Prison brutality wasn't just from the guards.
A hulking Klie with a chitinous exoskeleton suddenly lunged at a smaller prisoner, slamming him into the wall. The crowd cheered, their voices rising like a pack of wild animals.
Xavier's pulse quickened. He needed to get out of here—now.
But before he could move, a Draconian with scales like polished obsidian stepped into his path, his slit-pupiled gaze locking onto Xavier.
"Fresh meat," he rumbled, his voice like gravel. "You look lost."
Xavier didn't answer. He just stepped back, his fingers curling into fists.
The Draconian grinned, his teeth glinting in the dim light. "Good. Run."
And then he lunged.
Xavier barely had time to react before the Draconian's fist crashed into his jaw, sending him sprawling. The crowd erupted into cheers, their voices rising like a storm.
Xavier's vision swam, his head pounding. But he forced himself up, his fingers curling around a broken piece of metal on the ground.
