Zein's Point of View
My legs were getting itchy. I was only wearing shorts, so the grass kept brushing against my skin. Even my rubber shoes were getting coated in dust.
"Are you sure this is the right way?" I stopped walking and looked back. "Just tell me if we're already lost, okay? So I won't be surprised!"
Jerome and Matt stopped chatting and turned to me at the same time. Unlike me, they still looked like they were enjoying it.
"…the two of us in line—this walk seems endless."
"And since when did you become someone who complains on trips?" Vanessa snapped at me. "You're the one who usually loves long walks!"
I shook my head. "Whenever I plan a trip, I use a GPS map—not some old map that just leads to who-knows-where!" I said, glaring at Mia, who was holding the map.
"Can you stop it, Zein? You've been grumbling for a while now. You're not even helping!" Mia shouted at me.
What? This is only the first time in the several hours we've been walking that I complained!
"Girls… chill," Jerome chuckled.
"Are you tired?" Matt asked me. Unlike our other friends, he really looked concerned. "I think we can rest for a while?"
"Or go back?" I said with a faint smile.
"We've walked so far. Are we still not there?" Vanessa said as the wind blew, then turned to Mia. "Are you sure, Mia? We're close to… where are we going again?"
"Hell University," Jerome answered.
Mia hesitantly nodded.
"Did you just randomly find that picture on the internet and print it out?" I asked again.
"No!" Mia blurted. "I—I found it…"
"Where did you find it, Almia Mendez?" I followed up.
"Oh. She's mad. Full name, huh," Jerome laughed.
"Maybe if we keep walking now, we'll get there," Dave cut in, interrupting Mia and my heated conversation.
I pouted. He was just defending Mia because he has a crush on her!
"I'll carry your bag," Matt offered to me.
Jerome moved closer. "You, Van? Aren't you going to offer to carry my bag—"
"Want a black eye?" Vanessa cut him off.
I froze when Matt came near me. He tried to take my bag, but I didn't give it to him. I felt him touch my shoulder as if he were steadying me.
Then we started walking again in that seemingly endless trek.
"Just be careful. It's getting dark. There might be snakes around," Dave reminded us.
"Thanks for the scare, Dave," Van replied sarcastically.
Matt held my shoulder and moved in front of me since I was left at the back. So he ended up walking behind me, last in line.
"Do you guys find it funny?" Jerome suddenly asked.
"Your face?" Van replied.
"No. I mean, we're itching to get away from school. Now that it's our break, we're the ones looking for a school!" Jerome laughed.
I mentally rolled my eyes.
Don't get me wrong. I love adventures just as much as my friends do. That's probably why we became friends. But when I say adventure, I mean the kind that's guaranteed to be fun.
But… really? Hell University? Does that sound fun? No! Sure, the name of the school sounds cool, but seriously. Who would name their school "hell" when they could just make you experience it while hiding behind an expensive name?
I was so deep in thought that I didn't notice my friends had already stopped walking. I bumped into Van, who didn't react at all. All of them were just staring straight ahead.
My jaw dropped when I saw what they were looking at. An old gate—huge and already rusting.
In the middle of it was a sign that read Hell University, written in what looked like blood. Creepy.
So, I guess the map is legit after all.
"Is this it?" Jerome asked.
"With that big sign, I hope so," Vanessa replied sarcastically.
I swallowed. A school that stood in the middle of nowhere. It looked completely abandoned. But curiosity washed over me… Why did it seem like time had forgotten this place?
"What are you doing here?"
Mia froze and hid behind Dave when a man suddenly appeared, holding a machete. I was startled and stepped back. I ended up leaning against Matt.
"Sir, are you the guard here?" Jerome asked.
"How did you find this place?"
I noticed Dave subtly trying to hide the map Mia was holding.
"Actually…" Vanessa glanced at Mia.
"We're lost." Matt walked to the front. "We came from hiking and were supposed to head down already, but we lost the right path. We accidentally found this abandoned school."
I smiled at what Matt said. He's always calm and composed. Whenever we're caught in a difficult situation, he's the one who speaks for us. He's that cool.
"We've run out of water, sir. Maybe there's water inside?" Jerome asked.
"Do you want to go in?" the man asked us.
