Chapter 24 · Don't Pick for Me

Steel Claw dropped something on the floor between them.

A pin. Maybe two inches long. Dark gray metal that didn't reflect the fluorescent lights. Chen Feng could smell it from where he lay bleeding. Rust and something electric. Something hungry.

"Meteor iron," Steel Claw said. "Smallest piece I have. You swallow that, you'll heal in three minutes. Four if you're slow."

Chen didn't move. His ribs were grinding against each other every time he breathed. His tongue was still bleeding where he'd bitten through it. The wrist he'd tried to catch himself with was bent the wrong way.

Old Xu was standing behind Steel Claw. Still holding that rusted rebar. His face looked like he'd aged ten years in the last ten minutes.

"Pick it up," Steel Claw said.

Chen stared at the pin. It was just sitting there on the concrete. Close enough he could reach it if he stretched.

"I said pick it up."

"No."

Steel Claw tilted his head. "You want to die here?"

"I want you to stop telling me what I want."

Old Xu made a noise. Not quite a word. Steel Claw didn't look back at him.

"Three years," Steel Claw said.