The Campus Killings {#LGBTQ #HORROR #FRIGHT}

Chapter Twenty Five

Jake practically sprinted into the old gym to avoid the rain which was just beginning to patter down outside — clad in a blazer and white shirt rather than his usual hoodie, he felt remarkably awkward, though making it ever worse was the anticipation of what he was going to do.

Nerves ate at his stomach and he considered turning back, fleeing to the safety of his bed, but he knew that would only be disrespectful to Willa, who had tried so hard to get him to leave his comfort zone.

He stepped into the hall tentatively, taking notice of the harsh, opaque orange and white flashing lights as well as decorations and balloons that hung from the ceiling and were being passed around the dance floor between the flood of masked bodies — it was then he realised he'd forgotten to pull on the mask, making him stand out amongst the swathes of people.

Desperate to disappear into the crowd, he pulled the mask from his pocket and slid it on, it slightly obscuring his vision as he scanned the room.

Somehow, the gym hall looked even bigger and more intimidating than when he was last in here, a gaggle of unfamiliar faces obscured behind disguises before him, though he sought only one.

As Jake looked around the room, wincing at the blinding lights and thumping chorus of Bauhaus' classic song, he found Eilidh standing awkwardly in the corner and briefly wondered if he should go to her, though he knew she preferred to be alone, still unsure whether she even liked him.

Next, he spotted her brother, who seemed to be inebriated despite it purportedly being an alcohol free party.   He was swaying from side to side, mid-discussion with Maxwell, which, after Eilidh's admission, really made Jake lose some respect for him.

Jake then spotted Petrović, who was lurking in the other corner with some of the other teachers as some kind of chaperone, something Jake found amusing because it was a college party and remarkably unsettling because it was Petrović. He locked gazes with the man for a second, feeling his sharp blue eyes staring him down and forcing him to look away for a second, and when he had the nerve to look back up, the man was gone.

Before he could be overcome with his confusion, Jake finally came across Raleigh, standing on the edge of the dancefloor on his own and watching Brody — it was if time stopped, the rest of the world fading out around them.

He was unable to keep the smile from his face as he waded over to the other man, biting his lower lip before tapping him on the shoulder — his heart jackhammered in his chest as Raleigh turned to him.

"Wha—" there was a brief, faint annoyance in his tone which instantly faded as he realised who was standing before him, "Jake?"

Jake could only nod, lifting his mask slightly to flash him his face and as he lowered it, he was brought into a tight, warm embrace which calmed his nerves somewhat.

"I thought you weren't coming." Raleigh breathed into his ear, his voice choked with relief that was tragically telling.

Jake unwrapped himself from his arms to attempt to explain himself, "I wanted to tell—"

The virginal brides file past his tomb.

The music was so loud Jake could barely hear himself think, "I wanted to—"

Strewn with death's flowers, alone in deathly gloom.

Raleigh tried to listen to him, but he was also having trouble hearing over the song, so suggested loudly, "How about we go somewhere more quiet?"

He gestured to his ear to enunciate his words, then pointed toward the door that led out to the pool.

It brought Jake back to that night, to the agreement of casual flirting that of course would never have stuck and with a wide smile, he nodded and allowed himself to get led away from the room by Raleigh taking his hand.