Chapter 32: Celine
Zein's Point of View...
I'm sure I heard someone whistle inside this forest. Could it really be Hoy's owner, but who is he?
I broke out in a cold sweat as I slowly walked into the forest part of HU. The light and dark were clashing, which added to the fear I was feeling.
I screamed when someone grabbed my arm. He was grinning while looking at me.
"C-Celine." I pulled my arm away from his grip.
SHe remained grinning until she slightly laughed before becoming serious.
Celine is really weird.
"Do you know the owner of that cat?" SHe asked, so I quickly shook my head.
He laughed slightly at my answer.
"That cat was owned by Lux. The former Supreme Student Government President..."
I got goosebumps when I heard that. SHe folded his arms in front of me.
The former Supremo? That cat was his? "Where is the former Supremo now?" I asked.
SHe held his chin as if remembering, he even looked up a little before suddenly snapping his fingers as if he remembered.
"Dead." SHe answered laughingly.
I backed away slightly when I heard his answer. Hoy, the pet cat of Lux who was the former SSG President, has passed away.
But--- I looked behind me where Hoy went. Who called him if his owner is dead?
I turned my eyes back to Celine. "W-What did he die of?" I asked next.
He shook his head at me. "They killed him... Violet, Francisco. They are the ones who killed him." He answered.
"Even his girlfriend Samantha, they killed, even the Late Headmaster Valdez, Lux's father, they killed them mercilessly." He added.
My throat went dry after hearing that. They killed them? Not just one, many. How many have they killed?
"Do you want to know everything?" SHe asked, so I quickly nodded.
Celine looked at the sky. "It's almost bloody night in a few minutes." He said before returning his gaze to me.
"Please," I pleaded.
"Fine." He answered. "Meet me tomorrow at one in the afternoon in the library. I'll tell you everything I know." He whispered grinly in my ear.
What Celine said didn't let me sleep much. That's why Madame Violet reacted that way when she saw Hoy, because she knew the owner of that cat, the person they killed.
But if Lux is dead, who whistled in the forest? Could it be that someone new also took care of that cat?
I'm walking towards the SSG Office. I smiled when I saw the booths set up by each class. Today is Booth Day where each class needs to present a booth.
I was the one who made this, I wanted to see the smile on the lips of the students who have been locked in this hellish cage for a long time, it seems I didn't fail because they are smiling at least.
I was about to turn the doorknob of the SSG Office when I heard them talking inside. The door was slightly open so I could hear them.
"Don't do this, Supremo. You'll only put yourself in danger." I heard Vice Ty say.
"I know." Supremo answered listlessly.
What are they talking about?
"You know the rule Supremo!" I heard Teacher Kath shout. "She violated the most important rule! She pointed a knife at you! Respect the President is the most prioritized rule and she just broke it!" She added.
I don't know but my chest tightened. I know what they are talking about. My death.
"You will lose your power."
"I can live without this position..."
I went deaf to what Supremo said and what's more surprising is the fast heartbeat.
What's happening to me?
"Why, Supremo? What is Secretary Shion to you?" Teacher Kath asked seriously.
"She is my secretary." I could still feel Supremo's lack of attention to what Teacher Kath and Vice Ty were saying.
"Headmistress and Mr. Francisco already know about this. You will sink if you continue protecting her..."
"Well I don't care, I am not going to lose her... not now... not tomorrow... not in my plan."
Panting heavily, I held onto the CR sink. I looked at myself in the mirror, my face red, my heart pounding deafeningly and the most puzzling thing... Why am I smiling like a shit?
I must have been infected by Celine. Speaking of Celine!
I need to go to the library. I fixed myself up.
As soon as I entered the library, the librarian greeted me. She pointed somewhere so I followed it. Celine, sitting at the end table and clearly waiting for someone.
I bowed slightly in front of the librarian before sitting in front of Celine.
She was leaning on the monobloc chair with her eyes closed.
"You really want to know?" She opened her eyes. I met her gaze and showed her that I was ready to learn more.
I wonder, why does Celine know so much? Maybe because she's been here a long time but what she knows is different from what others know.
I suddenly remembered that because of her I was completely trapped in this hell. The first secret she told me, the secret of HU.
"Dominique, Violet and Francisco were part of the Administration then. They were led by Dr. Quizon, Dr. Quizon told them about his plan, the plan to complete the formula and use it as a weapon to take over the world..."
