Read Online Modern Rituals by J.S. Leonard - Free Book Online

an inset, circular handle, flush with the wall.  
    “What the…” James said. “Is this some kind of hidden entrance? You can barely see an outline.”
    “Whoever used it probably wanted it that way,” Olivia said.
    Before James could respond, a blood-curdling scream echoed from the hall outside.

    3

    Theo’s head hung like a sunken ship. His fingers had left chilly impressions in his temples and the onset of a migraine bullied the backsides of his eyeballs—sullen stares from the room confirmed that his demeanor had infected the monitoring station.  
    “Susan, tell me we got something,” he said.
    Susan’s furious expression remained locked on the touchscreen, her hands swiping and tapping like mad. An eternity passed.  
    “Sorry sir, Super-814N still hasn’t made an appearance, even with Coercive Protocol Three.”
    A deep sigh slithered from Theo’s chest.  
    It’s been two hours…two hours! No deaths.
    “What the hell is she thinking?” he said to himself.
    A loud beep emanated from Susan’s terminal. She stilled, her arms and hands idling in mid-air. She frowned.
    Oh dear God, what is it now?
    “Susan, I can’t help but notice it when you see something you don’t like. What’s going on?”
    She tapped the screen, then swiped toward the massive monitor in the front of the station, transferring the contents of her display to HULK, which stole the attention of the room’s 48 occupants.
    Theo’s stomach seized—the constriction forced a wad of bile into his mouth. He chewed it back.
    “You have gotta be kidding me. Spectral interference? Is Clayton sleeping on the job, or something?” Theo said.  
    “You know this isn’t Clayton’s fault,” Susan said, then realized she’d spoken out of turn, and tried to recover. “I…uh…yes, sir, perhaps he is.”
    Theo’s eyes might have been X-rays for the stare he gave Susan in response to her retort.
    HULK displayed a topographical map of the school grounds and surrounding area. Seven blue dots moved about: two moving quickly from the southern perimeter, the others paired in different enclosures. The school occupied the dead-center of the round map, surrounded by forest and beyond that, nothing. Three red blotches, representing spectral interference, floated here and there in the forest.
    “We need cleanup ASAP on those specters,” Theo said. How peculiar…and potentially disastrous. “Get Trevor in here, now! Ugh, we gotta call this in.”
    He turned to find General Ethan Holmes gone. He didn’t miss the antagonizing glare of disapproval at which Ethan was a pro, nor protecting his subordinates from its harassment—only a commanding officer could master such a stare.
    Convenient time to step out… That cheeky, babysitting bastard. He’d better not be up to anything.
    Next to Theo resided a tablet with a single purpose: to inform upstairs of anomalies discovered within a ritual. Theo detested the thing—it demonstrated weakness and also possessed the uncanny ability to freak out his superiors, who, when alarmed, could be dangerous—downright lethal, even.
    He stroked the tablet’s aluminum bezel, then drew his pictorial password. The login screen animated into a big, red CALL button. The button’s simple and singular design infuriated Theo since he’d designed it for complete idiots.  
    He mashed his finger down on the button—establishing an instantaneous connection like a walkie-talkie—and then leaned into the tablet’s microphone.
    “This is Purgatory 8 reporting. We have a Code 24 and are engaging a cleanup protocol. The situation is under control.”
    A female voice emitted from the device: “Copy—we have noted your report. Please keep us informed as to the outcome of the Code 24. Do you require further assistance?”
    “No, we got it from here. Over and out,” he said, double-tapping the screen, severing the connection.
    Well, now we’re on their radar. I’m sure we can expect a visit from the CO. Or shit, even