Congratulations !
You have been awarded points.
Thank you for !
- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Horror
- Subject: Mystery
- Published: 07/10/2023
Third Floor
Born 1970, M, from Lincoln, Nebraska, United States“Third Floor,” by Joseth Moore. Story Star version. Copyright @2023.
Things are not as they seem in a middle-class neighborhood in Chicago when a SWAT team goes in to bust up what is believed to be a major drug operation.
Indeed, it would’ve been better for the city to send a priest over…
Prairie Avenue area; downtown Chicago, USA. Present Day…
"...Ok, second line, go in!" Sergeant Walker of the Chicago Police Department kept his eyes on his table-device's monitor as he watched his team in action during the late-night operation!
His troops moved quickly and silently, their training and experience coming into play. He felt a sense of pride in his team, knowing they would be successful in their mission. He could hardly wait to hear the report when it was all over...But, that's how Sergeant Walker always felt with every mission; especially when running Chicago's SWAT jobs. Ever since the '20 pandemic, America's crime rate had rocketed and Walker could see the difference in his hometown.
"Line two in position," came back one of the officers over the comm.
Walker scanned the perimeter one last time, his heart pounding. He nodded, and the team moved in. It was time to take back the city, and this house in this particular middle-class barrio was just the start, he thought to himself. He didn't know what dangers were ahead, but he was determined to drive out the criminals that had taken control of the neighborhood.
"Let's rock!" the sergeant softly said over the comm as he looked around at his advising team nearby; they were all in a parked dark-colored van one block away.
Walkers' team in the large van watched in silence as his two lines of SWAT members rushed into one of those big, century-old houses in Prairie Avenue! The SWAT force quickly broke into the house and spread throughout the rooms. Sergeant Walker watched intently as his team searched every corner of the house, ready to face whatever they may find. He knew that the criminals had been using this house as a base of operations and he was determined to put an end to their reign of terror of drugs--both from the streets and in prescription form! The team moved fast, searching every room and closet for any signs of the criminals or their contraband...nothing!
‘Christ,’ Walker thought; having a sudden wash of dread, ‘did we go to the wrong house?’
But then...
"Captain Corn," another of the officers called out over the comm; addressing Sergeant Walker by his radio call-name. "We've got twenty on subjects--third floor!"
"Execute, Night Hammer," Walker barked to the SWAT-team lead!
The comm went silent for almost a minute, the only sound being the occasional static from the radio. Though Sergeant Walker and his advisors in the van were following the mission via various livestreamed videos by way of miniature cameras on a couple of the SWAT officers’ helmets, it meant nothing to them if the principals of the operation could not communicate with those in-theater! The tension in the van was palpable as the team watched the house, waiting to hear something from the team leader…
Walker's senior team leaders with him in the high-tech van all gave concerned looks at him.
"Sound off!" the sergeant bellowed!
Then, both livestreamed videos went blank!
Walker then rushed out of the van and sprinted towards the house. His advisors followed close behind, weapons at the ready. As he approached the house, Walker called out for the SWAT team to report back on the comm. He was met with silence. Walker stopped at the entrance of the house and gestured for his advisor team to fan out and cover the perimeter. He took a deep breath and steeled himself for whatever dangers may await him inside.
Since both the front and back doors were already busted open previously from the SWAT team, all that the senior team and Sergeant Walker had to do was slowly make their way into the darkened, three-storied house...
"Owl," Walker called out to the officer who stayed behind in the van to watch communications, "anything yet?"
"Negative, Captain Corn," Owl replied, "all is silent on the comms. We haven't heard anything from the team since they took up position in the house."
"Copy that..."
The senior officers converged in the middle of the house; none saying a word. They all looked around as they stood--no bodies; alive nor dead!
"Night Hammer's team spotted them on the third floor," the sergeant reminded the team he had left. They all nodded in response to him.
Just as Sergeant Walker took a step on the stairs leading to the second and third floors, the sound of running feet echoed up the stairway. The sergeant quickly shouted out for the team to take cover. He braced himself!
"Hold your fire," yelled another of Walker's officers. By that time, voices from the third floor could be heard! The officer looked at Sergeant Walker. "It's SWAT, Sarg! I recognize some of the voices."
