Ahmed was much more mysterious than the rest of the crew, and he rarely talked about the hidden desires of his heart. Jonas had tried multiple times to get him to open up, whether through food, alcohol, or combat; however, he was rarely successful. It wasn’t all for naught, Ahmed had opened up slowly over time, and Jonas had taken every word to heart.

“I’m not long for the modern world,” he sighed. “I was a goat herder and a small-time soldier. When I arrived in Hell, I became a farmer, and after a few hundred years, I became a slave. I don't think I have the resume to live among the people from the twenty-first century."

“Don’t be like that,” Jonas smiled broadly. “We’ll get you a hell phone, and I’ll set you up with a sweet job. You’ll love it, I promise.”

“A job farming?” Ahmed looked interested. “Or goat herding?”

“Private security,” said Jonas. “I know a man who pays good money for guys like us to protect other people,” the thought of Phillip Glatorius and his fiery wife brought a reminiscent smile to his face.

“Private security?” Ahmed asked. “I get paid to protect people, like a guard?”

“Sort of,” said Jonas. “It’s what we call freelance work with a commission fee. The guy I know will train you to understand your duties; then, he’ll recommend you to clients and take a commission fee off your earnings.”

“I see,” Ahmed sounded doubtful. “Is it complicated work?”

“Not at all,” said Jonas. “You wear a nice suit and get paid money to protect people. I think it suits you quite well.”

“I’ll…” Ahmed said slowly. “I’ll think about it,” Jonas didn’t press any further because he had already sowed the seeds. He knew it was only a matter of time before the reality of the modern world became clear to Ahmed: you couldn't survive without a source of income—money reigned supreme.

After his conversation with Ahmed ended, Jonas had to turn his nose up at a disgusting sight. Today was the day of the week that Garth usually visited the fighting pits—a day everyone hated.

Throughout Jonas' enslavement by the Hurts gang, he was pleasantly surprised to find that the gang’s top fighter, Garth, often kept to himself and spent most of his time drinking, eating, or fucking. However, once a week, the big psychopath would visit the fighting pits to unleash his inner Sin. He'd beat poor innocent slaves half to death and subject them to humiliation. Both Jonas and Johnson had experienced it firsthand.

Garth was as big and cruel as ever, and his big black beard seemed to have grown bushier since Jonas had last seen him. As the young man watched his enemy strut coolly into the room, he felt the urge to go over and attack him.

“Easy,” Ahmed warned. “If you’re going over there to kill him, you better make damn sure that you can. If not, we both know the consequences of killing a top-five fighter owned by Howard Hurts."

“I know,” said Jonas, who was glaring across the room, but his expression changed when Garth suddenly changed direction and began walking toward where Jonas and his crew trained.

“That’s not good,” said Johnson, and the rest of Jonas’ companions all had the same thought as they quickly left their fight pits and stood side by side with Jonas, forming a dangerous wall of mean-mugging fighters. Garth smirked as he watched them gather together, and when he was only a few feet away, his smirk became a warm smile.

“Good morning. How's everyone today?” Jonas stepped forward and stared unblinkingly at the bully who had nearly murdered him.

“Sorry, Garth,” said Jonas. “None of us need a blowjob today,” and his group broke into laughter, and even some of the spectating fighters couldn’t help but feel the corners of their mouths curve.

“Ah, Jonas,” Garth sighed. “Poor little Jonas. You don't have any sense of reason, do you?”

“That’s rich, coming from you,” Jonas rolled his eyes. “Can you spell reason?”

“Maybe not,” Garth tilted his head. “But I can spell escape,” Jonas felt his spine tingle as the words washed over his body. He had the mind to keep calm and to remain straight-faced, but he couldn’t be sure that the companions behind him had done the same.

“Very good,” Jonas said. “Now, how about you escape this conversation and return to your man cave where you can go back to fucking yourself, as usual.”

“Do you think I’m that stupid?” Garth licked his lips. “You don’t think I notice what you’re up to?” Seeing the trace of worry on Jonas’ face, he added, “You don’t think that I have my own eyes and ears around this place?" He glanced heavily toward Theo. Jonas didn’t bother turning his head to look and see Theo's face, which had turned pale and looked like he had met the grim reaper.

“Do you think I’m stupid?” Jonas didn’t believe that Theo had sold him out to Garth. Not only was it illogical, but he knew that the young paperboy wasn’t the kind of person to do that. “Trying to create chaos?” Jonas shook his head and wore an expression full of pity. “You might not understand the concept of trust, but I do,” both Johnson and Pete felt guilty because they had each given Theo skeptical glances.

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“Maybe not,” said Garth, who shrugged his shoulders. “But one thing is for sure, I know you’re planning on escaping this place, and quite frankly, I don’t care.”

“What the fuck do you want, Garth?” Jonas was itching for a reason to fight. “Do you think I want to waste my day looking at your ugly ass face?”

“Easy there, Pretty,” Garth snickered. “I don’t want to get involved in your little plan, nor do I have any desire to snitch.”

“Then?”

“It's simple, really,” Garth pointed at Theo. “I just want to spar with him a bit, and if you let me, I guarantee that not only will I keep my mouth closed about your plan, I’ll even help you.”

