“Does my appearance make you miserable? If my appearance makes you so miserable, why don’t I do you a little favor?” Benny paused for dramatic effect, “Tony, put him out of his misery.”

“No! Please! You can’t do this!” Freddy roared as he was dragged away from the boss.

“Oh and Tony…” Benny stopped them before they exited the room. “Send his wife a tree in his honor.”

Tony nodded and ignored Freddy’s squirming in agony. Outside the door a loud “POOM” could be heard and the thumping of a massive corpse rang out while Benny lit a cigar and counted a stack of money.

“That’s a wrap!” shouted the director.

“How was I?” the lead actor sought approval from the room. “Sorry for asking, I just haven’t worked in a while. We can take it again if you think it could be better.”

The actors playing Tony and Freddy chuckled together, wondering how someone named Benny Danger could have gotten the part in the first place. Though just a stage name, it had little to do with that. The writer was searching for a triceratops of his stature to stay true to the novel.

“It was fine, Benny. We’re wrapping for the day. Maybe tomorrow will be better.” the director replied somberly.

Benny walked off stage with hopeful eyes that somebody in the crew or an actor would be available to discuss the scene. He was alone. It didn’t matter to the optimistic dinosaur, 2024 was his year.

Before leaving the set, he went out back in the alley behind the large warehouse to call his mother and share his first day’s performance with her. It rang only once before she answered.

“Bruno! How was your first day in the big city, how was your scene? How-” she bombarded him only to be cut off.

“Ma, it’s Benny Danger now. Bruno Digby is not an actor’s name.” he whined.

“Yes, you’re right, I’m sorry ‘Benny’.” Benny could hear her smiling through the phone, so proud of his achievements.

Many large feet hurried towards Benny before he could continue the conversation. The phone fell from his hand from the vibration.

“You look tough.” stated the leader of a pack of four T-Rex hoodlums that quickly surrounded Benny..

“How tough do you think he is?” another one jested.

“He probably thinks he’s tougher than any of us.” the largest one said as if offended it was even a possibility.

“Guys… I’m not tough, I’m just an actor… look… this is a costume.” Benny pleaded to the crew, showing them the cheap material of his suit and his fake tommy gun.

“Oh, so he thinks he’s better than us because he’s gainfully employed.”

“No… really, I was just on the phone with my mother…”

One of the T-Rex’s picked up the phone and Benny’s mother could be heard screaming before the phone was crushed by a shriveled arm.

“I don’t like him… I think we should tear him apart.” the leader stated callously. “Say your prayers.”

Benny thought to himself that this was his last moment and he never did consider praying before. While teeth charged at him, he closed his eyes and prayed loudly in his mind, “If there’s something out there listening, I pray to you and I accept your guidance.”

“You. Are. Deserving.” a thunderous voice stated slowly, vibrating Benny at an unimaginable speed.

Benny opened his eyes and he was in the same alley, but the others were gone. The phone wasn’t in pieces on the ground. The building beside him was a different color. He opened a tiny door and busted through. Inside there were creatures dressed like him, but not dinosaurs… they were humans.

“What is that!?” A big man stood and faced the upright prehistoric creature that had crashed through the wall. Five other men stood and raised guns at the giant reptile.

Benny was just as confused, and lucky that English was spoken wherever he was. This was his true chance to be something. He knew an actor wouldn’t fit in with this gang. Luckily for him, he’d been studying for the part; but Benny Danger wasn’t going to cut it.

“The name’s Big Dino.” he frowned and walked forward. All the men dropped their guns and jaws. The leader pointed his gun at the dinosaur’s head.

“Does my face make you miserable?” B.D. asked the trembling, puzzled human, pacing around him as the others made room in a circle away from the two.

“If my face makes you so miserable…why don’t I do you a little favor?” Big Dino paused and watched the man regret his foolishness. “Boys, put him out of his misery.”

All the gangsters looked at each other hesitantly and then realized what they must do. Big Dino smiled, stepped back and watched the entire gang light up their previous leader and then turn to him for approval.

The thunderous voice again spoke to Big Dino, darkness enveloping his reality for a brief moment. 

“Defiler!” 

“Next time, don’t schedule the shipment so late.” Big Dino warned his henchmen.

“Boss, we can’t move our product in the daylight. You know it’s especially difficult to avoid the cops when you’re around. Imagine doing this with pedestrians around, we’d be up at PrisonHead before making a dollar.”

Big Dino growled in response, knowing his man was right, but still feeling inconvenienced. There was a trivia show that night that he was playing along with, though how he framed it to his crew was that he had a ‘score to settle’.

Unloading trucks back at the warehouse, the mobsters were incapacitated. The world went dark for Big Dino and a bright light shone in front of him. He knew what was to come.

“REPENT.” spoke the powerful voice.

“You gonna haunt me like a ghost or something? I don’t owe you anything.” Big Dino was dismissive of the one who brought him to the world of man.

The light disappeared and all the stunned henchmen awoke, discussing briefly and then back to work. It was not over, however.

