Hunting Heroes: A Superhero Novel Read Online Free

voice.
    “Can’t a man wearing a mask enjoy the night on a rooftop?” Garrett slid a foot forward. “I bet you do sometimes.”
    “No, I do not,” Shadow Guard said.
    “Don’t worry. I don’t plan on hurting them,” Garrett pointed back to the streets below. “They’ll be just fine. They have you here, don’t they?”
    “It is my sworn duty to protect them,” Shadow Guard said. “I will give you one more chance to state your reason for being here.”
    “You heroes always think you know what’s best.” Garrett slid his right foot forward.
    “Leave now, or I will remove you by force,” Shadow Guard said.
    Garrett placed his hands on his hips. “By force you mean with your powers.”
    A growl filled the air around them.
    Garrett lowered his eyes to the rooftop and told himself it was only a trick. He focused on Emma’s little hand with the purple nail polish in his mind. Rage flowed forth and steadied his nerves. This was not the time for weakness or emotions, he would let his body guide him.
    “Just so you know it’s nothing personal.” Garrett charged Shadow Guard head on.
    Garrett swung his right fist at the glowing green eye, an easy target to hit on a man made from night. Shadow Guard anticipated the rush and used his power and melted into the darkness below his feet. The force of Garrett’s punch struck nothing but the air and nearly sent him to the ground.
    “Dammit!” Garrett said under his breath when he regained his footing.
    His mind shuffled through the information on Shadow Guard, his eyes kept vigil for an attack. “Ok, teleportation, shadow weapons and other stuff. Focus,” he said in a whisper the wind could not even hear.
    “I know you’re still here,” Garrett said to the darkness around him. “You’re going to hide from me? That’s not what Patriot would do? He’d charge right in.” His eyes moved to every dark surface he could see.
    “There’s way too many hiding places for someone like you,” Garrett said.
    Garrett ran to the edge of the roof near the fire escape, and peered over the edge into the alley. Dim halos of light pierced the night when it invaded the alley. Garrett was relieved he decided to fight on the roof and not down there. He turned away from the alley only to catch a glimpse of a gauntlet before it smashed into his face. Garrett’s head reeled back from the punch, his feet slipped, and he began to fall backwards over the edge of the rooftop.
    Shadow Guard grabbed Garrett’s shoulders before he could plummet into the darkness below. When he touched Garrett, the shadows we wore like armor vanished in a puff of black smoke. His spandex clad human form exposed for all to see.
    Garrett flew forward through the air and landed face first with a groan.
    “What are you doing to me?” Shadow Guard patted down his body while he reformed his armor.
    Garrett lifted himself off the rooftop. “Problems?” he said while he rubbed his jaw. Shadow Guard jumped forward and gave him a swift punch to the side of his head, his armor faded once again.
    Garrett’s head jerked to the side and he responded with a double-fisted punch to Shadow Guard’s chest. Shadow Guard jumped back, wincing in pain.
    “What are you?” Shadow Guard said while darkness once again began to wrap around his body.
    Garrett winced when he rubbed the side of his face. “I’m one of you and that was a cheap shot.”
    “Enough stalling,” Garrett rushed forward with a fist pulled back. He saw the same metal gauntlet about to bludgeon his face and he threw his arm up to block the blow in time. Shadow Guard dipped around Garrett and sprinted across the roof.
    “You don’t look too scary without all your shadows,” Garrett followed his prey. He sent a brutal punch at Shadow Guard’s face and connected right between the eyes. He followed with a uppercut to Shadow Guard’s stomach and caught him completely off guard. Garrett continued his onslaught with a flurry of punches to the his head