"Madness, does she think she can conquer the whole world just by creating a medicine that can bring the dead back to life?" I remarked.
No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't see the point that she could achieve her ambition.
"You're wrong there," a smile crept onto Celine's lips.
"Anyone would pay any amount just to have that, anyone would kneel down to him just to have that medicine. They would even praise Dr. Quizon for such an excellent experiment. They would treat him like a god that could bring back death's life." She said with a grin.
I felt my hair stand on end. Are there really people who would kill each other just to get that? I suddenly thought of what if its components were completed and fell into the hands of a demon. They were right, the whole world would be in chaos.
"Because of the inherent power of this medicine, many became interested, even Mr. Valdez, Violet and Francisco. Dr. Quizon was really smart, he knew they would betray him so he stopped the experiment. The three caught on so they made a move to get the formula of this rare medicine which led to murder. Mr. Valdez, Violet, and Francisco killed their headmaster just to have the formula which is obviously incomplete..."
I couldn't open my mouth. I knew this happened but I thought Mr. Valdez was kind, why was even he blinded by this?
"As second in command to the top, Mr. Valdez succeeded Dr. Quizon, along with Violet and Francisco and they continued the research on the missing formula and at the same time the one person who knew the secret ingredient to complete it."
"I thought Mr. Valdez was kind? Why would he be interested in that medicine? For power?"
"No. Because he wants to revive his wife whose body is preserved,"
My eyes widened at what she said. That's why he wanted to complete the components, to use it on his wife.
"Mr. Valdez has one child, Luxury Valdez who was the SSG President then... until the three arrived who also got lost in this hell, but the name that stuck with everyone was the name Samantha..."
Samantha...
"You're like her, a demon." She laughed softly at what she said. "She became a huge influence on Supremo Lux, the listless Supremo suddenly came alive. She convinced Lux to talk to his father to stop everything because they were just making their lives harder..."
Samantha... Samantha. I haven't seen you yet but I admit I admire you already.
"Lux convinced his father who then seemed to have woken up from a nightmare, they planned to open HU, unaware that there were two people planning to stop them. The devil couple, Violet and Francisco."
Psh.
"HU was opened for only a few days but closed again due to the death of Mr. Valdez, Lux, and Samantha... They killed them."
We heard a rustle from the window near us, whoever was there suddenly ran so Celine and I quickly ran outside to chase them.
We were panting heavily from running when we realized we were in the dense part of HU.
"W-Who is she?" I asked breathlessly.
"I know her..."
I looked at Celine because of what she said. Her eyes remained focused in the distance.
"Who?"
"I don't know her name but I always see her... following you."
I shivered after hearing what she said. My mouth dropped open a little in surprise.
"W-What do you mean?"
"When I see you, she's also there. You don't notice her but she's just around... the question is-What does she need from you?" She asked with a frown.
"I don't know."
I looked at what Celine was holding when she suddenly hid it behind her back.
"What's that?" I asked. I looked into her eyes and saw fear there.
I was surprised when Celine grabbed my arm and pulled me out of that dense part of HU, as we ran I couldn't help but shiver.
I feel that it's not just Celine and I here, there are others. Not just one or two, many eyes are watching us.
Celine let go of my hand, panting heavily. My heart was still pounding from fear.
"W-Who are they?"
"I-I don't know but it's scary..." I noticed Celine's body trembling. "It's creepy. Zein, if something bad happens to me, please tell Supremo sorry." She said sadly.
"H-Huh? What are you saying?!" I asked confused.
"I need to confirm my suspicion. Z-Zein. This is the first time I've been this creeped out," I also noticed her hand that was hidden behind her back trembling because she didn't want to show me what it was.
"Something is wrong. Something very wrong." She suddenly ran back into the woods.
"Celine!"
I just sat on the ground. "What are you going to do, Celine?" I asked the wind absentmindedly.
I stood outside the forest where Celine entered for several hours, she still hadn't returned until now.
Fear enveloped me and I restrained myself from following her. Where is she? Why hasn't she returned yet? Did something bad happen?
I looked up at the sky when a drop of water suddenly fell until it started raining hard. A cold wind blew and I could feel my body shaking.
I don't want to leave, I will wait for Celine to return. "C-Celine." I closed my eyes tightly before starting to run into the forest.
In an instant everything went dark. I felt my body slowly falling.
What is happening?
Every step I take adds to the anxiety I feel. I can't abandon Celine, I need to help her.