"Why the hell didn't they resp--" Sergeant Walker didn't finish his sentence...
Standing on the stair-landing was a child--a boy. Approximately 10 years old. He was in a formal school uniform; even down to his shoes!
All eyes went to Walker, the cries from the CPD's SWAT force had not stopped! Oddly, there was no gunfire to be heard…
"Felix," Sergeant Walker commanded, "grab church-boy...everyone else, let's go!"
Felix grabbed the child and rushed him out of the house while Sergeant Walker and the rest of his senior advisors from the van rushed up the stairs! To be sure, Walker instructed two of the officers with him to check the second floor--just in case there were any suspects or any other situation they needed to know about!
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 to 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.
"Oh, my god, Allison...we were told wrong about this family...they aren't some American cartel; the stuff our informant saw being delivered to them was salt!"
Officer Donaldson was still in shock upon finding all the dead CPD propped on the pews! Then it sank in with her what Ramirez just said. "Salt..." She looked around the third floor--it was now becoming obvious to both officers!
Ramirez's hand was shaking wildly while he pointed as he talked with an equally shaky voice. "Mire, mi hermana...some crucifix laying around; of course the salt-ring on the floor to act as a barrier; and the windows are all boarded up, looks like to keep someone in the room..."
At that point, it was, now, Officer Donaldson that was beginning to scare Ramirez, by the way she slowly turned her head to look at him!
"What," Ramirez asked with bewilderment!
"That last thing you just said, bro...the windows are all boarded up. So, where's the priest and whoever may have been the helper to conduct the exorcism?"
The wheels in Officer Ramirez's head were turning. He looked off to a corner of the third floor and an unholy epiphany had slowly dawned upon him!
"...and the only person to walk out of the third floor --"
Checkmate.
"All units, all units, this is alpha-emergency from Prairie Avenue operation...this is one of two surviving CPDs on scene...Any officers that handled the minor--male, approximately 10--must detain him immediately and use of fatal force may be required...Repeat, detainment of 10-year-old from Prairie Avenue operation is alpha-emergency!”
By this time, Officer Ramirez had gotten so exhausted that he slumped onto the floor, just a couple of feet from Donaldson.
Officer Donaldson glanced at him. “Who took the kid, Mike?”
Ramirez had to try to remember after all that had happened! “Felix…”
By this time, the comm had gotten crowded with overlapping, curt discord from cops throughout Chicago!
“DJ Street,” Donaldson called out to Felix, using his call-name, “sound off…” A myriad of scratchy voices from other police officers popped as she waited for Felix to confirm. “Officer DJ Street, sound off…!”
~fin~
[ “Third Floor,” was partially created by wordtune’s Ai at appx. 40% artificial intelligence-ratio. ~Joseth Moore (Scifiguy) ]
(Cavan, Adobe)
Third Floor(Joseth Moore)
“Third Floor,” by Joseth Moore. Story Star version. Copyright @2023.
Things are not as they seem in a middle-class neighborhood in Chicago when a SWAT team goes in to bust up what is believed to be a major drug operation.
Indeed, it would’ve been better for the city to send a priest over…
Prairie Avenue area; downtown Chicago, USA. Present Day…
"...Ok, second line, go in!" Sergeant Walker of the Chicago Police Department kept his eyes on his table-device's monitor as he watched his team in action during the late-night operation!
His troops moved quickly and silently, their training and experience coming into play. He felt a sense of pride in his team, knowing they would be successful in their mission. He could hardly wait to hear the report when it was all over...But, that's how Sergeant Walker always felt with every mission; especially when running Chicago's SWAT jobs. Ever since the '20 pandemic, America's crime rate had rocketed and Walker could see the difference in his hometown.
"Line two in position," came back one of the officers over the comm.
Walker scanned the perimeter one last time, his heart pounding. He nodded, and the team moved in. It was time to take back the city, and this house in this particular middle-class barrio was just the start, he thought to himself. He didn't know what dangers were ahead, but he was determined to drive out the criminals that had taken control of the neighborhood.
