Zein's Point of View
I have no idea how I managed to sleep last night with the memory of the Supremo's smile burned into my mind. I mean, it's a once-in-a-blue-moon event, but seeing it—really seeing it—had a strange effect on me.
I shook my head vigorously to clear the thought just as the bell rang, signaling the start of the lunch break.
"Where are you going? Aren't you coming with us?" Mia asked, frantically stuffing her notebooks into her bag.
"No, sorry. The Supremo and I have things to do."
"What kind of things?" Matt asked abruptly, his voice sharp. He emphasized the word 'you' as if it were a weapon.
"Secretary things, Matt! Honestly, where is your mind even going?" I shook my head. I'm not slow, and I'm certainly not innocent, but I'm not that open-minded.
"Oh, come on, Zein..." Vanessa narrowed her eyes at me with a mischievous grin. "Do you actually want something from the Supremo?"
I winced, rolling my eyes. "You're delusional, Van. We aren't friends, let alone lovers. He's a monster on his best days, and a complete nightmare on his worst. Last night was a fluke—he must have been possessed by a nice ghost. Overall? I still hate him."
Matt suddenly stood up and walked out, ruffling his hair in that frustrated way he does when he's annoyed or angry. Dave and Jerome shared a look and burst out laughing.
"The Boss just walked out! Do you know why?" Dave teased.
"Maybe he's hungry?" I guessed, honestly confused. I didn't see any other reason for him to be that grumpy. "Whatever, I have to go before I get lectured again."
"Be careful! Someone might fall in love with you!" Jerome shouted as I ran out.
Crazy guys.
I was halfway to the office when I ran into Roxane and the poser, "Raze." Roxane raised an eyebrow at me, pointedly wrapping her arm around Raze's and pressing herself against him. Bitch. Is she really that proud of her fake boyfriend? The King of HU? If only she knew.
"Hi, Ms. Shion," she purred.
I glanced at the fake Raze, who immediately looked away. Guilty. I used to think he was scary, but now? He just looks terrified that I'll spill his secret.
"You know who I'm with, don't you?" Roxane laughed, looking at the man who was now glaring at me to keep up appearances. "You've already tasted his ferocity, haven't you?"
"Yeah," I replied with a tight smile. "It tasted like hell. I was so scared."
Roxane laughed, satisfied. "Next time, don't bump into me if you want to stay in this world. Let's go, babe."
I watched them walk away and couldn't help but chuckle. Poor Roxane. A powerless Queen holding onto a lie.
When I reached the SSG Office, my desk was buried under a mountain of paperwork.
"What is all this?" I asked Onel, who was equally busy.
"Move them to the stock room," a voice commanded. It was the Supremo, not even looking up from his work. He looked exhausted.
"Where is he going?" I whispered to Onel, gesturing to the door.
"Checking for rule-breakers," Onel laughed.
I was dreading the heavy lifting until Fritzy burst in, looking just as annoyed as I was. "Wait for me!" she snapped, grabbing a stack of her own. "I'm not even his secretary anymore, but he still orders me around! Hmp!"
We walked together, Fritzy whispering complaints the entire way. "Is it always like this? Does he always make you carry stuff? Does he yell at you?"
"Pretty much," I said. "But he has his moments. Sometimes." I thought about his smile again.
When we finally reached the stock room, we dropped the papers and ran. The dust in there was decades old; my nose was already beginning to itch.
"Tiring!" Fritzy stretched her arms. "Let's get juice. My treat. Cafeteria."
The cafeteria was packed for lunch. I didn't see my friends—they usually preferred Matt's cooking anyway. I winced when Fritzy cut to the very front of the line.
"What?! Gorgeous first!" she screamed at the complaining students. They actually backed off. I stayed at the very back, trying to disappear.
"Hey! Get up here!" she yelled at me.
"I'm in line, Fritzy. Isn't it obvious?"
"There's a policy here! Gorgeous first! That means you're right behind me!"
I gave up and moved behind her. I didn't want a scene. Where did she get a "Gorgeous First" policy? She's a genius at inventing nonsense.
By the time I finished helping Fritzy, it was late afternoon. I returned to the SSG Office just as the Supremo arrived. He looked like he'd been through a war. His hair was a mess, and his glasses were lopsided. I bit my lip to keep from laughing.
"Done?" he asked. I nodded. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing, President."
He grunted, rummaging through his desk. I turned to leave, but he stopped me. "Wait." He handed me a plain, rectangular wooden box.
"What's this?"
"Just take it."
I tucked it into my backpack and headed home, my mind shifting back to the fact that Bloody Week started tomorrow.
When I entered the dorm, I froze. The dining table was covered in knives. Sharp, gleaming, terrifying knives. Matt, Dave, and Jerome were inspecting them.
"What is that for?!" I gasped.
"We need to be prepared," Jerome said grimly.
"I won't do it! I won't touch them!" Vanessa cried from across the room.
"It's for emergencies only, Zein," Dave explained. "Starting tomorrow, Death is going to be our constant companion. If you want to survive, take one."
Mia reached out and took one, her hand trembling. "I'll only use it if I absolutely have to."
Jerome took two—one for him, and one for Vanessa. Then they all looked at Matt and me.
"I don't want to," I said firmly.
Matt looked at me, his eyes full of worry. "I'll take two. Just in case you change your mind."
"I won't. I'm not using those. No matter what."
We fell into a heavy, miserable silence. Later, as I lay in bed next to Vanessa, she whispered into the dark. "Do you think we can survive this?"
I sat up and forced her to look at me. "No one is going to die, Van. We're going to protect each other. I promise."
"I hope so, Zein..."
I stayed awake long after the girls fell asleep. I looked at my backpack and remembered the box from the Supremo. Curiosity finally got the better of me. I sat on the floor and slowly pulled it out.
What was it? A gift? A weapon?
I carefully unlatched the lid. My breath hitched. My eyes went wide, and I dropped the box on the floor, the sound echoing like a gunshot in the quiet room. I covered my mouth to keep from screaming, my heart hammering against my ribs.
Shit. Inside the box, nestled against the velvet lining, was a matte black knife and a single magazine.
There was a small note tucked underneath:
"Don't be slow. Use it." — Ace