Game Over (Whithall University Book 2)

by Lisa Helen Gray

  She places a hand on my arm, her eyebrows scrunched together when I peer up at her. “Allie, you don’t really think like that, do you?”

  I glance at her with watery eyes. “Yes. Look at how many people lives I’ve ruined, Low. Because of my actions, people got seriously hurt. I lost my baby because of my stupidity. My baby.”

  Her expression morphs from stricken to angry. She smacks me sharply on the shoulder and I yelp, narrowing my eyes at her. “Stop talking bullshit, Allie. You didn’t cause what has happened here anymore than I did. You think you’re the first person who has kept quiet? You’re not. And you won’t be the last. Abused women keep quiet because they are frightened, because they’re afraid of what they’ll do next or afraid of tomorrow. Victims of rape don’t speak out because they feel ashamed, scared, alone. People who are bullied keep quiet because they are afraid it will make the situation worse, or they’ve spoken out and learnt it hasn’t gotten them anywhere.” She pauses, gazing at me closely. “What you did was out of fear, but not because you are weak. You were afraid of what speaking up would do to your family—to your dad and to yourself. You thought it was an isolated incident. But, Allie, the second you found out what he did to me, you spoke out, damned the consequences. And you would have done that if you had found out what he was doing beforehand. You forget, I know you Allie. You don’t have a bad bone in your body. I may not have shown it at the time, but it meant a lot to me that you didn’t lie to me.”

  “But I did,” I whisper, looking away.

  She grabs my chin, turning me to look at her. “No, you didn’t. I heard you talking to CJ, ya know?”

  Perplexed, I shake my head at her. “Talking about what?”

  “What Logan did to you,” she whispers. “I also know why you didn’t come between us when you knew what he tried to do. I know your mum threatened you and told you that you’d lose me if you told me. She brainwashed you into thinking I would take his side. You also feared that if I knew, he would do the same to me.”

  “I remember telling CJ what he did to me, but I’ve never said the rest,” I tell her, utterly confused.

  She smiles, bringing my hand into her lap to hold. “No, but you forget, I watched and listened to your mum belittle you. I watched you shrink into yourself every time she put you down. It might not have registered right away when I first found out, but it’s slowly sunk in. What happened wasn’t your fault. You aren’t to blame. And I don’t care how many times I’ve got to tell you that. If you believed, deep down, that Logan would have hurt me or another person, you would have spoken up. If you were one-hundred percent sure Mr. Flint was a predator, you would have reported him. But because of your good heart, you didn’t want to risk people losing stuff by speaking up. So please, please, stop with this nonsense.”

  I don’t think it’s as easy as that but hearing how she sees it has made me pause. I guess to see what she sees will take time. Time I’m willing to give if it stops me from hurting so much.

  “I’ll try, but it’s not easy,” I tell her. “I just feel so useless.”

  She pulls me towards her, so I rest my head on her shoulder. Her body rumbles beneath me when she speaks. “We all feel like that sometimes, even CJ,” she teases.

  I giggle, wrapping my arm around her waist and hugging her. “I love you, Low. You’re the bestest friend a girl could wish for.”

  “I try,” she says, then giggles.

  We shift so we’re laying with our backs to the pillows, looking up at the ceiling.

  “Do you think the world has always been this jaded, or is it from moving here?” I ask quietly.

  She squeezes my hand she holds between us. “I think we were just blissfully unaware. Our parents protected us as much as they could. But I truly believe it will not always be like this—always looking over our shoulders wondering what will happen next.”

  “Let’s hope only good things come next. If something else starts happening around here, I’ll start thinking it’s a conspiracy and will move my arse out of this place so fast you’ll never see me go. I’ll be like The Flash: now you see me, now you don’t.”

  She giggles lightly. “Just make sure that when it happens, I have my phone with me.”

  I tilt my head to the side to look at her. “Um, why?”

  She turns to glance at me, grinning. “Because if Allie Davis is going to do exercise, I want to document the hell out of that shit.”

  I kick her leg lightly, giggling. It feels good, like the heaviness on my chest has lightened just a little.

  “Maybe the next thing to happen is mobile phones crashing, being wiped from the earth.”

  She gasps, narrowing her eyes at me. “Bite your tongue. It could be books are destroyed and going digital only. I mean, you did get a break in at the library.”

  It’s my turn to look horrified, and I’m pretty sure I lose all colour in my face. “Take that back,” I demand. “We could go back to the stone ages, only wearing dirty rags as clothes.” I stick my tongue out, smiling when she inhales sharply. She sits up, looking down at me.

  “Sweets might stop being made because they’re giving people diabetes.”

  I sit up, facing her with narrowed eyes. “All the high-heeled shoes are burnt because people are breaking their ankles in them.”

  We go on for a while, swapping what might happen next theories. Before I know it, my eyes start to close, my entire body feeling exhausted.

  I feel Willow leave the bed, but I’m too tired to open my eyes since I’m still recovering from blood loss.

  *** *** ***

  I groan when I hear the annoying ringtone coming from my phone. I miss the days when everyone could have songs as their ringtone.

