The Moonlight Ritual

The two boys sat in the near-absolute blackness of Kyle’s darkened bedroom, the only illumination being provided by a pair of rapidly melting candles and a trickling of moonlight permitted by the open window. The Oujia board they were intently focused on had not “spoken” during the entire session and they were beginning to wonder if Parker Brothers had conned them out of twenty bucks. That is, until the pointer abruptly began moving.

“I’m not moving it! Are you moving it?!” Kyle asked in panic.

“Kyle…” Stanley droned ominously.

“Yeah?”

“Of course I’m moving it you damn bloody idiot! These things don’t actually work!” Stanley said as he threw his arms up in the air in exasperated disbelief.

“Goddammit, I was actually-“ Kyle said while he too took his hands off the pointer until Stanley cut him off.

“Wait, how did you do that?”

“Do what?”

“Don’t play dumb. How are you moving it without touching it?” Stanley asked.

“I’m not…” Kyle began until he trailed off in horror as he noticed the Oujia board’s pointer was indeed heading towards the number 1 on the board. He looked up at Stanley, and the dread in Kyle’s eyes did a better job communicating the situation to Stanley than any words he could muster would have.

“What do we do?” Kyle asked.

“Let’s let this play out” Stanley suggested.

“…really?”

“There’s not much else we can do.”

“We could leave. Like, now” Kyle offered.

“Wait, it’s spelling something out!” Stanley exclaimed.

13

THEWYCHINGHOURDRAWSNEAR

13

TEARSDRAWNOUTMOONLIGHTCLEAR

13

THEANIMALINMANBLEEDSENCAGED

13

TEARSOFVICTIMSBLINDFROMRAGE

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