Karmic Entropy by Feyn Peter

Author:Feyn, Peter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-03-25T00:00:00+00:00

29

The Jackal

The police sirens screamed through the streets as Xana and Enis sped to the scene of the crime. Flashes of red and blue reflected dramatically against the epithelial sculpted visages of passersby on the sidewalks. They seemed to pay little attention to the common sight of a racing police car.

The dense overcrowded streets turned to a mix of vacancy and industrial development once the pair sped past the border into the Bronx. The thought of how more than half of the residential blocks had long been replaced with facilities built for manufacturing swiftly passed through Xana’s mind.

“I guess this is it,” she said. Her voice was monotone.

“Hard to miss,” said Enis. “It’s the only megascraper on the block. The rest have all been torn down in preparation for a new R-Tech plant.”

“I grew up in a place like this,” revealed Xana.

“Yeah?”

“Mhm. All those boarded up windows, peeling paint job and lawn chairs left behind remind me of home sweet home. Yep. A castle fit for a pauper.”

Xana couldn’t take her eyes away. She was dazed, remembering times past, but not forgotten.

“Shoot first, ask questions later?” asked Enis.

His voice brought Xana back to Earth. “Every time,” she said.

The lobby was abandoned, vacant, and seemingly haunted. Xana didn’t want to admit it, but the place gave her the creeps. At least the lights were still working.

“Our squatter has been keeping the electricity on,” said Enis.

“It’s because he’s illegally rerouting it from the substation.”

“Truly, the worst criminal.”

“Don’t downplay him. Dude’s an ex-military engineer. Lost his mind and went ballistic when R-Tech started vacating the building. He assaulted three corporate employees sent to get him out, killing one.”

“And here comes us, the cavalry.”

The pair stayed cautious and quiet as the elevator ascended to a floor halfway to the top of the megascraper. The lift made sharp scraping sounds as it opened, revealing a dead, face-down body in the middle of the hallway.

“There’s the R-tech employee,” said Xana.

“Which apartment is it?” asked Enis.

Xana pointed to a blood trail on the floor all leading to a door forty feet away. Enis clucked his tongue.

Walking towards the apartment with their weapons drawn, the cops couldn’t help but feel unnerved by the flickering lights.

“Raiding a crack house,” Enis said, “must be Christmas compared to this place.”

“Save it for later.” Xana scanned her badge on the electronic door pad, forcing it to fully slide open. “POLICE!” she yelled. “HANDS UP!”

The two cautiously entered, guns in hand, checking corners.

“Place is empty,” said Enis. “Maybe our guy went grocery shopping.”

Xana scanned the apartment with her eyes for a good ten seconds. It didn’t take long for her chest to tighten and for her skin to become covered in goosebumps.

“I have a bad feeling here,” she said. “We should get.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice.”

The two retreated speedily to the elevator, eager to get out of the building.

“Call dispatch,” said Xana. “Tell them the guy isn't at his apartment. They’re gonna need a whole team to search this megascraper.” The two had just stepped inside the lift.

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