Page 56 of Serpent King's Revenge

I cleared my throat as we got closer to the mess hall, jerking my head toward it. “I’m hungry,” I muttered. “Mind if we stop?”

One of the guards let out a short laugh. “Guess you would be after what we just listened in on,” he said. “She’s a screamer, huh?”

I let out a low growl. “She’s mine.”

“No one’s stepping on your toes, Zhou,” the other guard said. “Not stupid enough to try anything with your girl—”

Bang!

We all stumbled to the side, the guards pulling me with them, and I looked toward the sound. Someone had thrown a chair against one of the plexiglass windows of the mess…and there were voices—loud voices—coming from inside.

“What the fuck?” the first guard said.

The other reached for his radio. “Shit, comms are down.”

This had to be it.

The moment Abby had told me about.

I had to take it.

I sprung up, using my core muscles to get upright. I couldn’t run like this—I would need to get the keys from the guards—but I could fight.

I lunged at the nearest guard, my cuffed wrists swinging like a blunt weapon. The metal bit into his cheek and blood spurted out. He cursed, staggering back, hands going to his face. I didn't wait for him to recover. My ankle chains clinked as I swept one foot around to use the chain to trip the second guard. His leg buckled and he hit the ground hard.

"Son of a—" The first guard swung at me, but I ducked. His fist sailed over my head.

"Try harder," I spat out, taunting him, grinning at him with bloody teeth

He came back with another punch, this time connecting with my shoulder. Pain jolted through me, but it only fueled my rage. With a quick twist, I rammed my forehead into his nose. There was a satisfying crunch and his howls filled the corridor.

"Zhou, I’ll kill you!" he yelled, blood pouring down his face.

"Get in line," I shot back, breaths heavy.

The other guard pulled himself up, one hand clutching his knee. "Big mistake," he growled, reaching for something at his belt—probably a baton or a taser.

I didn't give him the chance. I charged, using my whole body as a battering ram. We crashed into the wall, his head smacking against the concrete. I heard the sickening crunch, saw the life leave his eyes.

“Fuck…fuck!” the other guard said. But he wouldn’t escape. I turned and got my arms over his head, yanked back.

Broke his neck.

That was what happened to people who even looked at what was mine.

I searched their belts with my chained hands, fingers finally closing around a set of keys. It took a few tries, but I got the cuffs off. My wrists were raw, my ankles sore, but I was free.

I stepped into the mess hall, and the chaos hit me like a punch to the gut. Guys were throwing down everywhere I looked. Chairs flew, trays clanged, and shouts filled the air. Blood stained the floor, smeared on faces and hands. The stink of sweat and anger was thick.

I didn't hesitate. There was a fire in my chest that needed out, and this fight was my shot. I waded into the nearest bunch of brawlers, fists ready.

"Come on!" I yelled, pulling one guy off another. His buddy came at me, swinging wide. I ducked, felt the whoosh over my head, then slammed my fist into his gut. He doubled over, wind knocked out. I brought my knee up, hard, right under his chin. He dropped like a sack of dirt.

"Zhou!" someone shouted. I turned, saw a big dude barreling toward me. Big mistake. I sidestepped, tripped him, and he went sprawling across a table that cracked under his weight.

The rage was a live thing inside me, pushing me on. I threw punches, took hits, and kept moving. Blood, mine and theirs, didn't matter. Each blow I landed was a release, every hit I took just cranked the heat higher.

"Who's next?" I spat out, blood running from a split lip. A pair of them came at me together, trying to corner me, but I was too amped to let that happen. I grabbed a tray off the floor and swung it hard, catching one in the face. He stumbled back, hands over his nose.

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