Chapter 22 · Cage Ticket

The warehouse smelled like piss and rust. Chen Feng kicked the side door open and saw the cage right away—chain-link walls, ten feet square, sitting in a pool of yellow light from the work lamps overhead. Old Xu hung twenty feet past it, rope around his wrists, feet barely touching the ground. His face was the color of a bad bruise.

"Chen." Old Xu's voice came out hoarse. "Don't."

A man stepped out from behind the cage. Not tall. Wide. Shoulders like a truck. Shaved head covered in scar tissue. He rolled his neck and something popped loud enough to echo.

"You're the metal eater." The man's voice was flat. "Steel Claw says you don't get Old Xu back till you get through me. Inside the cage. No running."

Chen looked at Old Xu. Looked at the cage. His ribs still ached from three days ago. Su Mian's voice was in his head. Three days. Don't get hit. Don't evolve. Her palm bleeding into his.

"What if I say no?"

The guard pulled a knife. Walked over to Old Xu. Pressed the tip under his ribs. Old Xu sucked air through his teeth.

"Then I open him. Slow.