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You turned to face Flint. <span class="mu-r">“We didn’t get this far by snatching and running on what looked like an easy score, Flint. No big payout is as easy as it seems. Let’s scope out the competition, ask who’s fightin’, then we can decide whether we want to dip our feet, or dive right in.”</span>
Flint rolled it over in his mind for a moment, and then nodded. <span class="mu-g">“Yeah, I like that. Good thinkin’, Benny.”</span> he said, giving you a friendly slap on the arm.
<span class="mu-r">“Someone’s gotta be the brains of this operation.”</span>
<span class="mu-g">“Then I guess that makes me ‘the brawn’.”</span> Flint said, flexing his huge biceps.
<span class="mu-r">“No, that’s also me. I can tear cars apart with my bare hands, Flint.”</span>
<span class="mu-g">“Then what am I supposed to do?”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“Aww, don’t worry, pal. We’ll find something for you to do…someday.”</span> you said with a sly grin. Flint threw up his arms in frustration.
<span class="mu-b">“You two ladies done?”</span> said a rather deep voice from the door. You turned in that direction and saw a pair of eyes peeking out at you through a tiny slit. Despite only seeing that part of his face, you could already recognize that this man was covered in tattoos and piercings.
You felt yourself straighten almost immediately, tension returning to your muscles.
<span class="mu-g">“W-we didn’t knock yet. We didn’t do the secret knock.”</span> Flint said.
<span class="mu-b">“Oh, I know. I could hear you talking by the door, though. You boys got some real talent. You should take that act on the road. I really mean that.”</span> the doorman said, his eyes showing genuine amusement for a split second.
You lifted a hand as a thankful gesture.
<span class="mu-g">“Can we just do the knock already?”</span> Flint asked.
<span class="mu-b">“Yeah, sure. Knock yourself out.”</span> he replied.
<span class="mu-g">“You’re hilarious.”</span> Flint groaned, clearly not amused in the slightest.
<span class="mu-b">“Thanks. That means a lot coming from you, Marko.”</span>
After Flint did the secret knock and gave the code, the doorman slid the peephole shut, unlatched a bunch of locks and swung the door open to let you inside. ‘Right this way, boys.”
—---
After being led through a series of winding hallways that reminded you of catacombs, you found yourself in a room bathed in crimson light. In the center of the room was a large square cage, and on the outside of that cage were bleachers carved from stone. And lining those bleachers were men and women alike, demanding to see blood spilt and bones broken. It was like some sort of sadistic amphitheater.
<span class="mu-r">“Classy place…”</span> you muttered. Flint must’ve heard it, because he let out a soft chuckle.
<span class="mu-g">“This, my dear friend, is the Crucible. This is where boys become men, and where men become women after someone chops their balls off.”</span> he said.
<span class="mu-r">“You’re not really selling it to me, buddy.”</span> you said, not taking your eyes off of the cage.
(Cont.)