  I roll over, noticing the sun has gone down. I grab my phone, reading the time. I’ve slept for a good few hours—more than I have in days. I’m surprised CJ isn’t back; it’s eight, past his dinner time.

  Tina, one of the supervisors, is calling, so I answer, lifting the phone to my ear with a yawn.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi, Allie, I’m really sorry to call you like this. I know it’s not a really good time, but you’re the only one I can think of to call.”

  I sit up, rubbing my tired eyes. “It’s fine. What’s up?”

  “It’s about Alex. He started his shift like normal, but he’s been gone for two hours now, and he isn’t meant to finish for another two. We have an address and number for him, but his phone is off at the moment.”

  I swivel around in bed, resting my feet on the carpet. I tuck the phone between my shoulder and ear while slipping on some trainers.

  “He said his nan was ill not long ago, maybe something happened?”

  “Oh, crap. I forgot about his nan. I hope she’s okay. But it’s not like him to disappear like this. He’s always told us if he’s had to leave early.”

  I pause by my desk where CJ’s hoodie lies. “He’s left work before?”

  “Yeah. Recently, he’s left early a lot. He mentioned she had been in hospital.”

  I shake my head, wondering what he was thinking. “I’ve told him so many times, I’m here to help. He never even said anything.”

  “Maybe he didn’t want to bother you. I heard about your news. I’m sorry.”

  My heart stops for a second and I rub my chest. “Thank you,” I tell her, then clear my throat. “Can you text me his address?”

  She sighs. “I wouldn’t normally do this, but you’re the only friend I’ve seen him with. If anyone asks, though, I didn’t give it to you. I’d go check on him myself but I’m on my own here now.”

  “It’s fine, and I won’t. I need some fresh air, anyway. Thank you.”

  “It’s my pleasure. Let me know if he needs us to cover his shift tomorrow.”

  “I will.”

  I end the call and finish getting ready. I’m still bleeding, so I’ve been comfortable in leggings and my graphic T-shirts. I pull CJ’s hoodie over my head and grab my phone and keys.

&nb
sp; When I find him, I’m going to shake some sense into him. Friends are there to support each other; ours is not a one-sided friendship, and he’s been here for me through a lot.

  The flat is empty as I walk out, but I send another text to CJ, letting him know I’m popping out and won’t be long.

  By the time I get to my car, I’m already tired and achy. Tina’s message pops up, and it doesn’t take me long to enter his details into my satnav.

  I guess I’m going to see where Alex lives. Finally.

  Let’s just hope I’m not intruding when I arrive, and everything is okay with his nan.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  TWO HOURS EARLIER

  CJ

  When I was younger and found out what my mum went through, and that I was the product of rape, it made me see life in a different way. She showed me every day how to live life, how to move on from those things that can destroy you. Thanks to her, I lived life to the fullest.

  She went through something horrific, something most women can’t move on from—understandably so—but she did it. She showed me what it meant to be strong, that it doesn’t always mean how much weight you can lift, but how much strength you can find inside you. My mum, to me, is the definition of strong.

  I fucked around a lot as kid—and not just messing around with my friends. I’ve fucked a lot of chicks. What can I say; sex is my thing. I’m good at it. And I’m not one of those lads that brag. In fact, I’m the complete opposite. Why? Because I know I get the girl I’m with, off. More than once. I didn’t discriminate; I loved all girls: curvy, thin, tall, small—it didn’t matter to me. I never once mistreated any of them or promised them something I knew I would never give. I was always upfront and honest. And I liked it that way. I liked not having the commitment of a girlfriend.

  All my life I’ve been worried I’d turn out like my sperm donor, somehow hurting those around me. So, I stayed away from any kind of relationship. I didn’t want to taint someone else.

  Then I laid eyes on Allie Davis.

  My cupcake.

  I’d only been a few feet away from her and I could smell the yummy baked goods instantly. I wanted to devour her. She had the most intoxicating scent I’d ever smelled. That’s what first drew me to her, had my body moving unconsciously towards her.

  She was dressed so out there, funky, her own little style, and she rocked it. She looked fucking hot, but sexy and sweet at the same time. I had a boner every time I thought of her.

  But it was her relentless attempt to avoid my advances that made me try harder. It was refreshing. She’s been the only person in my life, apart from Cole, who has seen me for me. Everyone else sees the cool guy they want to hang out with or want to be. They see someone who won’t amount to anything, other than a fuck up, when in reality, I’m a fucking genius and will go far. They just don’t see it.

  She did.

  She saw past the exterior. It may have taken for me to argue with her over English literature, but she never underestimated me after. She didn’t jump at my every whim and cater to me. Having her in my life was like the sun on a rainy day.

  What I hadn’t expected was that I would fall helplessly in love with her. At first, I wanted to fuck her. Then the days went by, and I saw different parts to her. I found myself enjoying her company. It didn’t take long for me to fall head over heels. She has this way about her; you can’t help but love her.

  I didn’t realise loving someone so much would once again change my views on how to live life, though. I viewed almost everything differently. No longer did I want to go out and get so drunk I wouldn’t remember anything of the night before the next morning. No. Instead, I wanted to spend every waking moment with her, whether it was to watch her work, read, or sleep.

