Escanor Novels & Stories

A black maybach was parked directly in front of the hospital and she could already guess who it was. Truthfully, Malcolm climbed out of the car and he had a bouquet of flowers with him. “Hey” she said awkwardly. “This is for you” he handed her the flower and she collected it and sniffed it. “They’re beautiful, thank you” “Shall we?” Aurora hesitated for a moment, she had a feeling someone was watching her keenly. “Nervous?” Malcolm asked in concern when he noticed the look on her face. “Kind off”

His eyes opened wide. “There is an inscription.” I nodded, suddenly remembering. Yes. There was an inscription. What? “Something in Greek, I think,” I said. “Latin,” he corrected. “Spina rosam et congregari Salem,” he said, and then looked at me, as if expecting me to understand. I had no idea. I never had. “It says: The rose and the thorn meet in Salem.” He stared at me, and I stared back. My mind raced, wondering what that could mean. His eyes had shone with a newfound purpose.

I coldly answered as I turn away from him. “Look, Rissy, I know we had a rough start but—” “I said don’t call me that!” I yelled that made Skye and Sage flinched in surprise. “Noona…” “My name is Iris Grey and no one can ever change that!” After a few seconds, I felt the ground shake indicating of an earthquake. The books on the shelves started to fall and before Skye was hit, I immediately used my body to protect him. I was surprised when I felt someone behind me and shielded me from the falling books. Sage... why are you so hard to hate.

“What? But we’ve Adrien turned sharply, the scanner rising as he followed the signal across the room. The tone grew louder near the ceiling high, piercing. Ryan followed his gaze upward. The smoke detector. Adrien’s expression went cold. He climbed onto the table, reaching up. Ryan steadied him instinctively. “Careful.” Adrien twisted the device free. The red light on its edge blinked once then again. The scanner in his hand started screaming. “Ryan, step back!”

**<< Could be key… Antidote research… Reverse engineering… Need its genetic profile… Without it… fighting blind… >>** The burden of the vial grew heavier. Destroying it eliminated one weapon but sacrificed potential salvation. Keeping it made them a target and risked it falling back into enemy hands. Before they could debate, Winters stiffened. He pulled a compact scanner from his pack – different from the thermal imager. It emitted a low, urgent beep. His expression, usually impassive, tightened almost imperceptibly. **<< Signal trace. Short-range. Directional. >>** He moved swiftly to the clinic’s grimy window, peering out into the rain-lashed darkness. **<< Triangulating… source: perimete

Aiden tensed— Dante appeared from the shadows, arms full of supplies: food, water, a burner phone, clothes, and something metal. Aiden blinked. “What’s that?” “A scrambler,” Dante said proudly. “Blocks local scanners.” Aiden’s lips parted. “Where did you get that?” “Borrowed it.” “You mean stole it,” Aiden said softly. “I mean borrowed it forever.” Dante smirked. “Now move.” They made their way deeper into town, avoiding main streets. Dante walked slightly ahead, shoulders tense, scanning for danger. Aiden tried to follow, but every few steps the world pulsed with sensory overload.

Then—screech. A shrill noise of skidding tires. I turned my head. An unkempt black SUV surged backward from its position, shaking like a beast in chaotic fury. The driver's head sagged agonizingly against the rolled-down window, a half-empty bottle glimmering in his impotent hand. I could feel my blood freeze. He is drunk. The headlights lit my way as they appraised me; the SUV roared backward, too fast, too close. I was frozen to the spot, fear cementing my feet to the ground.

A metallic pulse of silver-blue light flashed across the black surface in a sleek ripple. Both of us jerked. “What the—” Where my thumbs had been resting, the surface of the box shifted inward with a smooth click. A panel on the side facing us slid open, revealing what looked disturbingly like a compact retinal scanner tucked inside. For one stunned second, neither of us moved. Then the red light inside the scanner blinked on. Bright. It swept once across Ethan’s face. And before either of us could react, the light narrowed—tightened into a laser-thin beam—and shot directly into his eye.

scanning for the remaining three. The Logic-Gate of the Library While Ethan held the kitchen, a second scout bypassed the "Friction" and headed for the library. He had a "Portable Logic-Scanner," a "Gilded" device designed to find "Biological Keys" through walls. The screen flared red as it "Indexed" the "Residual Heat" of the library floorboards. Inside the "Null-Box," Thomas clutched his breath. He could hear the "Mechanical" clicking of the scout’s boots above him. He remembered the "Shadow Teacher’s" lesson: If the machine finds you, you must 'Hard-Reset' the machine.

I cautioned. Marcus let out an incredulous huff, throwing his hands up. "You have got to be kidding me! A secret elevator, palm readers, an independent entrance... and now what? Security scanners? What’s next, Aella? Are you going to tell us the scan tells you if we’re carrying a bug?" I didn't turn around, but I couldn't resist the ghost of a smirk. "Well, yes, actually," I said calmly. "And if you have been poisoned, or cursed, or even if you've been recently blessed. It also checks for concealed weapons and unauthorized recording devices."