Zein's Point of View
My legs were getting itchy. I was only wearing shorts, so the grass kept brushing against my skin. Even my rubber shoes were getting coated in dust.
"Are you sure this is the right way?" I stopped walking and looked back. "Just tell me if we're already lost, okay? So I won't be surprised!"
Jerome and Matt stopped chatting and turned to me at the same time. Unlike me, they still looked like they were enjoying it.
"…the two of us in line—this walk seems endless."
"And since when did you become someone who complains on trips?" Vanessa snapped at me. "You're the one who usually loves long walks!"
I shook my head. "Whenever I plan a trip, I use a GPS map—not some old map that just leads to who-knows-where!" I said, glaring at Mia, who was holding the map.
"Can you stop it, Zein? You've been grumbling for a while now. You're not even helping!" Mia shouted at me.
What? This is only the first time in the several hours we've been walking that I complained!
"Girls… chill," Jerome chuckled.
"Are you tired?" Matt asked me. Unlike our other friends, he really looked concerned. "I think we can rest for a while?"
"Or go back?" I said with a faint smile.
"We've walked so far. Are we still not there?" Vanessa said as the wind blew, then turned to Mia. "Are you sure, Mia? We're close to… where are we going again?"
"Hell University," Jerome answered.
Mia hesitantly nodded.
"Did you just randomly find that picture on the internet and print it out?" I asked again.
"No!" Mia blurted. "I—I found it…"
"Where did you find it, Almia Mendez?" I followed up.
"Oh. She's mad. Full name, huh," Jerome laughed.
"Maybe if we keep walking now, we'll get there," Dave cut in, interrupting Mia and my heated conversation.
I pouted. He was just defending Mia because he has a crush on her!
"I'll carry your bag," Matt offered to me.
Jerome moved closer. "You, Van? Aren't you going to offer to carry my bag—"
"Want a black eye?" Vanessa cut him off.
I froze when Matt came near me. He tried to take my bag, but I didn't give it to him. I felt him touch my shoulder as if he were steadying me.
Then we started walking again in that seemingly endless trek.
"Just be careful. It's getting dark. There might be snakes around," Dave reminded us.
"Thanks for the scare, Dave," Van replied sarcastically.
Matt held my shoulder and moved in front of me since I was left at the back. So he ended up walking behind me, last in line.
"Do you guys find it funny?" Jerome suddenly asked.
"Your face?" Van replied.
"No. I mean, we're itching to get away from school. Now that it's our break, we're the ones looking for a school!" Jerome laughed.
I mentally rolled my eyes.
Don't get me wrong. I love adventures just as much as my friends do. That's probably why we became friends. But when I say adventure, I mean the kind that's guaranteed to be fun.
But… really? Hell University? Does that sound fun? No! Sure, the name of the school sounds cool, but seriously. Who would name their school "hell" when they could just make you experience it while hiding behind an expensive name?
I was so deep in thought that I didn't notice my friends had already stopped walking. I bumped into Van, who didn't react at all. All of them were just staring straight ahead.
My jaw dropped when I saw what they were looking at. An old gate—huge and already rusting.
In the middle of it was a sign that read Hell University, written in what looked like blood. Creepy.
So, I guess the map is legit after all.
"Is this it?" Jerome asked.
"With that big sign, I hope so," Vanessa replied sarcastically.
I swallowed. A school that stood in the middle of nowhere. It looked completely abandoned. But curiosity washed over me… Why did it seem like time had forgotten this place?
"What are you doing here?"
Mia froze and hid behind Dave when a man suddenly appeared, holding a machete. I was startled and stepped back. I ended up leaning against Matt.
"Sir, are you the guard here?" Jerome asked.
"How did you find this place?"
I noticed Dave subtly trying to hide the map Mia was holding.