The room went completely still. Every child held their breath as Richard Norman's cold presence filled Sacred Virtue's Orphanage. Miss Agatha's warm smile disappeared the moment she saw him.
Kai, who had just finished the prayer, stood frozen. His heart raced with fear and shock. It felt like a nightmare. A killer—someone they had only seen on TV—was standing right in front of them.
Richard was tall and thin, with long, messy hair dripping from the rain. His face looked tired and rough, shaped by years of pain and crime.
For a moment, no one moved. The man from the news was real. He was here.
"Stay close to me," Miss Agatha whispered to the children. Her voice was tight with worry. She had hired extra guards, but it hadn't helped.
"Oh, why the sad faces?" Richard said with a fake smile. "Aren't I welcome here?"
"You're not," Kai said, trying to be brave. His voice shook. "Why are you even here?"
Richard raised an eyebrow. "So you know who I am? What gave it away?" He paused, grinning. "Was it the clothes? Or maybe…"
He lifted his arm slightly, revealing faint stains.
"…the blood?"
Then he laughed—a sharp, cold laugh that made everyone shiver.
He's insane, Kai thought, panic rising. He looked around for something, anything that could help. Minny grabbed his hand, shaking with fear.
Miss Agatha finally stepped forward. Her voice was calm, but careful. "Please don't mind the boy… but tell me, why are you here? If you're looking for shelter, we can help. But this is the first place the police will—"
"I'm not staying," Richard said, cutting her off.
"If you need money—" Miss Agatha started.
"I don't want your money," he snapped.
Her fear showed now. "Then what do you want?"
Richard stared at her for a long moment. Then he said, "You seem like a woman of faith. My mother was like that too." His voice turned thoughtful. "So tell me, Miss Agatha—do you believe people like me can still be saved?"
"Yes," she answered softly but firmly. "I believe anyone can change. No matter what they've done."
Richard gave a crooked smile. "That's what I thought."
He looked around the room, his voice quieter. "I was planning to keep running. But then I heard something—something I hadn't heard in years… children laughing."
He paused.
"It felt… strange. So I stopped to watch. And I saw something I didn't think was possible. A home for lost kids… full of peace and laughter."
His eyes darkened. "And now, I want to tear it all apart."
Gasps echoed around the room. The kids stared in horror as his words sank in.
"I want to crush every bit of joy here," Richard said, his voice filled with hate. His red eyes burned in the shadows.
"There's no place for happiness in this world," he muttered. "That's what I told my mother before I—"
He stopped, but everyone could feel the weight of what he didn't say.
Then he looked back at Miss Agatha. "So, tell me again… do you still believe there's hope for someone like me?"
Miss Agatha couldn't answer. The evil in his eyes was too strong.
The children huddled together, terrified. Their safe world had just been shattered.
Kai's mind raced. Fear filled him, but he couldn't just stand there. He had to do something. He had to protect them.
His eyes fell on a knife on the table. Without thinking, he grabbed it. His hands were shaking, but he threw it straight at Richard.
The knife hit Richard's shoulder. Blood trickled down—but Richard didn't even flinch.
"Just like always," he said coldly. "I don't feel pain."
Then his eyes started glowing dark red.
"I don't feel anything."
In a flash, Richard dashed forward. He was too fast. Before anyone could react, he kicked Kai hard. Kai crashed through the wall and landed outside, unconscious in the rain.
"Kai!" Miss Agatha cried out.
Richard didn't blink. "He's dead."
He turned to the others, his voice cold and cruel.
"Now then… who's next?"