TW: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS SCENES THAT MAY BE TRIGGERING OR CAUSE DISCOMFORT FOR SOME READERS. THIS CONTENT INCLUDES BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO: PANIC ATTACKS, HINTS AT SEXUAL ASSAULT AND RAPE, VIVID IMAGERY OF GORE (INCLUDING BLOOD) AND HINTS AT MURDER.
READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
Please enjoy the chapter <3
II
JULIUS
The cemetery was packed.
Jules was sure that the student body and faculty from the school heavily outnumbered Mariana's actual family and close friends.
His eyes scanned over the familiar faces, all showing similar amounts of grief or sympathy. Some were more affected than others, silently staring at the floor in an attempt to hide their tears. Others, to Jules' dismay, seemed to not care, wandering the cemetery like it was the site of a school field trip.
Jules had barely spoken to Mariana, even though he shared more than half of his classes with her. However, he knew she was a lovely girl, always sitting in the background. Whenever someone needed help, they could count on Mariana.
He was sad to know that she would not be there to help anymore.
Regardless if she awoke after her burial, Mariana would never be able to return to her normal life.
Not for a very long time.
"Julius Graves!" an annoyed voice hissed.
Jules' eyebrows crept up his face in surprise as he swiveled towards the voice. Diana stood with her hands planted on her hips, her lips pursed at Jules' obliviousness.
"For the love of the Goddess Jules, I've been talking for thirty minutes!" Diana's hands flew around her head to showcase her anger.
She looked crazy.
"Careful Diana, if anyone hears you, they'll send you to the insane asylum," Jules grinned, winking.
"Har-dee-har," she deadpanned.
Chuckling, Jules returned to his people-watching, now listening for Diana's impending rants.
Sometimes he wondered if she knew how to keep her mouth shut.
Smiling to himself, Jules came face-to-face with a stout man and smaller, plump woman. Both of their faces were tear-stained and void of emotion, but their eyes were glazed over with a sadness that was almost impossible to bear.
Jules' smile dropped from his face as he stepped towards the grief-stricken couple.
"You must be Mr. and Mrs. Alamilla," he began, remembering their faces from the reference photos Mariana had used in her presentation a few weeks earlier.
The couple paused, their faces drawn with heartbreak. The man nodded, looking down at his wife, who refused to meet Jules' eyes.
"I'm sorry for your loss," Jules whispered, unsure of what to say.
Fresh tears ran down Mrs. Alamilla's face, her lips quivering despite her attempts to keep them pursed.
"She was a wonderful girl," Mr. Alamilla almost whimpered, his voice cracking. "Why did this happen to us?" he asked, searching the space around them to find answers.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Alamilla," Diana chimed, the corners of her lips lifted into a sympathetic smile.
Jules reached out, clasping the grieving father on the shoulder, unsure of what to do when his words failed him. Mr. Alamilla squeezed his eyes shut, clutching his wife closer to his side. As their soft sobs began, Jules froze, his eyes catching an outsider strolling around the gravesite.
YOU ARE READING
Killing Lucien
Fantasía"You're his cousin." It was difficult to keep the bite from her voice, but Lucien's eyes were boring holes into her brain, Lucien's fangs were ripping her skin to shreds and she couldn't escape the hole that was seconds from swallowing her. Somethin...