“Fuck me,” Jonas was exasperated. “You seriously want to beat up a defenseless slave so badly that you’d make up some story about escaping,” disbelief was on his face. “Really?”

“I need a playmate,” said Garth, and he made an innocent smile. “I want the new guy, and you’re going to give him to me."

“Or what?”

“Or I’ll fucking tell Howard about what’s going on, and I can only imagine what he would do to you.”

“You have no fucking proof,” Jonas shook his head. “Howard isn’t going to kill a top-five fighter just because some dumb ogre told him I might try escaping.”

“Oh, I never said he would kill you,” Garth looked at the weaker members of Jonas’ group. “I think he would sell your friends to different gangs, and they would live the rest of eternity miserably without their little leader,” for a second, Jonas hadn’t considered that fact. What if Howard did get suspicious about their plan, and his solution was to separate the members of Jonas’ group before it could happen?

“Be serious,” Jonas's voice was quiet. “What do you want?” Garth scrunched his eyebrows as he made an extremely inquisitive expression.

“Didn’t I already say what I wanted?” He pointed at the pale-faced Theo. “I want to spar with him for a bit. Once I finish with him, I’ll return him to you.”

“Fuck off,” Jonas spat venomously. “You think I’m going to send him to die?”

“I guarantee I won’t kill him,” Garth said while holding his hands up innocently. His flame-like Sin Scars were glowing so brightly that Jonas could have sworn they were alive. “I’m a Berserker, and we always keep our word.”

“And I’m a Crusader,” said Jonas. “A raging narcissist who doesn’t believe a word you're saying.”

“Don’t believe me then,” Garth sighed heavily. “I’ll just have to go tell Howard about your little escape plan,” and then he made to turn around.

“Wait!” Theo stepped forward. Jonas was shocked as he turned to look at the tiny little slave and wondered what was wrong with him.

“Hello, love,” said Garth. “So, you do have a voice?”

“I’ll do it,” Theo licked his lips. “I’ll spar with him.”

“Don’t be fucking stupid,” Jonas wanted to smack him across the head. “This psycho fuck-face tried to murder me when I first got here, and he tried to rape Johnson.”

“And failed,” said Johnson with a loud voice.

“It’s fine,” Theo said, but he didn’t look fine at all, and from his shaky legs, pale face, and the sweat dripping down his nose, it looked like he was the farthest thing from fine.

“Jonas,” Ahmed said and stepped forward. “We have to pick our battles wisely,” Jonas felt a surge of rage go through his body as he stared at his friend in disbelief.

“You want to sacrifice one of our own?” Jonas asked rather aggressively. “Why? Because this asshole may or may not make up some bullshit story?”

“Easy, Jonas,” Ahmed said quietly. “Calm yourself. I didn’t say that we would sacrifice anyone,” and he stared very firmly into Jonas’ blue eyes. “I only said we must pick our battles carefully,” the way he let the last words suggestively roll off his tongue told Jonas there was a hidden meaning.

“Sorry,” Jonas exhaled deeply and felt the anger leave his body. If it was a fight that Garth wanted, Jonas needed to be in his best mindset, and a rage-induced emotional state was a sure way to end up brutally murdered.

“You guys can watch,” Garth began to compromise. “The new guy and I will spar for a bit, and if it gets out of hand, you can just put an end to it.”

“I’ll do it,” Theo said a bit more bravely. “Didn’t you say, Jonas, that a measure of a man was doing the shit he didn’t want to do because he had to do it?” Jonas nearly choked because someone had used his words against him.

“I didn’t—” Theo cut Jonas off.

“You did mean it,” he said. “This is just one of those moments. Responsibility isn’t always convenient, and it’s not always on our terms.”

“Well said,” Garth nodded his head approvingly.

“I’ll spar with you,” Theo began. “But you have to keep your word that you won’t say anything and won’t involve yourself.”

“Of course,” Garth chuckled. “Of course, I’ll keep my word. I won’t hurt you too badly, I won’t snitch you out, and I’ll even help you guys when the time comes,” he put a hand to his heart. “Scout’s honor.”

“Jonas, I got this,” Theo licked his dry lips and tried to put on a confident expression. “Just let me do this. I need to repay you in some way.”

“I don’t need repayment,” Jonas’ voice cracked, and he felt a wave of emotion fill his heart. “I never helped you because I wanted something in return.”

“I know that,” Theo managed a smile. “You’re a person who invests in other people, and I want to show you that you invested in the right guy,” the young slave stepped forward and jumped into the sandy pit, much to the dismay of everyone who had been watching.

“Come back, idiot,” Johnson quickly whispered, but Jonas shot out his hand and gestured for him to stop talking.

“Garth,” Jonas’ voice was like death, and it was so firm that everyone was shocked it came from the young man they knew to be so playful and casual. “I’m warning you, if you take things too far, Ahmed and I will make our move.”

“Terrifying,” Garth said dully. “But don’t worry, I already told you that I’d keep my word,” he turned on the spot and followed Theo into the fight pit.

“Jonas,” Ahmed whispered. “I promise you if it goes too far—”

“We’ll fucking end him,” Jonas felt a surge of Pride flood his body as his cross-shaped markings began to glow like stars in the night.