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“Yeah I know”

“I won’t say a word”

“I know you won’t” He hesitated “I don’t want to get out before you, though”

My throat tightened “Brother,” I choked out the words slowly, “the second you get the green light, fucking run Don’t you dare hang back because of me I’ll be fine”

His uncertain stare punched ut

“I’m serious,” I insisted in a controlled voice “I’ll be out soon enough They can’t keep me here past my birthday”

“Yeah, okay” He held out his hand and I clasped it, pulling hi, careful not to crush his bruised ribs

Hope There it was again, unfurling in my chest

What would kill it this time?

Fight night started off norht It should’ve been tio upstairs

“Got a new one for ya,” Danny shouted

The evil laughter in his voice set e

He dragged a shivering Wiggles to the outside of the ring

“No” I stared at ht”

Wiggles crawled to his hands and knees Danny glared at me

“What’d you say, Hawkins?” Ollie asked

I turned toward Ollie “I said, I’ him”

“Cash, get in there” Ollie pointed at Eraser, then the ring

Eraser shook his head and backed away

Another guard stepped up to the ring “I’ll fight him”

“Fuck yeah,” Ollie shouted

“You’re gonna fight hi badass, beatin’ up on a kid”

“No” He stared down at me “You”

I’d seen the guards challenge some of the other kids The expectation was that you let them win So far, they had

I caught Eraser’s eye and he gave me a subtle headshake

I threw uy”

He snarled at me and whipped off his shirt His chest was covered in crude tattoos Prison ink? It wasn’t like I had the opportunity to ask He calanced off my cheekbone

He had a bit of a size advantage over me, and he was quick

But I had rage onhi him to the floor

Fighting froot me into a headlock He bent my body in half until I couldn’t draw any air I threw an elbow, hitting his jaw The blow loosened his hold for the second I needed to catch a breath and throw another jab Skin scraped off rappled to turnand landed a punch to his chest, then his face

I staggered to my feet and put some distance between us

His labored breathing alerted me that he was up

The wild-eyed kids watching the fight screamed my name