Zein's Point of View
We met up with our friends again in the dormitory. Everyone was clearly exhausted. "Did you gather anything?" Jerome asked, taking a drink of water.
"Nothing. We were too scared..." Mia admitted.
"What happened?" I asked.
"Miss Leonora, that librarian. She absolutely terrified us," Vanessa added.
Matt asked for details, and we quickly crowded around them because their fear was so obvious. "She told us that any information we obtained would come at the price of our permanent imprisonment in Hell University," Mia replied. "We just couldn't take that risk."
My throat went dry. I was already in that position; I had found out the secret they were keeping. Dave mentioned that the students they approached had said the exact same thing. When they asked if I had found anything, I felt my face heat up. I didn't want to worry them, so I quickly shook my head. "Nothing on my end either," I lied. It was better if they didn't know. Suddenly, Nicky's warning flashed through my mind. Was I really their target now?
"We did find out one thing," Mia said, catching everyone's attention. "The librarian told us there's only one way out of this hell." Everyone turned serious, except for me. I felt like no matter what I did, they wouldn't let me leave. "We need to break into the school rankings! Specifically, the Top 10 of Hell University, which is currently led by Raze Silvenia."
Vanessa showed us a paper containing the list of the "Highest 10." Second on the list was Ace Craige, the Student Council President. Third was Nazzer Lumia, the leader of the Black Blood Gang. And right at the bottom was Nicky Colt's name. Vanessa suggested our only goal should be reaching that Top 10, and everyone agreed. I kept my mouth shut, a heavy weight settling in my chest. Even if I joined them, I knew I might never get out. I decided to handle what I knew alone; I didn't want them to suffer with me.
Days passed as everyone prepared for the acquaintance party, which had a masquerade theme. I wondered why we had to wear masks. Was it so we couldn't recognize each other, or was that exactly what they wanted? We gathered in the gymnasium for a general meeting. The silence deepened when Madame Violet entered, dressed in her usual black mourning clothes.
"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen," she began. My eyes immediately caught sight of President Ace talking to a student whose knees were visibly shaking.
"Damn, that's his third warning," someone whispered near us. "That's the last one. He's going to be taken to Dark Hell Jail." My brow furrowed. What kind of fate awaited someone in a place like that?
"Your acquaintance party is this Friday," Madame Violet continued. "It is a masquerade, and all of you are required to wear a mask. You are strictly forbidden from removing it. We will deliver the outfits to your dorms. That Friday will also be known as 'Free Bloody Night,' where killing is strictly prohibited. Anyone who violates this rule will be punished with... of course... death."
She then called President Ace Craige to the stage. He bowed to her before taking the microphone. "I won't be attending on Friday," he said, glancing over the crowd. "But don't forget... I am watching all of you." His gaze stopped directly on me, and he repeated the words with a terrifying grin.
Later, I was walking alone because my friends were in the library studying. I stopped at the bulletin board where a crowd had gathered. A new poster read: Wanted: New Secretary for the Supreme Student Council. The only requirement was: Must be brave enough to conquer death. I almost laughed. Did they really think anyone would want that job? Yet, half the female students were already running toward the gym to apply.
"Move! I'm counting to one..." The crowd split to reveal a woman with blonde hair. She was beautiful, but she had an incredibly dangerous vibe.
"Fritzy," someone whispered. She wasn't in uniform and looked like she didn't care for rules. She stopped in front of me, her eyebrows raised. "Aren't you going to get out of my way?"
"Should I?" I asked defiantly.
She flicked her hair, looking annoyed. "You must be one of the newcomers. I am the secretary here, Miss I-Don't-Care-Who-You-Are."
I felt a surge of annoyance. "Well, can't you read? Or do you want me to read this for you?" I pointed to the bulletin board. "You aren't the secretary anymore."
"That's just a piece of paper. I hasn't given up my position yet," she snapped. I grinned, took the poster, and crumpled it right in front of her. She lunged and pulled my hair, and I pulled hers right back. We were struggling with each other while students surrounded us, nobody daring to interfere.
Suddenly, a strong force pushed me away from Fritzy. I hit the edge of something sharp, and I felt blood flowing from my forehead. "You have no right to hurt the Supreme Student Secretary!" a man shouted. It was Onel Ty, the Vice President. He stood over me while Fritzy grinned. I tried to stand, but I was dizzy.
"Punch her, Mr. Onel Ty, and you—along with the former secretary—will receive warning number three from me." Everyone froze. President Ace stood behind them, his gaze cold.
"M-Mr. President..." Onel stammered.
"Clear this place by the count of three," Ace commanded. By the count of "two," everyone had fled except the four of us. Fritzy gave me one last sharp look before leaving. Ace stared at me with dark eyes.
"Are you going to kill me now?" I asked.
"Not now, Miss Shion. You need to heal before your punishment." He picked me up, and I couldn't help but feel a strange sense of comfort. "You need to get better. You are qualified to be my secretary, silly."
Vanessa's Point of View
We heard about what happened to Zein, and the news was already everywhere. Mia was nearly fainting with worry. We waited in the clinic while Zein was still snoring, acting as if nothing had happened. Matt sat quietly, just watching her.
Rumors were flying that the President had hit Zein before taking her to the clinic. When she finally woke up, she was starving. Dave arrived with food, sweating from running to get it. We watched in disbelief as Zein ate like she hadn't seen food in a month.
"How are you?" Matt asked, caressing her arm.
"I'm fine," she smiled.
"God, Zein! What kind of trouble did you get into this time?" I asked. She's always the one in danger.
"It wasn't me! It was that jerk of a Vice President who did it!" Zein snapped.
"We thought President Ace did this," I said, confused.
"Of course not! He helped me. It was that bitchy Fritzy and that idiot Onel." I winced. The stories on this campus are so unreliable; by the time they reach you, the facts have been completely twisted.
The next day, we were in class when Vice President Onel entered. Zein started to stand up, but I stopped her. He walked straight toward her, causing Matt and Jerome to stand up defensively.
"What?! You want to fight again?!" Zein shouted.
To our absolute shock, he dropped to his knees in front of her. "I'm sorry for what I did. Please, forgive me. I was just acting on impulse." The whole classroom started whispering. Onel wasn't just apologizing; he was begging. "Miss Shion, please, forgive me. I don't want to die yet."
Zein looked at him seriously for a moment. "Fine then," she said coldly. "Get lost."
He fled the room instantly. Our classmates were stunned. "Who is she?" they whispered. "Why did the Vice President kneel to her?"