Author's POV
The heavy iron gates of Hell University didn't just creak; they groaned like a warning.
From the window of the black SUV, Jay pressed her face against the glass. Her big eyes were wide with a mix of nerves and genuine excitement. "Can you believe it? We're actually here! A new schoo,hopefully," she glanced at the tall, brooding boy beside her, "we all are together."
Mark Keifer Watson didn't look up from his phone, though his jaw tightened. "It's called 'Hell University,' Jay. The name isn't a marketing gimmick."
He pocketed his phone and looked at her, his cold gaze softening for just a fraction of a second as he tucked a stray hair behind her ear. "Stay close to me. And no meddling."
"No promises!" Jay chirped, already hopping out of the car as it came to a halt.
Behind them, the rest of the crew piled out. Percy was busy checking his reflection in the car window, smoothing his hair. "I hope the girls here are ready for the my charm," he chuckled, only to be elbowed sharply in the ribs by Freya .
"Focus, Percy," Freya said, adjusting her bag. She looked at Jay and smiled, though her grip on her strap was tight. "We're in this together, Jay-jay. Always."
Ci-N was already bouncing on the balls of his feet, his sharp eyes scanning the high stone walls. "Statistically speaking," he muttered, "the architecture suggests a 70% chance of hidden tunnels. This is going to be fun!"
Felix said looking around at gate ,"It will be fun".
Edrix and Rory stood behind them like a wall of muscle and strategy, their eyes scanning the perimeter for any immediate threats.
As the group approached the main plaza, the atmosphere shifted. The air grew heavy, smelling of old stone and something metallic. The students already present didn't chat or laugh; they stood in shadows, watching the newcomers with predatory eyes.
At the top of the grand marble staircase leading to the Administration Building, two figures stood waiting.
Ace Craige, the Supremo, stood with his arms crossed over his chest. His presence was a physical weight, a silent command that demanded submission.
Beside him stood Zein Shion, her expression a mask of guarded resilience. She had seen enough blood within these walls to last a lifetime, yet her eyes sparked with curiosity at the sight of the vibrant, chaotic group approaching.
"Newbie are here," Zein whispered, her voice barely audible.
Jay stepped onto the first stair, her heart hammering against her ribs. She looked up at Ace and Zein, offering a small, brave wave.
The heavy oak doors of Madam Violet's office creaked open, exhaling the scent of expensive perfume and old blood.
Madam Violet sat behind her desk, her eyes sharp as glass. "Welcome, students. In Hell University, survival is your only passing grade. Every night here is a Bloody Night. Do not expect mercy."
Keifer didn't flinch, his gaze icy as he stared back at the woman who ran this nightmare. Jay, usually bubbly, felt a chill run down her spine. She sensed it before she saw it—the darkness of this place was heavy.
As they stepped out of the office and into the main corridor to officially enter the campus, the reality of the school hit them like a physical blow. The hallway was dimly lit, and the sound of distant screams echoed through the vents.
"Watch your step," Percy hissed, pulling Freya back.
Across the floor, a fresh, dark trail of blood smeared the polished tiles—the remains of a "show" that had clearly just ended.
Jay gasped, her breath hitching as the metallic scent triggered the flicker of her blood trauma.
In a heartbeat, Keifer acted. He stepped in front of her, grabbing her waist and pulling her firmly against his jacket. He pressed Jay's face into his chest, shielding her eyes from the gore. "Don't look, Jay-jay," he commanded, his voice a low, protective growl. "I've got you."
Standing at the end of the hall, near the Great Arch, were Ace and Zein.
Zein's hand hovered near the hilt of a blade hidden in her gear, her eyes softening for a split second as she watched Keifer protect Jay. She knew that feeling—the desperate need to keep someone whole in a place that wanted to break them.
She glanced sideways at Ace. She wanted to reach for his hand, to find the same comfort, but she held back. The rules of the Supremo were absolute: no weaknesses.
Ace stood like a statue, his eyes narrowed as he observed the newcomers. He noticed the way Keifer held Jay—the possessiveness , the raw instinct. He saw a reflection of his own hidden feelings for Zein, feelings he refused to voice.
"You're late," Ace said, his voice echoing coldly off the blood-stained walls.
Zein stepped forward, her gaze meeting Jay's briefly as the girl peeked out from Keifer's chest. "Clean yourselves up," Zein added, her voice firm but lacking the malicehe other students. "The sun is setting. If you're still in the halls when the bells ring, not even your friendbcan save you."
The tension between the two groups was electric. Ace and Zein stood as the veteran survivors, their unspoken love a heavy secret between them, while Jay and Keifer stood as the new targets, bound by a love that was already being tested by the blood on the floor.