Where earlier his gaze at us had been serious, now a smile appeared on his dry lips.
"Of course!" Jerome answered quickly. "Right, guys?" he asked us.
No one responded.
"They said yes, sir!" Jerome replied.
"I can let you continue inside. But…" The man paused for a moment and we looked at one another. "I want you to know that this isn't abandoned."
"You mean… there are students inside?" Vanessa asked in surprise.
The man nodded.
"Well then, let's go!" Vanessa almost jumped in excitement. They even made Jerome go first.
"So it's okay after all, huh." Dave faced me. "What about you, Zein? Earlier you looked so uneasy. Now you seem to be interested in it."
"Don't tell me you're scared?" I raised an eyebrow at Vanessa, who looked hopeful. "Are you being a scaredy-cat, Zein Shion?"
"She's just tired, guys," Matt chuckled.
"It's okay, Zein," Mia said calmly. "We are going to be just fine."
My gaze hardened on the man holding the scythe. He was just staring back at me.
"Come on!" Jerome frowned.
I let out a sigh and nodded.
There was a small path at the side, and the man opened it. He went in first, and my friends followed one by one. As they entered, I glanced once more at the large sign above.
Hell University.
My eyes dropped to the small writing etched on the wall. "Once you enter, there's no turning back."
My lips parted slightly. What?
I walked past the man with the scythe. I shivered when I noticed he was still staring at me.
And then… the six of us were inside.
"You need to register first," the man said.
I held onto Vanessa's arm as we walked. Everyone was excited. It seemed I was the only one feeling uneasy. Maybe I'm just overthinking. Maybe this really is fun.
"This is going to be fun," Vanessa giggled.
Just like the man said, the school wasn't abandoned. We passed by students. Some were walking in groups. Some were sitting at the side, quietly reading books.
It looked like a typical school. It just felt… deathly silent.
"Whoa. I bet that's their uniform," I heard Mia say.
We caught the students' attention. Some immediately avoided our gaze. Some simply stared at us. And others looked at us with sharp, piercing eyes.
The feeling inside me suddenly grew heavier. Yes, the school looked abandoned from the outside, and even after finding life inside, it still felt somehow… lifeless.
"What do you mean register, sir?" Matt asked. "Just for attendance? We don't really plan to study here. As I told you, we're just lost."
"Why not, Matt?" Jerome frowned. "Isn't it cool here? Our parents don't know about this!"
"What do you mean?" Matt asked.
"I mean, when we cut classes our parents can't punish us since they don't know. Technically… we're free!" Jerome laughed.
"Is it bad that I like that idea?" Dave said.
"Not at all!" Jerome threw an arm around Dave. "You and I are on the same side, Dave. You get me right away!"
Matt could only force a smile and glance at me.
I have a feeling Matt actually likes the idea too, but he's just refusing because he knows I'm against it. Am I being a killjoy here? Should I just enjoy it like the rest of them?
"This is exciting," Jerome said while waving at some other girls.
No one was paying attention to him.
We stopped in our tracks when, in the blink of an eye, our surroundings changed. If earlier the silence was so heavy you could hear a pin drop, now the noise was almost deafening. People were shouting and running around. In one area, a group of men were huddled together, seemingly beating each other up.
"What the fuck is going on?" I asked.
"Come on, Matt. Dave. Let's break it up!" Jerome urged.
"No!" I blocked their path. "Don't add to the trouble!"
"It's just a riot," the man replied simply with a smirk.
"Aren't you going to do anything?" Mia asked the man, who seemed completely indifferent.
"All of your questions will be answered eventually."
"Come along," the man said, ignoring our questions.
We had no choice but to follow him. My eyes kept following the chaos in our surroundings. Matt came up beside me and put his arm around my shoulder, so I looked up at him. He gave me only a small, tight smile.
We stopped in front of an office. The man turned to face us. Doesn't his jaw ache? He's been grinning this whole time.
We entered the office and were met by a woman sitting in a swivel chair. At first, she was clearly surprised, but that was quickly replaced by a smile. She motioned for us to sit down, which we did.
The muddy floor became even muddier because of our mud-covered shoes. Don't they know how to clean?
"So... who do we have here?" the woman asked with a smile.
"New enrollees," the man answered simply.
