Page 40 of Fatality

None of it looks legal, most of it seems purely aesthetic.

Elyas leads me toward what looks like the old docks.

Where the hell am I? What kind of fucked-up situation did I agree to walk into?

We approach a growing crowd, and instinctively I grab the back of his shirt.

Elyas pushes through the mass of people, one hand wrapping tightly around my wrist.

He isn't very tall, but he's broad enough that people step aside as he forces his way through.

We finally stop near the edge of the crowd.

There are all kinds of people here and they are roaring and cheering like animals waiting for blood.

But for what?

Then a tall, broad-shouldered man with scars carved across his cheeks steps onto a raised platform I hadn't even noticed before, too busy trying not to get overwhelmed by everything around me.

“Ladies and gentlemen!” His voice explodes through the microphone. “Welcome to the weekly competition!”

The crowd erupts instantly.

What the fuck did Elyas drag me into?

“Take your places! Make your bets!” The man grins. “But don't forget...” His smile sharpens. “This isn't a game.”

A pause.

“This is life or death.”

Then he drops the microphone where he stands and walks off the platform.

I stare after him, completely lost, while the crowd immediately surges into motion.

Before I can process anything, Elyas tugs on my wrist again and drags me with him.

“Elyas!” I raise my voice, loud enough for him to hear over the chaos.

He glances back.

“What the hell is happening? I don't want to be part of whatever this shit is!”

“Relax, Riv!” He laughs. “It'll be fun! And I need to pay you back somehow!”

Suddenly, he heads toward a car, a beautiful but heavy-looking black-and-white machine.

I barely have time to react before Elyas yanks open the passenger door and gently but firmly shoves me inside.

Then he buckles me in and slams the door shut.

“What the fuck is this?!” I start raising my voice.

Elyas slides into the driver's seat, starts the engine, and slowly rolls toward a thick white line painted across the ground.

Other cars line up beside us.

A loud mechanical buzzing approaches overhead.