Chapter 5: Secret
Zein's Point of View
For several hours, the subjects that passed, nothing unusual happened. It felt like an ordinary day, no trouble, the surroundings seemed peaceful.
"Good Morning class..." Our newly arrived Physics teacher, Teacher Kath, greeted us.No one bothered to greet her back. I didn't bother to open my mouth either. It's boring.
"Before anything else, I have a big announcement." Excitement was evident in her eyes.
She quickly got everyone's attention. She was happy, but why did it feel wrong? Was I just being paranoid or was there really something about her news?
"It's been a long time since this event happened. But now, we are happy to announce that there will be an Acquaintance Party!"
A deafening silence enveloped the four corners of this room. Our teacher's wide smile widened even further.
Acquaintance party. This was an announcement where others should have been jumping with excitement. But instead, we were all wrapped in a sense of dread.
Now, could this still be called good news?
"Teacher Kath?" One of our classmates, Celine, stood up, based on our classmates calling her name.
It was only now I noticed that our classmates seemed close to each other, but distant from us. Why?
"Yes?"
"I think we shouldn't have a celebration yet, it hasn't been a month since our late headmaster Dominique Valdez died," she said in a respectful tone.
"Late headmaster?" Jerome whispered his question.
"I am sorry to say this but we can't do anything about it. Madame Violet has finalized it and it will happen this coming Friday at the Wide Space."
"You can do something about it because you have the higher positio-"
"Enough Celine. Okay class, let's start."Celine had no choice but to sit down. The girl beside her tapped her shoulder.
Why did it feel like something was missing? Shit! They're making fools of us! What are they planning?
Absentmindedly, I smiled. It was the first time I felt this way. That feeling that they also need to fear us. You made a mistake, or whoever is behind this, we're not easily messed with. Whatever you are planning.
We will prepare for it.
Break time. HU only has one cafeteria but it is more than triple the size of a normal cafeteria. The only difference from an ordinary cafeteria is that it's like a restaurant, there are waiters who will take your order and you don't even have to stand up to pay because they will collect the payment themselves, so all we did was sit down. There is also a take out section where you have to line up before getting your food.
"Matt, are you feeling okay now?" I asked Matt, who was eating spaghetti.
Mia, Vanessa, and Dave looked at him while Jerome gave me a dog-like grin. He knew I had a crush on Matt. Psh.
"Ahh yes. I'm sure the poison is dead because of the chili," he answered with a laugh, which made me laugh.
They frowned because they didn't understand what we were talking about.
"What now guys? When are we getting out of here?" Vanessa asked with a grimace.
"Dave and I went back to the road we used when we entered but surprisingly it was gone. There was only a very high wall there," Jerome said, confused.
They are really playing games with us, not just us but all the students here. They locked us in a cage where the only way out is hidden. They are leading us in circles and planning something I don't know about.
"They are planning something.." Matt said absentmindedly.
"Something? What do you mean?" Dave asked him.
"Something that I can't explain." he answered vaguely.
"I have a plan," I said. They all looked at me.
No one bothered to speak or ask because they were waiting for me to elaborate on my plan.
"Haven't you noticed? We entered HU without any knowledge. We don't know its history or who runs it. They are making fools of us.." I began.
"What do you mean?" Dave asked.
"Matt is right, they are planning something that we might be the ingredients for. We can't get out of here so the only thing we can do is fight. Fight to survive, we need to get ahead of their plan. We need information," I lectured.
If we don't act and continue to be foolish, our lives might be in danger.
"Celine. She knows something." Mia said, deep in thought.
Mia and I were thinking the same thing. Based on what happened earlier, that Celine definitely knows something, we just need to talk to her to get an idea.
"How? They are distant from us as if they fear us. How will we approach her?" Vanessa said.
"I'll handle it," I said.
"How about the gangs here? What steps will we take?" Matt asked.
Oh right. The two conflicting gangs at HU, the Black Blood Gang and Devil God Warrior. How were these groups formed and what are they fighting for? But I only know one thing, it's related to the history of HU.
"Don't. Don't you dare interfere with the gangs!" Our brows furrowed at Dave's behavior, who seemed so scared he was yelling.
"These events are connected, Dave, once we know the history of HU, everything will connect, including the gangs." I said.
"Why are you so dramatic?" Mia snapped at him.
"It's- It's not like that." Dave stammered his reply.
He continued, and somehow he had a point.
