Free The Afterlife Academy by Frank L. Cole

as Trutti selected a rib near the bottom of the stack. The tower of bones toppled over on the table.
    “No!” Trutti whined. “Not again! I really thought I would win this time!”
    “So did I.” Hoonga nodded sympathetically as he spun the Punishment Wheel. The dial landed on “Ears,” and Hoonga blew a billowing puff of fire. Howls and cackles ensued from Trutti and Hoonga, respectively, as red flames ignited the demon’s tiny head.
    “One more game!” Hoonga insisted, rubbing his meaty paws together. “Come on, Trutti.” He made a pouting face as the tortured demon extinguished the flames from his batlike gray ears. “Just one more. I promise to let you win this time.”
    “You said that last time,” Trutti huffed, blinking his yellow eyes. “And the time before that and at least a thousand times before that!” He sucked the saliva from his buckteeth back into his mouth.
    “I can’t help it if you haven’t figured out which pieces to pick. There’s a strategy. Look, if you’ll be a good sport, I’ll teach you how to play and win.”
    Trutti stared at the pile of bone pieces and scrunched his nose.
    Just then, a knock sounded from the door at the top of the staircase, and Hoonga’s eye narrowed. He nodded at Trutti, who eagerly cleaned up the game pieces and shoved them back into their box.
    “Come in, Gorge!” Hoonga bellowed.
    The door opened and a red apelike demon with horns sauntered timidly onto the first step of the staircase. “Master Hoonga, I—” Gorge started to speak, but Hoonga cut him off.
    “Come down here!” he snarled. “Don’t make me strain my ears.”
    Gorge hung his head, horns sparking against the stone handrail as he tromped to the bottom.
    “Now,” Hoonga said once Gorge stood cowering in front of him. “Give me your report.”
    “I ran into a problem with the boy,” Gorge blubbered.
    The Cyclops folded his arms and sat on the edge of his desk. Trutti scampered up onto Hoonga’s shoulder.
    “The boy is aided by some sort of familiar. A guardian spirit. One of the Afterlife Academy Agents, I believe. The shades warned me about it, but I didn’t think it would still be there when I arrived.” Gorge glanced around the room, and his eyes focused momentarily on several rusted torture racks. Known for his zero-tolerance policy when it came to failures, Hoonga always kept his torture racks oiled and ready for use.
    Hoonga followed Gorge’s gaze and smiled. “You’re not making any sense, Gorge. Please explain.”
    Gorge looked away from the horrifying devices. “Uh…the boy. Some spirit guides him from the inside.”
    “Yes, yes, I know. You just explained that. What happened next?”
    “I tried to pull the spirit out, but it resisted, and then…” His head drooped, and Hoonga jabbed a black claw under Gorge’s chin so that Gorge was forced to look him in the eye.
    “You let him get away?”
    “I let him get away.” Gorge let out a sob. “He made it to a sanctuary. I didn’t anticipate that. I toyed with the boy for a bit. Had a little fun. Thought I would chase him around until he wore out, and then I could have an easier time with him. But I wasn’t quick enough. And once he made it to the church, I was powerless, you know. I was this close.” Gorge held up his thumb and forefinger to give Hoonga a visual. “I tried, master, but I failed.”
    Hoonga sighed. “Indeed you did.”
    “But I will try again,” Gorge quickly spoke. “Next time there’s a storm. The very next time, I will go, and I will not fail you. You’ll see. I’ll—”
    “Ah, but you see, there’s no more rain in the forecast for the next few days.” Hoonga clamped his hand on Gorge’s shoulder and squeezed. “That’s why your attack was so important. I think I was very clear with you when I gave you this assignment.”
    Gorge groaned. “I know, I know. Give me another chance, boss. Let me make this up to you.”
    “Oh, absolutely!” Hoonga