Multiverse: by Nick Venomz (best books to read for beginners .txt) 📕

Now outside, Tasu looked around for any leads or evidence about the mysterious author who had written the note without issuing a name. He figured that if Randolph was connected to somebody shady who had forced him to stage the outburst, there would be leads in Randolph’s dorm or, more likely, outside since the Sisters did a routine check on every room and defenses were stronger inside the orphanage than outside. Aside from a six-foot fence that acted as the boundaries of the orphanage, there were no other defenses in view. Even with the Sisters out, they couldn’t keep an eye on every inch.

He decided to check out the backyard where a small creek ran through alongside several small hills. The process took him several moments and turned out to be fruitless. He then pointed his focus at another side of the building, checking that side before moving onto the next side and the one after that, being the fourth and final side of the orphanage - an open area with only a few clumps of trees. He went towards the trees, hoping to find any evidence. “If it’s not here then it has to be in Randolph’s dorm. Otherwise, I’m out of luck.”

He continued to look around, not able to find much in the open fields and clumps of trees. There were no clues or evidence linking anything together. “Something feels wrong, but… I’m not sure what.” He muttered as he surveyed the area to no avail. Figuring that he wouldn’t be able to find anything else, he decided to head inside to search for a way inside Randolph’s dorm room. However, he didn’t have to as he came across two sets of faint footprints. One was smaller than the other; Tasu could tell it wasn’t a Sister’s shoes as they wouldn’t have been that large. What he found, instead, was an adult male’s boot. 

Tasu crouched down to investigate both sets of footprints. The smaller set he assumed was Randolph, but he couldn’t get much from the larger footprints as he didn’t know of anybody with a matching foot size.

“I was hoping that nobody would try to investigate Randolph and everybody would have assumed he was undergoing puberty. Unfortunately, one rat seemed to be getting closer to the truth.” A man remarked, appearing from behind Tasu. He was dressed in a black trenchcoat and a flat-top hat, only his mouth exposed by how he angled his head. “Now I gotta deal with you.” He remarked.

Tasu stared at the man, analyzing his attire and quickly deducing his profession. “You’re a vampire hunter, right?” He asked.

The man smiled. “Smart kid. You’re the one who brought the girl in, right? The vampire?” He asked.

“I didn’t bring a vampire girl in, I brought a human girl in,” Tasu said coldly, glaring at the man. 

The man licked his lips. “I prefer vampire blood, but I don’t mind human blood. Especially young blood.” He brandished a flintlock pistol that was heavily modified to make it a repeating pistol - it had improved accuracy and increased fire rate. 

Tasu bit his lip. He has a gun while I’m unarmed, except for my Inescapable Barrier. It worked with Zack and his friends, but this is an experienced adult in front of me. If I only catch the attention of the Sisters or others in the orphanage, then I may escape alive. He thought to himself. He didn’t have confidence in his abilities against an adult, especially one with experience hunting and close combat. 

The man picked up on Tasu’s lack of confidence. “What? Scared, kid?” He mocked him. 

Tasu glared at the man, beginning his chant. “Cage my enemies and prevent escape!” He fired off the magic towards the man, who quickly dodged it. 

“This is the best you got?” He fired off the flintlock pistol, gracing Tasu’s side. The scratch was done on purpose by the man who showed off that he could kill Tasu with ease if he wanted to. 

Tasu gritted his teeth. The flintlock pistol was loud, but not enough to attract the Sisters if only shot once. He needed multiple shots to alert the Sisters. “... Cage my enemies and prevent escape!” He fired off the magic, but it missed the man who responded by firing at Tasu. Fortunately, he dodged the bullets, now sprinting towards the orphanage.

“This bastard,” The man muttered under his breath. “Think you can escape easily? On my name, Britain, you will not escape.” He charged forward, taking careful aim and firing at Tasu, who was pierced in the right shoulder blade, left leg, and the right side of his gut. Tasu collapsed due to the wounds, struggling to rise to his feet. Britain had managed to incapacitate him for the moment but hadn’t killed him. He wanted to take his time to kill Tasu.

Before he could reach Tasu, however, Sister Marie jumped in front of him. She brandished a hilt without a blade, pointing it at Britain. “Who are you? A vampire hunter?” She correctly deduced.

Britain grinned. “A nun dares challenge me without a blade? I would be a laughingstock if I didn't kill you here.”

Sister Marie shook her head. “By God’s decision, you will become a laughingstock.” The hilt began glowing, a blade forming in front of their eyes - emerald in color and receiving the name of the Emerald Blade. 

“A nun using a Mana Sword? I’m surprised.”

“You’ll find out a lot more about me if you continue.” She threatened, piecing her words as politely as she could towards a man who shot one of her children.

