The Campus Killings {#LGBTQ #HORROR #FRIGHT}

Chapter Fifteen

Jake's chin rested on the top of the guitar case as he sat opposite Dean Douglas, Willa by his side — he could still feel the remnants of smoke in his lungs, making him cough every few seconds.

Beside him, Willa was a shaken up wreck, mascara running down her cheeks as she reached out to squeeze his hand, both seeking and attempting to give comfort.

Dean Douglas eventually spoke, her thin lips curling with distaste, "You do realise this is the second incident in two nights to involve your particular friend group?  And wasn't Laura your roommate, Willa?"

"What are you implying?" Willa asked, "That either one of us could've done this?" there was a fury in her voice, "I'm a lot of things but I'm not capable of murder."

Dean Douglas sighed, "That isn't what I'm insinuating, it's just that your group seems to be involved in something awful.  All I need is information, something that I can pass along to the police to ensure that nothing else happens."

Jake looked at his roommate, considering whether he should let slip about the diary, about the attack he'd experienced, or of the mysterious 'M' Laura had written about, the possible suspect in all these crimes.

In a matter of weeks, he had found a dead body, been stalked by a killer and had learned uncomfortable, unsavoury facts about just about everyone around him.

Still, there was a quiet sadness in Willa's face that made him hold his tongue — he knew that if he spoke up, they'd find out about Petrović and she didn't need that kind of pain in her life, not when her friends were dying.

"There's nothing to tell." he replied, his voice trembling a little.

It was obvious that Dean Douglas didn't believe him from the way her scowl grew, but after a second, she gave up, "Very well.  Your new dorm room for the time being is in the East Wing, room 34.   As I said, if you notice anything—"

"You'll be the first we'll tell." Jake nodded, then headed out into the waiting room with Willa.

As they both escaped the tension of the Dean's office, Willa turned to him, her face crumpling a little, "You didn't tell her about—"

"I didn't wanna put you in that situation." he admitted.

Willa smiled weakly, pitching herself forward to bury his face in his shoulder, "At least your guitar's okay." she mumbled, "God, everything keeps getting worse."

"Yes, it does!" Brody's voice cut in as he and Raleigh appeared at the door of the waiting area.

Raleigh looked uncharacteristically awkward as he glanced at the pair, "You two okay?  Heard what happened."

"Yeah, well." Jake's gaze fell, "That's not all that happened.  We need to go somewhere more private."

Brody nodded, "I agree.  I assume Manny's at her workshop?   Let's meet up with her, someone's fucking with all of us."

***

Meanwhile, at the chapel, Eilidh had snuck back in despite it being a closed off crime scene.  Mali's blood still stained the floor but she didn't allow it to distract her as she found herself inside the clock tower, her headphones on as she danced to Happy House by Siouxie and the Banshees.

Often, she would come here to unwind, it being the sole place she could enjoy being alone, and she'd be damned if a murder, much less Mali's murder, would stop her.

Eilidh took a draw from her vape as she swayed along to the music, letting it flow through her arms to the tip of her fingers.   Long ago, there had been a time where she'd wanted to be a dancer.