CHAPTER 17 — A DARK VOICE

  Paris had saved seventy-three lives without touching a single thing.

  Unfortunately, that meant the gods now knew he was real.

  Rain poured across the city as the storm continued overhead.

  Lightning flashed in the distance, but the strikes were growing farther apart now.

  The storm was losing strength.

  The danger had passed.

  But Paris didn’t feel relief.

  He felt watched.

  He stood beneath the awning of a closed bookstore, soaked from the rain, staring at the glowing screen of his phone.

  The divine chat was still active.

  But the tone had changed.

  The gods were no longer discussing probability.

  They were discussing him.

  Blood Saint: Fatality estimate confirmed at zero.

  [Goddess of Fate]: All lethal strike vectors diverted.

  [Abyssal Observer]: The anomaly remains within the storm radius.

  Paris exhaled slowly.

  “So you’re still tracking me.”

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Another message appeared.

  [Thunder Sovereign]: Mortals cannot influence atmospheric discharge patterns.

  Blood Saint: Yet probability bent around the anomaly.

  Demon Emperor Baal: Not bent.

  A pause.

  Then another line appeared.

  Paris frowned.

  “What’s the difference?”

  The answer came immediately.

  Demon Emperor Baal: Bending implies resistance.

  Another message followed.

  Demon Emperor Baal: Avoidance implies preference.

  Paris stared at the words.

  Preference.

  Reality itself preferred outcomes where people survived.

  Because of him.

  The rain began to lighten slightly.

  The storm clouds drifted slowly away from the city.

  But the chat continued.

  [Goddess of Fate]: The anomaly’s presence alters probability fields.

  Blood Saint: Causality cannot stabilize near it.

  [Abyssal Observer]: Fate refuses alignment.

  Paris rubbed the back of his neck.

  “That’s not exactly comforting.”

  Another message appeared.

  [Thunder Sovereign]: The anomaly must be isolated.

  Paris felt his stomach tighten.

  Isolated.

  That didn’t sound good.

  Another message followed.

  [Goddess of Fate]: Attempting location triangulation.

  Blood Saint: Cross-referencing deviation points.

  Paris stepped away from the street and into a narrow alley.

  “If they find me…”

  He didn’t finish the sentence.

  He didn’t need to.

  The gods weren’t exactly known for mercy.

  The chat flickered again.

  [Abyssal Observer]: The anomaly moves.

  [Thunder Sovereign]: Continue tracking.

  Paris checked the time.

  The storm had nearly passed.

  People were returning to the streets.

  Cars moved through puddles.

  The city was returning to normal.

  But above the sky—

  The investigation continued.

  His phone buzzed again.

  [Goddess of Fate]: Location variance narrowing.

  Paris froze.

  “Narrowing?”

  Another message appeared.

  Blood Saint: Probability center identified within metropolitan zone.

  Paris swallowed.

  They were getting closer.

  Then—

  Something unexpected happened.

  The chat paused.

  Completely.

  No messages.

  No movement.

  For several seconds.

  Then a new notification appeared.

  But it wasn’t from one of the gods.

  The name that appeared was darker than the others.

  Older.

  Paris frowned.

  “What now?”

  Another message appeared beneath it.

  Demon Emperor Baal: The anomaly is not hiding.

  A pause.

  Demon Emperor Baal: It is learning.

  Paris felt the chill run down his spine.

  Learning.

  Another message appeared.

  Demon Emperor Baal: The variable alters fate intentionally now.

  Paris shook his head.

  “That’s not true.”

  But before he could even finish the thought—

  The chat exploded with activity.

  [Goddess of Fate]: New probability disturbance detected.

  [Thunder Sovereign]: Source unknown.

  [Abyssal Observer]: Deviation originates outside the anomaly’s radius.

  Paris blinked.

  “Outside my radius?”

  Another message appeared.

  Blood Saint: That is impossible.

  The chat paused again.

  Then a final line appeared.

  Demon Emperor Baal: It seems…

  A pause stretched across the screen.

  Then the words appeared slowly.

  Demon Emperor Baal: …the anomaly is not alone.

  Paris’s breath caught.

  The rain stopped completely.

  The clouds above the city parted slowly.

  And somewhere far beneath the invisible lattice of reality—

  Something else had just moved.

  What do you think the gods will do next?

  If you’re enjoying The Variable God, consider following me so you don’t miss future chapters. If you would like early access to chapters, support me on PATREON!

  - Variable God Paris