Ghosts of Karnak Read Free

served its purpose, and the Enforcer had already buried its other fist in the wall. It slid a few feet in a shower of brick dust, before resuming its steady ascent.
    The Ghost continued to rise slowly, keeping his back to the wall. If he could get it high enough, maybe there was a chance he could do some damage.
    “Come on, keep up!” he called down to the pilot. “Can’t you see I’m getting away?” Blood flecked his lips as he spoke, and he wiped it away with the edge of his sleeve.
    They were nearing the upper story now. He’d have to act soon, before they reached the roof. Up there, he’d have no chance of bringing it down.
    The drop was around thirty feet. It had to be enough.
    With a deep breath, the Ghost fell back against the wall, and then pushed himself away, dipping his head into a dive.
    The Enforcer, seeing him hurtling down toward it, pulled one of its hands free and tried to swat him out of the sky. He twisted, narrowly avoiding the metal fist, and caught hold of the back of the Enforcer’s frame, swinging himself up and around, so that he was now the right way up again, and clutching onto its shoulders.
    It thrashed, trying to shake him loose, its free hand grasping for him, reaching up and around its back, but its shoulder joints wouldn’t pivot far enough, and he was able to keep just out of its reach.
    This was his chance, his one opportunity.
    The Ghost flipped again, turning upside down and aiming his boosters at the wall. Still clinging onto the Enforcer’s frame, he gave the ignition cord a second tug, increasing the burn rate. He’d spend precious fuel this way, emptying the canisters, but he couldn’t see any other option.
    Luckily, the Enforcer didn’t appear to comprehend what he was doing, still grappling for him with its free hand instead of trying to keep itself attached to the wall.
    He felt a sudden jerk as the force of the boosters kicked out, searing his ankles and wrenching them both away from the building. The Enforcer bellowed as it lost its grip, its hand still opening and closing redundantly, trying desperately to cling on as they launched back into the air
    The Ghost let go, releasing his grip on the Enforcer as it tumbled, the momentum sending him spiraling up into the sky, out of control. He fought to right himself, throwing his weight left and twisting, just as he dove at the wall of the opposing building. He struck a windowpane instead, bursting through into the darkened apartment beyond, striking the ceiling, setting the curtains aflame and, seconds later, crashing down into the dining table and sending a candelabra flying. Black smoke curled from his ankles, and the room filled with the stench of burned flesh.
    Hurriedly, he clambered to his feet, wrenched the curtains from their rail and tossed them—still burning—out of the open window. They fluttered and billowed on the night breeze, trailing thick smoke, as they slowly drifted to the ground.
    He peered after them. The Enforcer was lying in the road, its exoskeleton buckled, the pistons of one leg still firing spasmodically, causing the limb to twitch with a mechanical whirr. Inside, the pilot wasn’t moving.
    He could hear sirens trilling in the distance. It was time for him to leave. A quick glance at the ruins of his boots told him the canisters had completely burned out. He’d have to take the more traditional route home.
    He carefully removed his broken goggles, wiped the blood from his eyes and buttoned his coat. He’d lost his hat at some point during the fight, but it mattered little; like this, he was just Gabriel Cross, the rich playboy and former soldier. No one would give him a second look.
    With a final glance at the devastation in the street below, the Ghost hobbled to the apartment door and let himself out into the hallway.

THREE
    Gabriel had always adored the sea.
    He supposed he’d probably been raised with a predisposition, having grown up on an island, but he loved how the fresh, briny