"Let's rock!" the sergeant softly said over the comm as he looked around at his advising team nearby; they were all in a parked dark-colored van one block away.
Walkers' team in the large van watched in silence as his two lines of SWAT members rushed into one of those big, century-old houses in Prairie Avenue! The SWAT force quickly broke into the house and spread throughout the rooms. Sergeant Walker watched intently as his team searched every corner of the house, ready to face whatever they may find. He knew that the criminals had been using this house as a base of operations and he was determined to put an end to their reign of terror of drugs--both from the streets and in prescription form! The team moved fast, searching every room and closet for any signs of the criminals or their contraband...nothing!
‘Christ,’ Walker thought; having a sudden wash of dread, ‘did we go to the wrong house?’
But then...
"Captain Corn," another of the officers called out over the comm; addressing Sergeant Walker by his radio call-name. "We've got twenty on subjects--third floor!"
"Execute, Night Hammer," Walker barked to the SWAT-team lead!
The comm went silent for almost a minute, the only sound being the occasional static from the radio. Though Sergeant Walker and his advisors in the van were following the mission via various livestreamed videos by way of miniature cameras on a couple of the SWAT officers’ helmets, it meant nothing to them if the principals of the operation could not communicate with those in-theater! The tension in the van was palpable as the team watched the house, waiting to hear something from the team leader…
Walker's senior team leaders with him in the high-tech van all gave concerned looks at him.
"Sound off!" the sergeant bellowed!
Then, both livestreamed videos went blank!
Walker then rushed out of the van and sprinted towards the house. His advisors followed close behind, weapons at the ready. As he approached the house, Walker called out for the SWAT team to report back on the comm. He was met with silence. Walker stopped at the entrance of the house and gestured for his advisor team to fan out and cover the perimeter. He took a deep breath and steeled himself for whatever dangers may await him inside.
Since both the front and back doors were already busted open previously from the SWAT team, all that the senior team and Sergeant Walker had to do was slowly make their way into the darkened, three-storied house...
"Owl," Walker called out to the officer who stayed behind in the van to watch communications, "anything yet?"
"Negative, Captain Corn," Owl replied, "all is silent on the comms. We haven't heard anything from the team since they took up position in the house."
"Copy that..."
The senior officers converged in the middle of the house; none saying a word. They all looked around as they stood--no bodies; alive nor dead!
"Night Hammer's team spotted them on the third floor," the sergeant reminded the team he had left. They all nodded in response to him.
Just as Sergeant Walker took a step on the stairs leading to the second and third floors, the sound of running feet echoed up the stairway. The sergeant quickly shouted out for the team to take cover. He braced himself!
"Hold your fire," yelled another of Walker's officers. By that time, voices from the third floor could be heard! The officer looked at Sergeant Walker. "It's SWAT, Sarg! I recognize some of the voices."
"Why the hell didn't they resp--" Sergeant Walker didn't finish his sentence...
Standing on the stair-landing was a child--a boy. Approximately 10 years old. He was in a formal school uniform; even down to his shoes!
All eyes went to Walker, the cries from the CPD's SWAT force had not stopped! Oddly, there was no gunfire to be heard…
"Felix," Sergeant Walker commanded, "grab church-boy...everyone else, let's go!"
Felix grabbed the child and rushed him out of the house while Sergeant Walker and the rest of his senior advisors from the van rushed up the stairs! To be sure, Walker instructed two of the officers with him to check the second floor--just in case there were any suspects or any other situation they needed to know about!
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 to 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.
"Oh, my god, Allison...we were told wrong about this family...they aren't some American cartel; the stuff our informant saw being delivered to them was salt!"
Officer Donaldson was still in shock upon finding all the dead CPD propped on the pews! Then it sank in with her what Ramirez just said. "Salt..." She looked around the third floor--it was now becoming obvious to both officers!
Ramirez's hand was shaking wildly while he pointed as he talked with an equally shaky voice. "Mire, mi hermana...some crucifix laying around; of course the salt-ring on the floor to act as a barrier; and the windows are all boarded up, looks like to keep someone in the room..."
