I reached the front of the prison's exit.
But before I could even step closer, the ground in front of me decided to go through puberty and burst open.
Something — no, someone — crawled out of the dirt like the final boss of a garbage dump.
Big. Burly. Strong.
And dirtier than a politician's promises.
He wasn't human.
Because no human looked like that unless they had been rejected by both evolution and hygiene.
Which could only mean one thing—Malthus had upgraded the prison security.
The ogre-looking freak leaned toward me, staring deep into my eyes like he was trying to find a brain cell to borrow.
He growled, his breath smelling like it murdered a sewer rat just for dessert.
Classic villain behavior: threaten first, think never.
I tilted my head, eyes sliding to his neck.
"Your neck is so thick," I said, voice smooth as caffeine overdose. "I bet it'll feel good…"
I raised my sleek black katana.
"…to slice it off."
