The harsh buzz of their makeshift alarm jolted Steele and Maze awake, their eyes snapping open in unison. Sunlight or something brighter streamed through the grimy window, far brighter than it should have been.
"Shit," Steele growled, scrambling to his feet. "We overslept."
Maze was already moving, her fingers flying as she laced up her boots. "The fight. We can't miss it."
They burst out of their quarters, racing through the winding streets of the Undercity. The usual bustling atmosphere was eerily absent, the pathways nearly deserted.
As they rounded the final corner, they skidded to a halt, momentarily stunned by the sight before them. The area surrounding the Fight Pit was a seething mass of humanity, bodies pressed together in a chaotic tapestry of anticipation and excitement.
"Damn," Maze breathed, her eyes wide. "It's like the whole Undercity showed up."
Steele nodded grimly. "Makes our job... harder. Come on, we... need to get closer."
