Chapter 24: Control
Zein's Point of View....
Out of all we've been through, all of us friends, this is the strangest, and the most life-threatening of all. We are used to our lives always being on the line, we love playing with death. We love dangerous adventure, we are the badass group you will see walking on the street with a smirk on our faces.
Hell University. This is where we are right now. We are stuck in this place. We don't even know how to get out (if there is). We almost lost hope, almost. I was losing hope that we could get out of this place but whenever I see my friends, I gain strength, I become hopeful. My friends are my source of strength and definitely, my weakness. I promised to myself, I will fight as long as they are on my side. I will protect them, as long as I can.
"Hey! You're spacing out again..."
I took the juice Mia offered me as she sat next to me. We are at the wide space. This wide open-space that serves as everyone's hang out spot.
The sun is blazing but all the benches have shade because of the tall trees around.
"Where are they?" I asked.
She pursed her lips towards the four who were arriving, laughing. Vanessa and Dave waved at me while Jerome and Matt only gave me a smile. Since the bloody week started earlier, we haven't left each other but I know we also have tasks we can't do together. For example, my duty to the school.
"I need to go..." I said goodbye.
"I thought we weren't leaving each other?" Mia asked with a pout.
"We aren't. Who said I'd leave you. We'll see each other later, I just need to do something. You know? Secretary." I tried to be funny to divert the topic.
I just nodded before walking away. Leaving them even for just a couple of hours is really hard for me. I may be strong for them, but I am weak inside. I am also sometimes scared to leave them and never see one of them again.
I vigorously shook my head. What am I thinking.
When I arrived at the SSG Office, only Supremo was there and he immediately gave me a bad stare.
What's his problem?
"Always late. Get those papers and follow me."
Bossy. I grabbed the papers he pointed to including the log book where all the names of the students were written along with their sins. Seriously, Ace? Manually?
We just walked slowly but everyone we passed immediately moved aside. We won't eat you, people.
"Where are we going?"
"Somewhere."
Nice. Very well answered, Supremo. You enlightened me, you answered my question direct to the point. Somewhere? Somewhere where everywhere? The heck?!
I froze when I saw a dead body of a man being dragged by the guard. Foam was coming out of his mouth. Looks like someone poisoned him. Supremo and I approached the guard so he stopped.
"Find it, Miss Shion and mark it with x."
"Alex Mendoza, supremo." The guard suddenly said.
I froze. I knew what he meant but I didn't move. I just looked at the trembling man again with foam coming from his mouth.
"Do it." Supremo seemed irritated.
"He is still alive for pete's sake!"
This man can still be saved from death. He is still alive but if we just stand here, he might die completely. I looked at Supremo who was just poker face looking at me. He raised an eyebrow waiting for me to just do what he commanded.
"We are wasting so damn much time here, Miss Shion." He said impatiently.
Even if I didn't want to, I immediately looked for the name of the dying man on the list. Trembling, I put an x on his full name. Supremo nodded at the guard so he continued dragging the now lifeless man.
I still can't believe it. A person's life is so important, it cannot be bought with money or replaced. But inside this hell, a person's life is worthless. That man had a big chance to survive, but- Nothing.
"If you were me, what would you do?" Supremo asked me as if curious about whatever I was thinking.
"I would help him! He is still alive!"
Supremo shook his head as if my suggestion was wrong. "Who do you think poisoned him? What do you think the purpose of that person?" Supremo asked.
That hits me! I know his point. I understand what he means.
"What if we help him. Yes, he survived. What do you think will happen then? The incident will just repeat itself. It's human nature to be unsatisfied, do you think whoever wanted to kill him will let him escape? Definitely no, then, Miss Shion. Why would I waste my time on saving someone that should have died in the first place? You can't save everybody, even if you are supernatural. Everything has a limit, and this is all we can do."
My mouth became shut. It cannot be denied that he had a big point. He thinks logically. He is one hell of a kind leader. Every second is important to him. He has a broad mind, I can't keep up.
