The Campus Killings {#LGBTQ #HORROR #FRIGHT}

Chapter Sixteen

Jake and his friends rushed to the chapel with a great deal of urgency, his arms still tightly wrapped around the guitar case.

They came across the taped up entrance and as subtly as possible, clambered under until they were all inside.   The place still smelled of blood and Manuela couldn't help the gasp of horror that escaped her as she noticed the stain that was what remained of her roommate.

"Ay, dios mio..." she whispered, a tremble coming into her voice.

Eilidh suddenly appeared, stepping down from the clock tower steps to comment, "'Bout time."

"You shouldn't be here." Brody lambasted his sister, though his tone quickly softened, "You okay?"

Eilidh didn't answer, just pointed to the stairs, "He's up there."

Jake sat the guitar down against one of the benches and led the charge upstairs, a horrible feeling of guilt building in his gut, which only got worse when he came across Amrit.

He looked an absolute wreck, eyes bloodshot, dark unkempt hair strewn across his forehead whilst he looked out over the college from beside the bell — still, despite this, he held something of a determination in his gaze, a fierce intensity that sent another emotion running down his spine. 

Fear.  Cold, unadulterated fear, an unshakable terror that made him want to run and hide.

From behind him, Brody and Raleigh rushed forward, clearly concerned about their friend as the women hung back.

"Step away from the ledge, Amrit." Brody's voice was pleading, almost simpering. 

Amrit responded calmly and dispassionately, "I'm not going to jump."

"Still, just—" Brody's breath was laboured, practically panicked, "Please, please, step away."

In the back, Eilidh's gaze dropped at her brother's desperation, her hands struggling to find purpose against her legs.

Stiffly, Amrit turned around to his friends, taking a small step toward them, "Do you really think I'd—"

"Doesn't matter," Raleigh replied, "It's been a difficult night.  We're all upset."

Amrit laughed humorlessly, "Really?   Most of you hated Mali.  Eilidh even wished her dead." he shot the girl a deadly glare, then continued, "You know what keeps getting to me?"

"What?" Brody asked through the hard lump in his throat.

Amrit's red eyes darted around the room investigatively, "The timing." his gaze landed on Jake as he wandered forward, "You said you came out of the library when you saw Mali in distress, though by the time you got there, her murderer was gone, no?"

"I—" Jake gaped at him, "I think so.   I mean, I didn't see whoever did it."

Amrit then asked, "What did you do when you found her?"

Jake didn't know how to answer, so wordlessly opened and closed his mouth like a goldfish.  The question almost seemed obscene, particularly with the way it dropped venomously from the man's tongue.

"Go on." he prodded, the anger not leaving his steely gaze, "What did you do when you found my butchered girlfriend?"

Willa spoke up, "That's enough, Amrit.   Come o—"

"No," Jake cut her off, his eyes stinging with tears, "it's okay, Will." he released a shuddering exhale, "I was frozen for a minute, but then I ran to tell campus security.  You know, I was covered in so much blood they thought I was injured, or that I was the one who hurt her."