"But you see, we should first focus on the history of HU before we go into the gangs."
I suddenly thought of Nicky. She was a BBG member. She knew more than the others but I knew it was impossible to get information from her and I might end up as a cold corpse knowing she's a dangerous woman.
After we talked it over, we wasted no time and split up to get information. Mia and Vanessa went to the library while Matt, Dave and Jerome walked around hoping to get a clue.
I quickly stood up from the bench when I saw Celine walking with another girl. They backed away when they saw me in front of them.
"Wait! I won't hurt you or anything. We need your help." I stopped them.
"D-Don't come near us, you'll just get involved," said the girl with her, which made me frown.
"We were involved the moment we entered HU. So please, I need your help, Celine." I almost knelt in front of her to get her to agree.
People were staring at us as if our conversation with them was a very big deal.
"Please..." I insisted. Celine sighed before signaling me to follow her.
I followed her, leaving her worried companion behind. We entered their dormitory and she locked the doors as if she was afraid someone would hear us.
We sat on the sofa, facing each other.
"I'm going to ask you Zein, can you trade your life for this information?" she asked seriously.
My chest tightened as I thought that the information I would get would totally lock me up in this hell. I don't want to, but something is pushing me to do it.
"Tell me everything you know." I answered bravely.
"You're brave Zein, but you're just like them. It's just your curiosity."
I couldn't answer. Yes, I admit that it was just curiosity that prevailed in me THEN but I know NOW that it's not just that. It's not just pure curiosity.
"Hell University, this wasn't the original name of this university before, it was Philippine High University or more commonly known as PHU," she started.
From the beginning, many questions immediately flooded my mind.
"A famous university where only the rich can enter, until a greedy leader took over this university, he was a crazy rich scientist, his cunningness was the reason he got the wealth of everyone here. Until one day, everyone was shocked, there was no way out, the leader managed to hide this university from the whole Philippines, the school was never mentioned again on radio, television and newspapers, the parents of everyone could do nothing. It's sad to think that I am one of those trapped in this hellish school."
I couldn't open my mouth in surprise. I could feel Celine's sadness and grief. Such a greedy leader but...
"Why did he close PHU?" A question that made me frown.
What did he plan when he closed PHU?
"After closing PHU, he changed it to Hell University. We resented what happened so much, we were just kids when we got trapped in this hell until now we are still here. We couldn't help but harbor resentment towards our parents who didn't even make a way out. Many rebelled, many gangs were formed, including the two gangs that are clashing now. The Black Blood Gang and Devil God Warrior."
I swallowed when I heard that. The members inside are only rebels? I couldn't help but feel annoyed at them, they're so narrow-minded. Psh.
"That scientist is Dr. Quizon, because of his intelligence he lost his mind. Before he became a leader here, he had made many medicines that the whole world scrambled for. The answer to your question why he closed HU is because he made all of us experiments for a formula that before it succeeded, many lives were wasted. The liquid formula that can bring a dead person back to life."
I got goosebumps after hearing what she said. A formula that can bring back the dead? Impossible. That creature is an animal, his experiment is inhumane.
"Did you hear me Zein?! Dr. Quizon succeeded! He managed to complete that formula."
"Is Dr. Quizon still here at HU?" I asked.
She shook her head.
"Dr. Quizon died without others knowing about that formula, he couldn't use it on himself but he had one student back then who knew about that formula. However, no one knew that student, so until now HU is closed because the officials here are looking for that person, they want to get that formula."
Celine stared into my eyes as if she was very scared.
"That's the secret of HU that they don't want to get out. What I'm sure of is that the person who knows the formula is just around us, Zein, that person is in danger, I'm sure now that the officials will soon find out that person. You know what I'm most afraid of? That the demons get that person and learn the formula, they might use it for evil."
I stood up because my head was already hurting. Everything still wouldn't sink in.
"I'm leaving." I said goodbye. Celine grabbed my arm and stared at me as if I were a criminal.
"You already know the secret of HU. You can't leave anymore, you will also die." Because of fear I pushed Celine away who was now laughing.
"Zein Shion, do you know the person they are looking for? If you know them, stay away from them. You'll get involved."
"Stop it! I don't know them!"
I ran out of their room, hearing her loud laugh.
I sat down behind a tree. My body felt so weak. HU's secret is that they don't want anyone to know that there is such a formula that others might beat them to it. Shit!.