The hall was fuller than ever before.
Voices echoed off the concrete walls, colliding like waves, tearing through the air.
Bets were shouted, names bellowed, the smell of beer, sweat, and iron burned in the throat.
Lina stood at the edge, wedged between bodies, noise, and light.
Giulia pressed her against the wall, hard, fingers gripping Lina's jacket tightly.
"Nixie, you're not going in. Not today."
"Why?"
Giulia pulled the hood lower over her face, her eyes gleaming uneasily.
"Because today isn't a fight. It's a test. And if he fails, you don't want to see that."
"That's exactly when I want to be there."
Giulia stared at her as if Lina had just lost her mind.
"You're crazy."
"Maybe," whispered Lina, "but I can't stay outside."
Giulia pressed her lips together. For a moment she seemed to want to say something, but she didn't.
"Your heart will be the death of you, Nixie."
---
The gong sounded.
A metallic sound that cut through marrow and bone.
The crowd exploded.