This time, the men were not taken out. Light filled the hideout, illuminating all the criminal activities taking place. Drugs, weapons, stolen items and money filled the room. Light began to fade to reveal the source. 

A man stood on the air, eyes glowing bright white, with a staff, at the end of which was a luminous, floating orb. His features were obscured by the light, but his face was greatly displeased.

“LOWEST OF ALL LIFE.” the room shook with his voice and light spread from him in a wave across the room. All of the men were knocked back, as the power was clearly not a final measure, more of signaling them for their chance to run.

All the henchmen looked to Big Dino and his steadfast position gave them reason not to take the opportunity. Instead, guns were tossed to each man, and Big Dino smiled.

“Get him outta here.”

With the boss’s command, the being of light was peppered with bullets. He made no effort to stop or even slow any of the barrage. Instead, his facial features lightened up for a moment. It seemed the retaliation was so futile, it was humorous.

Unharmed, the being removed all bullets from his skin and clothing. Metal in a flash turned to even brighter specks of light. Then, with a motion of the staff, they were all sent out, penetrating every single henchman. From their lifeless bodies, light shone through the holes left behind. Big Dino, scowling in the distance, was not touched.

“See that?” he pointed to the wall behind him, which also had holes of light. Curiously, they were in his exact outline. “No wonder you’re trying to convince me to repent. You can’t touch me.” Big Dino menacingly walked towards the man of light. “But I’m willing to put money on this, friend. I can touch YOU.” He dropped to all fours and charged the corner where the being stood. 

Before reaching the corner, it was dark for a moment until the light reappeared behind him.

“REPENT.”

“You’re panicking.” Big Dino charged again.

“REPENT” the building shook violently.

“Name my sin, firefly.” the dinosaur composed himself and returned to two legs, noticing his suit was all torn up.

“MUR-” while speaking, he was interrupted by the horns of Big Dino.

Pinned against the wall, the two locked eyes.

“Under this suit… I’m still a dinosaur, but under all that light, you’re still just a man.”

Big Dino began to press into the being, who was gripping his staff still. His power couldn’t intervene with the dinosaur again, but his body could. He slammed the orb against the side of the mob boss’s head, causing him to stumble and in that moment, teleported away.

“That’s right, altar boy.” Big Dino mocked the fleeing deity. He checked the clock and sat on the couch, just in time for his trivia. He’d worry about staffing back up another time.

A henchman barged into the office, interrupting Big Dino’s mid day nap. He hid his blanket as fast as possible and stood from his massive chair to hear the messenger out.

“Boss, we got a problem.”

“We always got a problem, Ziti.” BD sighed. “What’s goin on?”

“It’s those farmhouses outside of Big City. I’ve sent five guys to collect. Not one has come back.” Ziti replied.

“Who’d you send? Some softies?”

“The last guy I sent was Guzo.”

“Guzo’s missing?”

“Gone.”

“Guzo’s gone, huh?” Big Dino stood tall and put on a jacket over his shirt and vest. “You think someone’s got Guzo?”

“Someone coulda grabbed Guzo… all I know is Guzo’s gone.”

“Come with me Ziti. We’ll deal with this ourselves. You don’t let a guy like Guzo go. Some backwoods farmers think they’re gonna push back on us?”

“No way, boss.”

“No way.” Big Dino repeated.

“We gotta get Guzo.” Ziti added.

“That’s enough. You always do one too many.”

“Sorry, boss.”

Big Dino and Ziti hopped in the car outside, which awaited the mob boss at all times. They departed Big City and made for the rural areas to the north where the guys had gone missing. Where Guzo might have been.

“Stop here.” Big Dino told the driver. He and Ziti stepped out of the vehicle and stared down the first of many large farm houses. “This one’s yours.”

“Alright, boss.” Ziti walked up to the door of the home and knocked hard three times.

It took a while to hear anyone coming to answer the door. Ziti looked around and noticed the nearest farm house was completely burned down. He was unsettled seeing the charred ground which seemed to have been sitting there untouched for some time.

“I already paid ‘em. Get on now.” the frail voice of an older man came from behind the rickety door.

“We’re not collecting. Open up.” Ziti kindly demanded.

“Just a moment.” he sighed. The door began to open, revealing a shrunken elderly farmer. “What’re ya here for?”

“My guys.” Dino stated loudly from beside the car.

“WHOA. What’s that?” the farmer removed his glasses to squint at the literal triceratops standing in his street.

“That is of no concern to you, so long as you answer my questions.” Ziti reigned in the man. “My last five guys haven’t come back from this street.”

“Maybe someone got tired of the intimidation.” the farmer replied bluntly.

“Intimidation? You mean protection?” Ziti scoffed, turning his head to check in with Big Dino, though his confidence was waning.

“You couldn’t protect your own guys, hehehe.” the old man snickered.

“Ziti, let’s get moving.” Dino commanded.

“Thank you, sir. See you next month.” Ziti told the farmer.

