A light rain began to fall.
Ryan looked up, letting the drops hit his face. The sky was still dark, but dawn was creeping closer.
The mist on the arena floor thickened as the rain met it, creating swirling patterns in the fog.
"Of course it rains," Jared muttered, pulling his cloak tighter.
Footsteps approached across the wet grass.
Ryan turned.
A figure in civilian clothes walked toward them. A man with a scarred and weathered face.
Jakob.
The guard who'd pulled Ryan out of the chaos during the terrorist attack. One of Gregory's men.
"Jakob," Ryan said, surprised.
The guard nodded back. "Ryan, and others."
He looked at each of them in turn. James. Jared. Marcus. Jeremy. Green boys heading into a fight that may be their last.
"You don't have long," Jakob said. "But there is some vital advice…" Jakob looked at Jeremy and Marcus, and then back to Ryan. "… a 'mutual friend' of ours, would like you all to know."
The five fighters gathered closer to Jakob.
