~Screenshot: “Multi-Storied Tales: Novellas & Short Stories,” by Joseth Moore; official book cover / Sampled short story, “Third Floor,” by Joseth Moore; eFlyer. April 2024~
~READ 2ND SAMPLE, BELOW — >>
From “#ThridFloor,” by #JosethMoore –>>
The two officers that were sent to check the house’s second floor quickly moved through each room, checking for any signs of danger. Fortunately, there were none. Relieved, they nodded at each other.
“Second floor, clear,” Michael, one of the two officers, reported over the comm…nothing.
“Sergeant Ted Walker,” the other officer tried after they both waited for about ten seconds, “this is CPD officer Allison Donaldson reporting that Officer Ramirez and I have swept the second floor–it is cleared!
Over…”
Still nothing…and that included no more cries from the SWAT team on the third floor! Officer Donaldson glanced at the other officer anxiously. They both knew something was wrong. Officer Donaldson made the call to the SWAT team again, her voice a little louder and more urgent this time.
“Jesus,” Officer Ramirez stated, sweat, now, dripping from both of their faces.
“Ok,” Officer Donaldson said, as she tried calming down Ramirez and take control of the situation, “I’m going to call for backup, but we can’t wait–there are citizens and our team on the third floor, Ramirez! So, after I do this call, bro, you and I are going up there…copy that?”
Ramirez nodded, but the apprehension was clear in his countenance! Officer Donaldson quickly made the call for backup and they both started running towards the stairs. They raced up the stairs to the third floor, weapons drawn, ready to face whatever waited for them on the other side of the door. Before opening the door, Officer Donaldson held up one of her hands and silently signaled to Officer Ramirez to wait for her to give the signal. He nodded. Donaldson slowly opened the door and peered inside. Her eyes widened as she saw what was in the room. Officer Ramirez followed her gaze…
For all practical purposes, the third floor was a church; albeit, small, given that it was on the third floor of a century-old house! There were no stained-glass windows, though candles populated the circumference of the layout. All were lit and not a single modern electrical light was used on the third floor!
The pulpit was pretty basic–Dorian, by ancient, architectural standards. Where there usually was some scene depicted from the Bible in towering stain-glass motif behind such pulpits, in its stead were various undulating, pagan symbols mixed in with some Christian icons…but there was no one at the pulpit! Nor was there any music…no chants…
…the pews. The pews were full, almost to capacity! But seated in those antique, wooden seats were not churchgoers, but all the Chicago Police Department’s special squadron and its SWAT team that were assigned to the mission of raiding the middle-class house that was believed to house a major drug organization! But the closest thing to any drugs that officers Donaldson and Ramirez could see in front of them on the third floor was one large circle of salt that was on the floor, directly in front of the pulpit!
They had been tipped off that some drug organization was using the house for drug deals. But the salt circle suggested that the activity was of a different kind. Suddenly, an unexpected feeling of dread filled Officer Ramirez, especially after seeing all their dead fellow officers.
– End SAMPLE –
#PoliticalThriller , #policeprocedural AND #paranormal ; #Retro–#sciencefiction
SECULAR ORDER 