At that point, it was, now, Officer Donaldson that was beginning to scare Ramirez, by the way she slowly turned her head to look at him!
"What," Ramirez asked with bewilderment!
"That last thing you just said, bro...the windows are all boarded up. So, where's the priest and whoever may have been the helper to conduct the exorcism?"
The wheels in Officer Ramirez's head were turning. He looked off to a corner of the third floor and an unholy epiphany had slowly dawned upon him!
"...and the only person to walk out of the third floor --"
Checkmate.
"All units, all units, this is alpha-emergency from Prairie Avenue operation...this is one of two surviving CPDs on scene...Any officers that handled the minor--male, approximately 10--must detain him immediately and use of fatal force may be required...Repeat, detainment of 10-year-old from Prairie Avenue operation is alpha-emergency!”
By this time, Officer Ramirez had gotten so exhausted that he slumped onto the floor, just a couple of feet from Donaldson.
Officer Donaldson glanced at him. “Who took the kid, Mike?”
Ramirez had to try to remember after all that had happened! “Felix…”
By this time, the comm had gotten crowded with overlapping, curt discord from cops throughout Chicago!
“DJ Street,” Donaldson called out to Felix, using his call-name, “sound off…” A myriad of scratchy voices from other police officers popped as she waited for Felix to confirm. “Officer DJ Street, sound off…!”
~fin~
[ “Third Floor,” was partially created by wordtune’s Ai at appx. 40% artificial intelligence-ratio. ~Joseth Moore (Scifiguy) ]
(Cavan, Adobe)
- Share this story on
- 8
Kevin Hughes
07/17/2023Joseth,
Great story, and I like the way you blended the AI with your own words. I have started playing with Chat GPT (mostly for research) and I think it has some intriquing possiblities. Which you have quite capably displayed in your story. AI's still don't sit around and wonder what story they will write today, but they can read your writing and put out a passably good imitation of your way of writing.
This is the first "good story" I have read that used that combination of Human Creativity and massed word compilation of teh AI. So congrats for both StoryStar of the Day...and for being curious and creative enough to embrace the future!
Smiles, kevin
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Joseth Moore
07/17/2023Hi, Kevin, nice to see you, again & thanks for taking the time to read my story! Yeah, this is my 3rd ebook that i've written with Ai (in case you're curious the other two are "PAUL: Part 2--an Ai-Written Short Story" (which i have posted HERE on Story Star) & "Ishtar's Descendants"--that one i published on Notion Ai's website...
All 3 of these stories i used with Ai varied: As you can read at the end of "Thrid Floor," i used wordtune's Ai at apprx. 40%, the other 2 stories apprx. 90% & 27%, respectively. Using Ai WITH my writing, i'm able to see how far the technology goes AND how much i desire to re-take the wheel, so to speak...almost like the old tech of "auto-driving" that's been around since the 80s!
Thx again, Kevin! ~jm
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Lillian Kazmierczak
07/17/2023That was a terrific story! Great tension and suspense. Nicely written! A well-deserved short story star of the day!
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
Joseth Moore
07/17/2023Lillian, thank you so much for such a wonderful review, BUT also for taking the time to read "Third Floor!" ~jm
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Debra Jean Walsh
07/17/2023Congratulations on Story Star of the day! Your story was chilling and exciting to read! Scary ending!
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Joseth Moore
07/17/2023Thank you so much, Martha! I NEVER take it for granted when Story Star features one of my stories! ~jm
Help Us Understand What's Happening
CPlatt
07/17/2023Congrats on star of the day. A great story, had me gripped all the way through.
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
Joseth Moore
07/17/2023CPlatt, thank you so much for the review & taking the time to read my story! ~jm
Help Us Understand What's Happening
JD
07/16/2023That was strange and creepy but intriguing. Happy short story star of the day, Joseth.
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
Joseth Moore
07/17/2023!! JD, thx as always! You & Story Star just made my day--i JUST learned from you that it's Story Star of the Day! ~jm
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Joseth Moore
07/11/2023* WHOEVER the one book-rater is (at this point, Tues. July 11, 2023), thank you for the 4/5 STARS! ~jm
Reply
COMMENTS (7)