The Campus Killings {#LGBTQ #HORROR}

Chapter Twenty One

"It's all my fault."

Willa was laid on her front in bed, tears rolling down her cheeks.   It had been about two hours since Manuela's body had been discovered and though she was no longer in hysterics due to the sedative given to her by paramedics, her solemnity offered no relief to Jake either as he sat by her legs, rubbing her back.

"No, it isn't." he tried to hold back the tremble in his voice.

Willa sniffled, "If I'd have just stayed with her a few moments longer..."

"You could've gotten yourself killed." Jake replied.

Willa gasped a small, shaking sob, "But maybe I could have protected her."

Jake's eyes stung a little, though he attempted to steel himself, if only for her sake.

Then she added, "You know she wanted us to be exclusive?" her breath hitched on a sob, "Last night, she told me—" another wet sniffle, "God, she told me she loved me."

Jake's heart fell and he wasn't able to stave off the welling in his eyes this time.

"I didn't say it back." she cried, "Why didn't I say it back?  I've been so busy wasting my time with Petrović that I didn't see what really mattered.  I love her." a beat, then she corrected, "I loved her."

Jake brushed her hair from her face, "I'm so sorry, Will."

"Why didn't I just stay with her?" she wept.

Jake leaned down, bringing her into his embrace and letting her cry for a few minutes, unable to stop his own tears from falling.

He wiped at them with his sleeve, attempting to excise the horrible image of Manuela's rolled up eyes from his mind.   Even Mali hadn't been so... lifeless, an empty shell, barely even human.

He wondered if her family would be told, realising suddenly just how little he had known her.   Had she had siblings?   Parents?

It felt like he was crying over a complete stranger — but to Willa, she wasn't a stranger.   She had been her lover, her girlfriend and Jake had liked her enough that her violent demise made his chest hurt.

It was all so very tragic.

Eventually, the sedative seemed to get the best of Willa and she drifted off into a fitful sleep as he rested her head on the pillow.   Gently, he stroked back a few strands of hair from her face, then wiped his own. 

He headed for the door, opening it to see Raleigh waiting outside, looking positively shattered as he asked, "How is she?"

"Devastated." he replied simply, "Manny wanted them to go exclusive."

"Jesus Christ." Raleigh gasped, bowling over as if he was going to be sick, "I just— I can't believe it."

Jake asked, "Does she have anyone—"

"In Barcelona." Raleigh answered, "Her mother, father, abuela.   She had a little sister, only nine.  Someone's going to have to tell them."

Tears stung his eyes, his face crumpling a little, though before he could fall Jake rushed forward, throwing his arms around him.

It was a comforting embrace and Raleigh burrowed his face in Jake's shoulder, gasping out soft sobs as he stated, "She was my friend."

"I know." Jake replied, rubbing his back.

The other man admitted, "I can't keep doing this, losing people.   I can't."

"I know, I know." Jake really didn't know what to say, how to fix it, so instead just clung to the other man until his breath evened out, his cries dispersing.