Britain sheathed his pistol, taking a step back and half-raising his hands. “Guess, it’s your win. Good luck with keeping the orphanage intact.” He disappeared from their sight, vanishing as if he was a magician. 

With him gone, Sister Marie turned towards Tasu. “Are you okay?” She asked, inspecting his wounds.

Tasu shook his head, pointing at his wounds. “I… I think he’s coming back.” He said.

Sister Marie picked him up, dashing towards the orphanage with him in her arms. “He will. However, in God’s favor, the orphanage will stand. I’m sure of it.” 

TBC... 

Before Kiran could move, he heard the sounds of a person bumping into the wall and limping into garbage bins, knocking them over. Holocene turned to face the door, furrowing her brows. She took a step backward, looking around for a knife. However, before she could find one, the door shot open and revealed a bloody Toraku. He had a wound in his gut, large enough to become a problem in the future if left untreated. His hands were soaked in blood, his skin not able to be seen amidst it. 

He stumbled farther into the room, his eyes glued on Holocene. “I-I-I… I did it.” He said as his body fought with him over his ability to speak. “I… I… I… I… D-Dropped weapon. Gas s-station.” He was speaking in short sentences due to his body slowly deteriorating and worsening by the minutes. 

“You dropped your weapon at the gas station? Go get it before the police arrive.” She whispered, making sure none of her neighbors heard her. 

Toraku furrowed his brows, looking down at his wound before her, his eyes asking her whether or not she understood his situation. He was slowly bleeding out and close to death, but here she was, asking him to go back to the crime scene and try to retrieve evidence in his state.

“Did I stutter? I don’t want my boyfriend in prison.” She said.

Toraku’s eyes lit up. She cares about me. She wants to make sure we still have a future together. I knew I made the right decision. He thought before slowly nodding his head. He moved towards the kitchen, grabbing cloth bandages, dressing his wound, before heading out. He was limping and his breathing was heavy as he left the apartment, headed back to the gas station.

Holocene shook her head, thinking to herself. I need to wait a little bit and then I’ll call the police. Once the police find him, it’ll be a closed case. He’ll be in prison for life for murder and I’ll be free to move to the next one. I just need to wait until he’s out of the building. She thought before moving to the windows, peering outside. She waited until she could see a silhouette limping out of the apartment complex, unseen by the other tenants, and towards the gas station before moving away from the windows.

After being provoked by Mason---her next boyfriend---Torak was now nearing his expiration date. He was of no worth to Holocene anymore.

Meanwhile, Kiran looked down from the vent, unable to see Holocene anymore, but he could hear faint laughter. She seemed proud of herself as she threw the small fish back in the pond and reeled in a twenty-pounder.

Kiran shook his head disapprovingly. Keep laughing, Holocene. Your time is almost over. Give me a few seconds and-

“911, what is your emergency?” The radio operator asked. Holocene had dialed 911 and was now on the phone with them.

“My boyfriend just murdered somebody.” She said in a fake frantic tone. “He just killed somebody and went into our apartment.”

“Is he still there?”

“No, he’s not.” She said, still faking her voice.

“Are you okay? Where is he now?”

Holocene hesitated before answering. “He’s not here. He’s at the nearby gas station.”

“Where do you live?”

“2087 S Brock Place. Apartment 53A.”

“I’m sending a police cruiser to your location. Stay on the line. Do not move from where you are.” The operator told her. Kiran laid in the vents above Holocene. He kept his breathing under control and stayed silent. He couldn’t wait until the police arrived or else his golden opportunity would’ve been wasted. Unfortunately, however, Kiran couldn’t take out his sword without making noise that would attract Holocene’s attention. Instead, he waited anxiously in the vents as a conversation between Holocene and the operator got repetitive, straining his ears for the police sirens.

Before he could act, Toraku appeared, for the second time, with his bloodied body. He held a bloody knife, pointing it at the ceiling. “Back.” He remarked. 

Holocene shrieked, shouting “He’s back,” into the phone. A dumbfounded Toraku stood still, tilting his head. He was unsure of why his “girlfriend” was shouting about him on the phone. He didn’t realize immediately that she had dialed the police.

“... B-Babe?” He muttered, approaching her with the knife still in her hand.

“He’s attacking me!” She shouted.

“W-W-What?” He asked.

“He’s hurting me!” She shouted, faking as if he had attacked her with the knife in his hand.

By now, Kiran was tired of the show Holocene was putting on. Without care for the noise, he jumped down from the vent, brandishing his sword. He dove forward, slicing at Holocene. She dropped the phone in the process, allowing Kiran to end the call with the police. The police cruiser has to be on its way here… I have very little time to end this horror show. He thought to himself, swinging at Holocene. His skills were amateur and somebody with experience could’ve easily