Believer ~Jean x Reader AU~

Chapter 23: Wild

"At this moment, please bow your heads for a moment of silence," the same man from Marianne's memorial said into the mic.

He didn't need to really tell us to do that. The silence was already all that lingered in the atmosphere. Well, that and sorrow...and dread. A lot of dread. There were a few quiet sniffles that could occasionally be heard and some whimpers, but that was it.

And all because a third victim had been attacked and killed.

The third victim had not been as fortunate. Based on the details we were given, she had gotten it the worst out of the three. Where Marianne had succumbed to her injuries sometime after her attack and the second girl still being hospitalized to deal with hers, this one -Evangeline as I had learned her name to be- didn't stand a chance. She had been attacked with blunt force on the back of her skull and then stabbed in her abdomen. Details of what happened from there were slim to none as it was too grim to release. But...we did know that after the hell she went through, she was strangled to death.

There were no witnesses who saw the perpetrator, but deep down, we all knew it was the same man. We all knew he was behind it. The attack fitted his MO; the only difference was that he hadn't been interrupted that time. He had gotten away with everything and all because she didn't travel with anyone. From what I had learned from her memorial, Evangeline was a girl who mainly kept to herself. She was shy, introverted, and a loner...she was a lot like me.

I too preferred traveling alone and keeping to myself. I was shy...I was introverted...I could've been her. But there was one big difference between the two of us. Much like Marianne, Evangeline was a member of SOA. In fact, I had learned that the girl I had came across that fateful night was also an SOA member. Meaning there was a predator hunting SOA girls in the shadows...or it was all merely a coincidence, though that was doubtful.

Still, it was heartbreaking. Two girls had died to that monster. Two lives snuffed out before they truly lived. Two hearts forever halted.

I balled my hands into fists, remembering more of what the text alert had said a few days prior. Evangeline had been found approximately an hour to two hours after her death. It was speculated she had been making her way back to campus before curfew when she was attacked on the next street over. She was not near the gates, meaning no guards could see her and her screams were most likely muffled. That means no one heard her in the houses and apartments surrounding her. Plus, on top of all that, she had been found in an alley by a group of men leaving a nearby bar. Strangers found her.

I bit my bottom lip, still feeling that dread washing over me. Kellen must have noticed because he reached over and intertwined his fingers with mine. His palm felt warm against mine, his touch being gentle. He gave a slight squeeze of reassurance, but that did little to help ease my mind.

"Thank you," the man said, his tone low and sorrowed. "At this time, the memorial for Evangeline Crosby will come to a close. Please blow out your candles and return them."

We all did as told and made for an orderly exit, all the while Kellen kept his fingers laced with mine. We walked side by side, the soles of our shoes scuffing the pavement. Silence blanketed us for a few moments when he spoke.

"I don't mean to sound like that boyfriend, but I really don't feel comfortable with you going to places alone anymore," he sighed, his deep blue stare meeting mine. "It's way too dangerous."

I swallowed, "What do you want me to do? I mean, I can't just change how I operate."

He lifted a brow. "Really? How you operate? Your comfort is more important than your safety?"

I rolled my eyes. "Listen, I mainly stay on campus and when I do leave, I'm only gone for a few hours."

I couldn't tell why, but he began chuckling at that and shook his head. "Might I remind you that we first bumped into each other after you went to Mrs. Rail's convenient store at night?"

He had a point there. The only reason we had ever come to where we were then was because of running into each other that night. It seemed so long ago. Back in January...that did feel like forever ago, but in actuality, it hadn't been. It was only mid-April. Time was flying.

I breathed, "I don't know what you want me to do. I can't just start being a social butterfly."

He stopped and pulled me close. He took both of my hands into his, those gorgeous ocean orbs meeting mine. His expression was relaxed, the corners of his lips drawn up into a soft smile.

"Hey, slow down," he whispered, his deep voice running through my ears like silk. "I'm not asking you to change how you live your life, but I'm asking just one thing."

I tilted my head to the side and asked, "Oh? And what would that be?"

His smile increased as he answered, "Just let me walk with you whenever you leave campus, okay?"

I couldn't tell why, but my breath hitched in my throat. My heart leaped up and my senses went wild. Just one small phrase...no significance to it whatsoever. Or was there?

Without thinking, I nodded, "O-okay."

**Ello my lovelies! Sorry for the sucky chapter today. I struggled with this one. Like, bad. Still, I hope y'all found some enjoyment in it! Thank you so, so, soooo much for everything! You guys are the bestest! Wuv yous!! <3**

-Noel Ross