“Unless you don’t come back either.” he laughed and attempted to slam the door, but ended up shoving it closed after it got stuck.

Ziti got back in the car and was quickly yanked out by Big Dino.

“We’re walking.”

“Right, boss.” Ziti straightened out his suit.

The car waited as Big Dino and Ziti walked down the dirt-covered road to the next farmhouse. The whole time, they looked over to the burnt farm, creeped out by the immaculate eggplants that still stood amongst the ash.

Further down the road, they reached the next house. Big Dino put his hand in front of Ziti. “This is how you squeeze, Ziti.” The triceratops mobster walked up the driveway and was greeted with the barrel of a shotgun.

“Move along now.”

Big Dino put very little effort into putting his hands up and grinned. “That’d do some real damage to Ziti over there. But me? Probably wouldn’t even feel it.”

The farmer lowered her weapon. “What’re you here for?”

“Considering the welcome we just got, we may be here for you.” Big Dino got closer and the farmer kept her gun close while backing up slowly. “A few guys dressed like that…” he pointed to Ziti. “...came through here recently.”

“Yeah. Paid ‘em just like everyone else.” she replied.

“Paid ‘em with cash? Or with lead?” Big Dino asked, trying not to be threatening, though her answer could have changed that.

“You think I killed your guys?” she asked. BD nodded and she continued, “If they haven’t come back, they’ll be on that farm.” she pointed to a farmhouse off in the distance, then smirked. “You don’t find ‘em there, come back and see me.”

“Why don’t you come with us, just to make sure nobody gets lost.” Big Dino slyly demanded, not wanting her to flee if she was, in fact, the culprit.

“We don’t go there. You can. We don’t.” she motioned to indicate none of the farmers ventured to that area.

“Alright. Well, stick around. Maybe we’ll speak again.” Big Dino put his cigar back in his mouth and smiled, walking back to Ziti.

They passed many houses with people peeking out of their windows behind curtains. At the home the farmer designated, they noticed the area was much darker, though it was mid-morning. There was a stench in the air. Big Dino ripped one of Ziti’s sleeves to cover his nose. The chill in the air put out his cigar before they stepped up to the front door.

Before Dino knocked, he got nervous as numerous screams rang out repeatedly. “You go.”

“O-okay, boss.” Ziti said, shaking.

Nothing responded to knocking or pounding on the door, so the boys went around back to the farm. The air got thick and visibility just walking there was not great.

“Where are we?” Big Dino asked Ziti, his tough guy accent fading from fear.

Ziti went to respond, but another voice came from the wind. “HELL.”

The boys huddled together and looked deeper into the farm. From the vapor in the air emerged a pumpkin the size of a basketball. It was carved like a jack-o-lantern, but with very specific features. They watched the mouth move as it spoke again.

“ZITI! BOSS!”

“Guzo!?” Big Dino shrieked.

“OH I’M SO GLAD YOU’RE-” the face was pulled backwards abruptly.

The thick air cleared to show Guzo-kin was attached to something larger, obscured by shadow and fog.

“Flee…join…it all ends the same.” a gloomy voice said. They both knew it came from the large thing in the center of the farm.

“Let’s flee.” Ziti suggested.

“BD don’t flee, Ziti…” the tough guy act was back in full force as imagining Guzo trapped in a pumpkin forever hurt Dino to his core. He felt he failed his top guy. “Let’s get our boy.”

Big Dino turned to see Ziti had already fled. His second up, the unshakeable Ziti, running in terror. “I gotta get new guys.” he sighed.

Through the thick fog, Dino got closer to the creature who took Guzo. He saw more pumpkins upon stems connected to a massive pumpkin monster. Many more pumpkins.

“Join.” the pumpkin moaned. All of a sudden, Big Dino felt as if he was being pulled towards the great pumpkin. He resisted physically, but the more he did, the stronger the pull on his soul.

Big Dino took out his pistol and blasted some of the stems, including Guzo’s, setting them all free. He watched the souls ascend from the pumpkins. Then he began to shoot at the main pumpkin, not even breaking the warped, thick skin.

Once Dino’s soul was fully disconnected from his body, the terrible pumpkin exclaimed, “HARVEST.”

Big Dino fell backwards onto the death and dirt below. He looked up at what he thought were his last moments, only to see Guzo’s spirit flying back down. His top guy took hold of the massive dinosaur soul flying into Harvest’s mouth and hauled it painfully back into Dino.

“Here, boss.” Guzo said. Dino watched him get caught into the pull of Harvest once again.

“Guzo!” Big Dino shouted.

“Go.” Guzo said calmly.

Big Dino honored his henchman’s wish, vowing to return one day. He charged on all fours out of the farm, down the road, past the lady farmer who chuckled seeing the mob boss scared out of his mind.

The boss ran all the way to the car and silently sat next to Ziti, lighting his cigar before deciding to just not smoke it right then.

“Yeah, Guzo’s gone.”

“Guzo’s gone.”