I didn't notice I had stopped walking. I looked for Supremo who was already talking to Sir Alvarez.
"You are ten minutes late for your next subject, Mister Alvarez." I heard Supremo say lifelessly.
Sir Alvarez didn't flinch, looking at me. "I just did something, Supremo." He answered still looking at me.
I knew what his look meant so I just looked down shyly. I haven't helped him yet and I know he's just waiting for me. Supremo is too quiet, even Teacher Kath, I can't find or see anything strange they go to.
"Unprofessional." I heard Supremo say so I looked at them.
Sir Alvarez clenched his fist before walking past us. Supremo's words are so hurtful, below the belt. Words are much more powerful than anything, it can ruin something in just a snap.
"What is your connection with him?"
I looked at Supremo and blinked briefly. Me? I asked questioningly. Was he talking to me? Who? Sir Alvarez?
"Teacher?"
We just continued walking. Supremo signaled me to stop so I stopped. He continued walking. I squinted my eyes to see who he was talking to.
A girl who was a bit taller than me. White-skinned, smooth, and gentle face. I just rolled my eyes in the air.
Seriously? What important thing are they going to talk about that he doesn't want me to hear? Really, Supremo? You are a flirt too.
My eyes squinted more when I saw that girl pointing at me. What?! Do you want your finger cut off?
Gosh.
"You can leave," I almost gaped when Supremo suddenly took the logbook and other papers from me. I briefly glanced at the girl who was still standing far from us, waiting for Supremo.
"But, I am not yet done with my duty!" I almost rolled my eyes.
The fuck! I should be glad! My work for him is over now and I can be with my friends again, but the fact that he's with that girl is something I cannot accept.
"Angelica and I will just finish this," He said irritably when I didn't want to let go of one paper that was almost crumpled.
Really, Angelica? He called her by her first name! While me? He only called me by my name once! Miss Shion! What is really happening to me?!
"Then there! Stick it in your lungs!..... flirt." I only whispered the last word but I know he heard me.
What do I care if he heard it? It's true anyway. Damn flirt, Supremo! Acting like a nerd! He's just secretly wild inside!
"Go to your Matthew now..."
"Talaga!"
I just rolled my eyes before flicking my hair. I just turned my back but looked back again to glare at Supremo who was frowning.
I paused walking when I remembered my friends have class now. I have no choice but to wait for the time to finish and be with them again.
I just went to the cafeteria to eat. I was in the middle of eating when I saw who was coming. He is in his usual poker face while the angelic girl is smiling. The Devil and the Angel. They really suit each other.
I quickly turned my back and left that place. I still can't accept what Supremo did to me for that girl. Don't get me wrong, I am his secretary!
I hadn't fully exited the cafeteria when someone pulled my arm and pointed a knife at my neck. I almost went cold and I felt my heart pound heavily in my chest.
The people who are now surrounding us screamed. This guy is crazy!
"Don't come near! This girl will die!" He shouted and pressed the knife harder on my neck. "Get me out of this hell!"
I couldn't move and I could feel the coldness of the blade pointing at my neck. One wrong move and I knew I would die.
I looked for the person I wanted to see in the crowd but he wasn't there. Only he can help me. I need him, but he's not here. He's probably still with that girl.
I was holding my breath but I was relieved when I saw him, but he just passed me by. I don't know what I should feel. The person I expected to help me ignored me.
I smiled bitterly. The lives of anyone, including mine, really mean nothing to them. I don't know why, but the anger that had been sleeping for a long time seemed to be slowly building up inside me again.
Oh right. Why would he help me? We are not even friends. I am just his secretary. I am like the others, I'm nothing to him.
"Let me go,"
I could hardly recognize my voice. I don't know where that very cold voice was coming from. I thought he was different but he was just like the others, a Monster.
I shouldn't have let myself get close to him. I treated Supremo as a friend even though he didn't treat me that way. That was my biggest mistake! I won't have any friends inside this place except my friends who were already there before we ended up here.
"Shut up!"
