The Campus Killings {#LGBTQ #HORROR #FRIGHT}

Chapter Twelve

Jake stared blankly ahead as the police filed in and out of the chapel, their voices seemingly distant in his state of disassociation. He was still covered in blood, crimson staining the orange colour of his hoodie as well as sticking to his hands, which trembled above his knee.

As soon as he had realised what had happened, he had absolutely sprinted for campus security, who seemed to think that he was the one injured.

Alas, no, it was Mali, eviscerated and bloody, her essence all over him, the sharp, copper tang of blood stinging his nose.

He pulled the shock blanket around himself tight and one of the cops, a rather burly man who's name he couldn't recall, came over and spoke to him, "It seems you missed her killer by a few seconds." He said, "You said you saw her in a state of distress?"

"I looked out the library window." his voice trembled, "She looked so scared." he sniffled, then looked up, "She wasn't exactly beloved here, you know? She had a lot of enemies."

The officer nodded, noting that down, "The Dean has offered to phone your father if you wa—"

"No!" Jake exclaimed, a bit too eager.

The very last thing he needed was his father being vindicated for thinking it was too soon for him to return to school — he caught the eye of the Dean, who looked onto the scene of carnage with sorrow.

Beside her stood Petrović and the sight of him sent a shiver down his spine, though it barely penetrated the layer of thick fog that had fallen over Jake's mind.

What did, however, was a horrific wailing sound that came into focus as Amrit appeared, joined by the others. Manuela was sobbing over her roommate as Willa attempted to comfort her and both Raleigh and Brody rested their hands on Amrit's shoulder as he rushed over to where his girlfriend's zipped up body was being wheeled towards the ambulance.

Eilidh hung back, a troubled expression on her face as she watched the scene unfold before her, a clear showcase of guilt in her eyes.

"What happened?" Amrit turned to Jake, then shoved him, "You're covered in her blood, what the fuck happened?"

Jake explained, "I found her like this. I promise you."

"I don't fucking believe you." the other man sobbed, heaving breaths wrenching painfully from his chest, "You killed her!"

Jake shook his head, stating, "I found her. I saw her running from something and by the time I got to her—"

"So you could've saved her?" Amrit stepped into his space, his body wracking from the force of his sobs, "Where the fuck were you?"

Brody grabbed both of his arms, forcing him to look towards him, "C'mon, man. You're upset, and for good reason."

"We argued." the other man confessed, anguished, "The last thing we ever did was argue and she'll never know..." another harsh sob shook his form, "She'll never know I—"

Brody pulled him into a hug, "She knew." he comforted, "Come on, man, we should get out of here, you need to get some sleep."

"Do you need me to—" Raleigh began.

Brody shook his head, "I'll look after him."

He shot his sister a look, and she wordlessly headed back to her dorm room, her expression unchanged. He then led Amrit away from the scene, rubbing his back.

Willa cupped her girlfriend's cheek, brushing away the tears as she looked up at Jake, visibly dodging the glance of Petrović, "Mali was her roommate, I have to—"