"New enrollees?" The woman seemed to consider this. "Would you mind if I ask how you found our... enchanting place?"
I almost choked. Enchanting?
"We got lost in the woods," Mia answered.
"We want to enroll," Jerome said with a smile. "Jerome Marquez."
"Actually... just so you know, there's a riot outside," I mentioned politely.
"Well, then. I am Madame Violet Rivera. Hell University's headmistress." She took something from a drawer and gave them to us one by one. "So, you may fill out the forms."
My friends wrote happily while I kept my eyes on Madame Violet. She was smiling while looking back at me. Suddenly my throat went dry, so I just went ahead and filled out the forms too.
After filling out the forms, we submitted them to her.
"Welcome to Hell University!" Simultaneously Madame Violet and the man holding a machete burst out laughing.
"Thanks. Uhm. How much is the tuition?" Mia asked.
"I am a scholar po," Matt answered.
"Dammit. Do you even have any money?" Jerome scratched the back of his neck. "Can we just owe you for now, Madame Violet?"
Madame Violet and the man looked at each other. Then they both burst out laughing again.
I grimaced. Why does everything seem so funny to them? They're crazy.
"It's free. Everything is free!" Madame Violet blurted out.
My friends were even more delighted.
"But..." Madame Violet suddenly cut them off.
"We'll have to pay for it eventually?" I added.
Because hell... is anything even free these days?
"You have to know one important thing about Hell University..." Madame Violet smirked.
I furrowed my brow.
"We have a nightly event here called Freedom Night."
"Freedom!" Jerome stood up and his eyes seemed to sparkle. "Fuck, yes!"
"Or also known as Bloody Night," Madame Violet continued.
Jerome froze.
"Every 7:00 PM to 5:00 AM is our Bloody Night. You will have the freedom to do anything you want. Even to kill. If you don't want to participate, lock all your doors, don't step outside. Because if you do... you will surely... die."
The blood seemed to rush to my head after hearing what Madame Violet said.
"What the fuck?" I blurted out. Then I stood up. "Let's get out of here, guys! She's cra—the people here are crazy!"
I was ready to leave when I noticed my friends weren't moving. I found Jerome grinning. Vanessa and Dave were the same. Mia was just quiet.
I looked at them in disbelief.
I turned to Matt. "Matt?"
"This is the adventure, Zein..." Vanessa suddenly said.
"We can just give it a try," Dave added. "If we can't handle it, we can just leave. Just one night, Zein. Please?"
"Right? And besides, as if we could even get home; it's already night. We might just be in more danger outside!" Van rolled her eyes. "Why are you being such a coward now, Zein?"
"I'm not a coward!" I defended.
"Oh really? You look like you're about to pee yourself!" Vanessa teased, and Jerome laughed.
Really? Do they even know how to think? I love adventures, but... for some reason, I have a bad feeling about this one.
"Fine! Whatever!" I flopped back down into the chair.
"Well, then, I guess we are settled?" Madame Violet stood up and turned to the man. "Please assist them to their boarding house."
"Are you sure everything is free?" Jerome double-checked. "No take-backs, okay?"
"Newbies..." Madame Violet called out to us. "You'd better be careful. Not all of your friends consider you a friend in return. From now on, please don't let your guard down."
What the hell does that mean?
We followed the man until he brought us to the boarding house. To be fair, their boarding house was spacious and had two floors. We girls are on the upper floor and the boys are on the lower.
Joy was clearly written on the faces of my friends. They immediately started organizing their things. I thought we were only staying here for one night? But it looks like they're going on vacation here!
"Wow! Our fridge is full of food!" I heard Mia say from the kitchen.
I exhaled sharply.
Matt approached me. "Do you want me to organize your clothes for you?"
"No need." I smiled at him. "We're leaving tomorrow anyway."
Vanessa heard what I said. She groaned.
"Okay. I'll cook for a bit," Matt said as he left.
I was left sitting in the living room. Suddenly a thought occurred to me, so I stood up.
"Guys! I'm going outside for some fresh air. Who's coming with me?" I asked.
No one answered. I frowned and stomped out alone.
I still feel the fatigue from walking for hours. But the cool air somehow lightened my mood. It was getting dark. Just one night here, then we leave tomorrow.
