

Nazzer, Nicky, and Matt. The Black Blood Gangs.

"Zein..."

I smiled when Matt suddenly pulled me into a hug.

"Matt..."

"3..." Supremo suddenly yanked me away from Matt, who pouted. "Three seconds is enough," he said bitterly.

"Can I have an additional two sec-"

"No. You take care of this."

Supremo dragged me away. I winced when I felt a sharp pain shoot through my arm.

"What’s wr- shit! You’re bleeding!"

That was when I noticed my left arm was bleeding, the same spot where they took my blood. Supremo made me sit down and tore a strip of fabric from his clothes.

"Does it hurt?" he asked as he tied my arm to stop the bleeding. "I’m sorry," he said sadly.

I stayed silent.

"W-What happened?" I asked.

I was still confused about everything. I couldn’t understand what was going on. The last thing I knew, I was inside the incubator, on the brink of death. Shit, my head hurt from thinking too much.

I felt Supremo wrap his arms around me. "They will never hurt you again. They won’t be able to take you from me. I’ll die first before they take you, but... dying was never part of my plan," he whispered.

Matthew’s Point of View

I love her... I always have.

I regret not confessing it to her sooner. I became too complacent, thinking she’d never fall for someone else.

"Nice," Nazzer praised when I managed to take down two enemies with just one nail.

I joined them to protect her. I don’t regret what I did, and I won’t regret whatever happens.

I already look like her superhero anyway. I’m always saving her life, and she’s the one who keeps getting pulled into trouble. I just laughed as I remembered all the times she nearly got herself killed.

She doesn’t know how to be afraid. Just like back when we were still new here, the times our lives were in danger because I accompanied her to the restroom, and we ended up caught in a bloody night.

I was just outside when I noticed people lurking around us. I have to protect her, that’s my life’s motto, so I fought the Black Blood Gang, and not long after, I joined them.

Well, that’s just how Zein is. She’s reckless with her decisions. She doesn’t think things through, but that’s one of the traits I admire most about her.

She will protect you even if it costs her life. She cares about you more than herself. She might be that badass girl, but she can also be your sweetest friend.

She didn’t leave me during the times when the Black Blood Gang caught up with us and I couldn’t even walk. She knew that if she didn’t leave me behind, something bad would happen, but she stayed by my side. She didn’t abandon me.

I winced when I felt a bullet graze my arm. I quickly hurled my remaining nail at the enemy, knocking him down instantly.

I felt blood dripping from my arm, but I didn’t have time to dwell on it.

I grabbed the gun from one of the men we had taken down and used it instead.

"Where the hell is that bitch?!" I heard Nicky shout.

He was talking about Madame Violet. Yeah, where the hell is that demon? The hidden laboratory was almost completely destroyed by the explosives I threw earlier, yet they were nowhere to be found.

Shit!

"Where the hell are you going?!"

I ignored Nazzer and went back. If they weren’t here... there was a chance they’d go after Zein again, especially since she was their main target.

I stopped running when armed men suddenly surrounded me. I cursed under my breath as they blocked my path.

"Back off, kid."

I looked at the man in the lab gown. My eyes narrowed as I thought about how he was one of those who tortured my friend.

He deserves to die.

I straightened up and brushed myself off. Why was I even rushing? Why was I worried about Zein when she was already with Supremo?

Supremo...

I suddenly remembered his eyes earlier when we stormed the Hidden Laboratory. There was no emotion in them at all.

He really is a demon... especially when Zein is the reason.

He raided the Hidden Laboratory alone. It was astonishing how he managed to bring everyone down by himself. We only followed after hearing the explosion, which was most likely his doing.

I smiled to myself and finally breathed in relief. He won’t abandon Zein. He won’t let evil people take her.

It won’t be long now... they’ll arrive soon... and this bloody battle will finally come to an end.

* * *

Vanessa’s Point of View

I gritted my teeth while Jerome just laughed beside me.

"What the hell are we waiting for?!" I asked in frustration. "What if something bad has happened to them!" I shouted.

We were here in the forested area of Hell University, together with Mia, Dave, and the other surviving HU students.

We were all free. The Black Blood Gangs and Devil God Warriors had helped us. It was strange that the two groups actually worked together, and here we were... yet I had no idea what we were waiting for.

"Easy, Vanko. They’re coming," Jerome said.

"Who the hell?!" I muttered angrily at him, but he just smiled. "Who are we waiting for?!" I asked again.

I sat back down in irritation. I was already worried that something bad might have happened to Zein and Matt.

Damn it! If something bad really happens to them, I might actually beat the crap out of the guy laughing at me.

"W-Why don’t we just escape now?"

I frowned at the question coming from a woman. The fear in her eyes was obvious.

"Escape?" I asked.

My temper flared. What the hell was she talking about?

"Yes! While we still have the chance! We’re not their target anyway, right? They’re after Secretary Shion! Why should we even save her? We’ll just end up in dang-"

She stopped mid-sentence when Mia’s palm landed hard on her cheek. Dave immediately stepped in to calm her down.

My own hand was trembling too, but I held myself back, because if I didn’t, she wouldn’t just get five slaps from me.

"D-Don’t you ever think about what Zein did? She saved us! If it weren’t for her, you might already be dead by now, and this is what you have to say?"

The woman fell silent. Mia stomped in anger and turned her back on her, leaving her unable to say another word.

"Cowards... all of you are cowards!"

Angel was the one standing in front now, pointing everyone before her, as if accusing them. "You’re nothing compared to Zein! Even though she’s just a newcomer, she’s already proven herself. And you?! Cowards! You’ve been in this hell for so long, yet not a single one of you had the courage to fight! You were scared, so you chose to stay silent! Aren’t you tired of that?! Don’t you pity yourselves?!"

Everyone fell silent. I could only smile.

Zein Shion... you’re just one woman, yet your influence on everyone is enormous.

Well, that’s Zein Shion for you, our friend.

A man from the crowd stood up, now wearing a grin.

"I’ll fight... I’m tired of being a slave," he said.

"Me too. If I’m going to die... I’ll make sure I die fighting."

"I don’t want this anymore either... I’m tired of being afraid!"

We watched as all the students now stood up. You could clearly see the determination to fight in their eyes.

Damn. This is going to get bloodier.

I just laughed...

At last, they’ve awakened. These students are terrifying. Their smiles send chills down my spine.

After such a long time of being trapped in this place and treated like animals... finally, they are awakened.

One thing is certain amid all this chaos, Hell University will completely disappear.

Blood will cover this entire place.

It will be a long night, the bloodiest night. Killing is legal here. I can kill for as long as I’m able.