I felt the knife embed in my neck but instead of getting scared, I smirked. The old Zein Shion, the girl who is not afraid of death, is back.
I promise to myself now. No one will get close to me inside this campus. No one will get close to me.
I elbowed the man holding me in the stomach along with turning around and kicking his stomach. I am furious with anger. I can't control myself again.
He almost curled up in pain but I wasn't contented yet. I took the knife he was holding and sat beside him. I pointed the knife at his neck. I could feel the fear in him, his eyes looking at me. I could almost hear it when I embedded the knife in his neck. Blood flowed from it and I can't help but to smirk.
I could feel the eagerness to kill him now.
"Shit!"
I just felt someone pull me away from the man who was still breathing. I gave Jerome a death glare. They were here after all, I didn't notice.
"What's happening to you, Zein?" Vanessa asked.
I saw in my peripheral vision that Matt was looking at my neck where there was also blood from the man who was running away in fear.
"You almost killed him!" Min almost shouted.
"Almost, he is still alive."
I turned my back to walk away when Matt suddenly pulled me close to him. He is in his not usual serious expression.
"You are bleeding, can't you feel it?" He asked.
I touched the back of my neck. I felt a little sting from where that man pressed the blade on my neck.
"I can feel it, but it is just blood. I won't die." I almost laughed at my answer but his forehead remained furrowed.
He pulled me so I didn't struggle anymore. My other friends followed me. Yes, they should be the only ones I treat as friends. They are the ones who care for me after all. Only them.
We went to the clinic. Nurse Cha greeted us with a smile but we ignored her.
"What happened to her?" She asked.
"Stop asking as if you care. Give me your first aid kit."
Nurse Cha closed her mouth and didn't speak anymore. She silently gave the first aid kit to Matt.
I glanced at Vanessa who was just crying while Mia was looking at Nurse Cha who was watching what Matt was doing. Because of Matt's gentle treatment of my wound on my neck, I didn't notice that he was already done.
"T-Thank you." I said shyly.
"You may rest her-"
"Will you please, leave us alone, Nurse Cha?" Mia interrupted Nurse Cha who had no choice but to leave.
I almost curled up just to avoid their eyes that were glaring at me. It was like I was in a trial and had committed a heinous crime. Didn't I?
"What was that for?" Dave asked, still almost in disbelief.
I also don't know how I did what I did earlier. I just woke up to reality. I just got angry at the man who would still use me to get out of this hell. Jerk. He deserves more than that!
"When I saw you earlier. Your eyes were scary, Zein. I almost couldn't move right away to pull you from the man you almost killed." Jerome said with a furrowed brow.
I don't know if he was just over-reacting. Is it true? Is that why the man was also so scared earlier while looking into my eyes?
"You lost your temper. You were furious unconsciously." Mia said.
What is it? I think I already know where what they are saying is going. I strongly shook my head.
"You are being a monster when you are angry. You lost your control."
"No Matt, you are wrong!"
Shit!
"I'm scared for you, Zein. I'm afraid you might do something worse next time."
I really couldn't take everything they were saying anymore so I left. They were about to follow me but Matt stopped them.
I leaned my back against the wall behind the clinic.
Is what Nicky is saying true? Am I being a monster? Or worse a demon? Am I no different from them?
"Looks like the little devil is now showing up..."
I gave Nicky a death glare. She was holding a nail on her right hand. It was not actually just a simple nail, it was well-designed to kill anyone in just a snap. The Black Blood Gang symbol.
"But it will never be enough. You have to let the devil out completely, now."
"Not so fast," Her forehead furrowed so I couldn't help but smirk. "If I were you, I wouldn't want to see the demon you're talking about." I moved a little closer to her.
"If I were you, learn to control that devil, it could eat you, Zein Shion."
"Yes, I know. It is too dangerous that even I, myself can't control it." I added. "Don't worry. You will see the demon you are waiting for." I walked away.
If being a monster or worse a demon is the only way for me to protect my friends, even if I have to hold a knife and to take lives.
I will!