My feet led me to a park. I sat on a rusty swing and pushed against the ground to move. I looked around. In an instant, the students had vanished. I suddenly remembered what Madame Violet said about Bloody Night. Is it true? Is that why the students disappeared? Do I need to hide too?
"You will die..."
I looked toward the voice. A man was standing there, leaning against a tree not far from me. He was wearing a black mask.
"Who are you?" I asked.
I stood up and backed away when I saw what fell from his hand: a knife covered in blood.
"Newbie. May I know your name?" he asked.
"Z-Zein..."
He laughed when he heard my answer. I almost rolled my eyes. What's so funny?
"Your name sounds like an angel. But in the end, you will also end up turning your wings into knives to survive."
I backed away as he stepped toward me. My throat went dry.
"Don't come any closer!"
"Scared. You shouldn't have entered here!"
"Who even are you?" I shouted.
"I am not your friend. No one here is."
I swallowed hard as I began to tremble knees.
"30 minutes left before Bloody Night begins. Run now. Lock all the doors. Their eyes are fixed on you. Take care".
As if on cue, I found myself running back to our dorm. Out of breath, I reached it and slammed the door shut. I found my friends laughing together in the living room.
"Where have you been?" Matt asked as he walked out of the kitchen.
"See? You pretend to be afraid but you were the first one to go on an adventure!" Vanessa snapped at me.
"Are you okay, Zein?" Mia asked.
I swallowed. "W-we made a mistake. This place is not for fun".
Jerome and Vanessa laughed, so I glared at them. Matt tried to hold me, but I pushed him away. He seemed shocked by what I did.
"You know, Zein? You'll die of fear before anything else. Can you just calm down?" Jerome said.
We all jumped when the sound of what seemed like a bell rang. It was so loud it echoed everywhere. I hurried to lock all the doors and windows.
"What's that?" Mia asked.
"It's already Bloody Night," Vanessa replied and even tried to open the door, so I pushed her. "Whoa. Easy, Zein".
"What is wrong with you, are you suicidal?" I shouted at her.
"Fine. It was just a joke," she said and then pouted.
"I just want us to be safe." My voice lowered as I struggled not to cry. "Madame Violet warned us. Do you think she's just joking? What if she's not? What if we get hurt—"
"Stop now..." Matt pulled me and sat me on the sofa. "Let's stay here, then. No one will go out. If Madame Violet is telling the truth, we are safe as long as we are inside "
Jerome handed me some water which I accepted.
"Hey..." Vanessa sat down next to me. "Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. I was just teasing you."
"Are you really scared?" Mia asked me.
"There's really something about this school.." I said, stuttering. "I can't explain it. But I'm sure there's more than this Bloody Shit. We are not safe here, guys."
Suddenly, the joy on Madame Violet's face and the smile on Mama's lips came back to my mind. They were weird. Everything here just feels weird.
"Calm down..." Matt calmed me down. "Okay. We're leaving tomorrow, okay? Don't think about anything anymore."
Somehow, Matt's words made me feel better.
"Sshhh..." We all looked at Dave as he motioned for us to be quiet. He was peeking through the small crack in the window.
We leaned closer to peek in too. My hair stood up when I saw the people in black masks. They were calmly walking outside as if they owned the entire place.
"Who are they?" Matt asked in a whisper.
"What's with the mask?" Dave asked.
We quickly lowered the curtain when one of the black masks looked at us. We all ran to the back and away from the door.
My chest was pounding hard.
"Did they see us?" Dave asked.
We screamed when someone suddenly knocked on the door. At first it was soft but the longer we didn't ask them to open the door, the louder it got. It looked like they were going to destroy it.
"Stop it, Luke!" I heard someone say outside.
"Okay. Okay."
They finally stopped banging on the door. But my pounding chest didn't stop.
"Help me here, Je!" Matt said then they pushed the sofa together to block the door.
"Let's go upstairs!" Dave and I said.
Mia and Vanessa followed us upstairs. We hid in our girls' room and huddled around the corner. Jerome and Matt followed us immediately. They locked the door.
I don't know how the night passed without anyone speaking to us. The only thing I heard was the pounding of my heart... and the fear that we might not make it in the morning.