  And I’m man enough to admit I’ve watched her sleep—to the point it’s considered creepy. But when she sleeps, her face is still, her expression peaceful, and I get to see another side to her. When I admired her in that position, it made me realise just how lucky I was to have met her and have her love me back. I never wanted to fuck it up. Ever. She’s the best thing to ever happen to me.

  However, I didn’t need to worry about something I did fucking things up. Just being CJ would do it. My past has put her in danger. She just doesn’t know it.

  When we woke up this morning, I planned on spending the day with her in bed again. The doctors said she needs at least a week’s rest before she does anything too strenuous. Anything other than going to the toilet and watching TV, to me, classes as too strenuous.

  After Allie woke me up in the dead of night, crying out in pain, I’ve barely been able to breathe or think. I’ll never get her pleas or cries out of my head. I never want to see her in pain like that ever again.

  I really believed we had it all.

  Then we didn’t.

  And that night… I might have lost her, too, not just our baby. I’m not sure I’d be able to ever move on from that. It would be like losing half my heart.

  And although my mum has shown me, more times than I count, how strong the human mind can be, I knew mine wouldn’t be. When we were in the ambulance and her blood pressure went alarmingly low, it hit me like a ton of bricks. I knew, knew deep in my soul, I’d never be strong enough to live without her.

  Becoming a dad was something I never pictured being, until I met Allie. When I look to the future, all I see is her. I want us to get married, to have children and grow old together.

  When you know, you know.

  Our plans this morning got broken when I received a message from an unknown number, threatening to take my everything from me.

  I glance down at the phone, clicking my neck from side to side, trying to ease the ache from looking down at my laptop all day. I hadn’t realised how long. My body is stiff, sore. I’m not used to sitting down for as long as I have. I like being on the move, doing something, anything, just as long as I’m doing something.

  I open the message I received this morning, feeling my jaw crack from clenching my teeth.

  UNKNOWN: She didn’t deserve to be tied to you for the rest of her life. I did her a favour by getting rid of that parasite. Tell Allie her time is up. She’s next. PS, I’d stop looking for me, if I was you. More will die if you don’t.

  I must have read the message a million times today, motivating me, angering me. I need to be ready for when I find this wanker.

  I should have told Cole to stay at the flat to keep an eye on Allie, but then I would have had to of told him why. And at the minute, I need my head focused, not having him text me every five minutes. And as much as Allie deserves to know, I’m not putting more stress on her shoulders. She needs to rest, and if I had told her this, she would have wanted to help. I couldn’t let that happen.

  This fucker is the Whithall murderer, killing innocent girls. Someone who shares my DNA. And now I find out he’s the one who murdered our baby, our innocent fucking baby.

  If he thinks I’m going to give up looking for him, from protecting the woman I love, he’s got another thing coming.

  I’ll die trying.

  He’s already taken our baby. If he thinks I’m going to sit back and let him take Allie, he’s more delusional than I originally thought.

  I’ve been researching Mr. Flint all day, trying to find any connection to the man who raped my mother, but so far, I’ve not found anything that suggests the two are connected. I’m not going to stop though.

  I run my fingers through my hair, feeling the hairs on my neck stand on end. For some reason, my intuition is telling me the answer is right in front of me. I’m just too blind to see it.

  I open the next web page, noticing the data I’ve been downloading for the past hour is nearly finished. The police may have sealed off reports and documents, but there’s always a way to get hold of them. You just have to know how. Nothing is gone forever. And today, I got lucky, getting into the online documents by going through the back. It may take longer, but it’s my only shot at finding someth
ing to point me in the right direction.

  When I found the newspaper clippings on Jordan’s laptop, I couldn’t help but look into it. The birth certificate they found isn’t much help but knowing Claire Forest gave birth to a boy is a start. Which is why I’ve hacked and committed various felonies.

  If I can get the name of the child, I’ll be one step closer to finding this fucker and ending him for good.

  It’s the only way this shit is going to end.

  “Come on, motherfucker, I’ve nearly got you,” I mutter, rubbing my tired eyes.

  I lift my Styrofoam coffee cup to my mouth, groaning when a drop of cold liquid touches my lips. I look around, finding no one nearby, so I leave my shit and move over to the coffee machine. It’s not even good coffee, but it’s done the trick nicely, and I haven’t got the time to traipse all over Whithall university for it. Having no sleep over the past few days is starting to catch up to me. I’m afraid that if I close my eyes, something else will happen to Allie. It’s my duty to protect her, to keep her safe. I understand there was nothing I could have done to prevent the miscarriage—none of us could have predicted someone would do that to her—but it still makes me feel useless, like I’ve failed her.

  The coffee machine takes its sweet-arse time pouring me my fucking coffee, the brown liquid dripping in a slow pour.

  I watch it, feeling my vision double.

  Come on.

  I nearly jump with glee when it’s finished, but I’m worried using any more energy will knock me flat on my arse, I’m that exhausted.

  Blowing the steam away, I bring the cup to my lips, taking a sip. I hiss, sucking my lips into my mouth when the horrid liquid burns.

  This fucking coffee sucks.