Sergio De La Pava - A Naked Singularity

“I wouldn’t say big. I think the word doesn’t yet exist for what it is,” I said.

“Let me see,” Dane said. I moved out of the way and he looked. Then we switched places back.

“What the fuck is that?” I said.

“He’s large,” Dane said.

“I didn’t know they made humans that big,” I said.

Ballena walked away from the window. I didn’t see any bag.

“What’s the matter?” Dane said. “Let’s go.”

“I don’t think it’s going to want us to take its bag,” I said.

“I don’t care what it wants,” Dane said. “It gives us our bag or we carve it up into so many blubber compartments.”

“I think there’s a disconnect here,” I said. “You don’t seem to be seeing or acknowledging what I am.”

“I see some shithead with our money and I want to go get it,” Dane said. “Now.”

“First of all I don’t see the money,” I said. “Second of all, what exactly is it we’re looking at? I’m not exaggerating for effect, it doesn’t look human.”

“He’s a human being,” Dane said. “Just like you. Made of flesh that pierces and bones that break. Our swords can cut him and our batons will drop him. Do you look forward to engaging him? Maybe not, but if it was just you and him locked in a room and only one of you could emerge alive would you let him kill you? Is that what you’re saying? Because I want to be clear on what it is you’re admitting.”

“But what is that on its arms?” I said. “It doesn’t look like any skin I’ve ever seen.”

“I don’t know,” Dane said. “Let’s go get a closer look.”

I didn’t say anything.

“I can’t do it alone,” he said. “Are you really going to hang me out to dry at this stage of the game?”

“Relax, I was just looking at the fucking guy,” I said. “No need to get all exercised every time I display the slightest hesitation.”

“So we’re good then?” he said.

“We’re good,” I said.

We started to go out, me first, then Ballena said something and someone on the second floor answered. I turned and looked at Dane. He nodded no.

“Who was that?” he said.

“I don’t know,” I said.

“Was he on the second floor?” he said.

“Yeah,” I said.

“Fuck,” he said.

“Yup,” I said.

“Fine,” he said. “I’ll take Whale and you take this other fuck.”

“Wait,” I said. The other voice came out of a room and into the hall where Whale stood. It was Ramon DeLeon.

“Jesus,” I said.

“What?” Dane said.

“It’s DeLeon,” I said.

“ What ?”

“It’s fucking DeLeon. He’s here,” I said.

“You sure,” he said.

“Positive,” I said.

“What the fuck’s he doing here?” he said.

“What else?” I said. “Stupidity and greed. He wants the other fifty that comes once the deal is done.”

“Dumb fuck,” Dane said.

“He knows us,” I said.

“Idiot,” Dane said.

“Now what?” I said.

“He knows us,” Dane said.

“We need to think,” I said.

“The fucking clock is ticking,” Dane said. “3:07 these guys aren’t going to take much longer to test that shit.”

“Where’s the bag anyway?” I said. “Shouldn’t it be right next to Whale?”

Dane looked up at the door at the top of the stairs. I heard a noise come from that direction. I took the monitor out of my pocket and looked at the screen. Heckle and Jeckle were sitting on the roof with their backs against the door to the stairs. Dane looked at the screen.

“Things are going real well wouldn’t you say Dane?” I said.

“It’s going to get pretty interesting in here soon,” he said. “These fuckers are leaving us no choice. We can’t go backwards I guess we better go forward.”

“What about DeLeon?” I said.

“Fuck him,” Dane said. “I like him too but fuck him. That’s what he gets for being greedy. He should have done what he said he was going to do.” I looked at Dane. He was pulling his gloves tighter onto his hands.

“Chill out,” I said. “Maybe he’ll go downstairs and leave Whale alone with the money, assuming the damn money is even up here.”

“Maybe,” Dane said. “But we can’t wait much longer. We were supposed to be out of here by now.”

“Just give him a minute,” I said. “We can’t leave yet anyway. Not with those two fucks up there sitting right by the door.”

“One minute then,” Dane said. We waited.

Then Dane said we should go if we were going to go and I agreed. But before I ran out Dane put his hand on my shoulder. “Wait,” he said. “Our first break.” I looked back and saw DeLeon disappear down the stairs to the first floor. There was laughing on the first floor.

I took three quick steps forward. The Whale’s back was to me. It turned around. I put the point of my sword to its neck and it stopped.

“Easy, Ballena,” I said. “Don’t be stupid, it’s not your money.” It got angry when I said that. Its lips curled. I waited for Dane but he wasn’t there. Then he came out of one of the rooms. “I don’t see the bag,” he said. “Where’s the bag you?” he said.

“Fuck you,” The Whale said. Dane went into the other room. The Whale pushed his neck forward onto the sword and smiled. “Don’t be stupid,” I said. “You’re not too big to bleed.” It smiled. With my left hand I grabbed my baton. Dane came out.

“Not there,” he said.

“Handle this first,” I said. “Then we’ll look for it.”

“No we need him to tell us where it is first,” Dane said. “While he still has a tongue, which won’t be for very long if I don’t get an answer soon.” The Whale said nothing. “Fine, cut his throat,” Dane said. “better yet I’ll open this fuck up since it’s me he’s defying.” I turned between Whale and Dane. “Come on man just tell us where it is and you’ll be fine,” I said.

The Whale took his left hand and grabbed the blade of my sword pulling it away from his neck. The blood flowed down my sword and onto my gloves. With his right hand he grabbed my throat and started squeezing. Dane came forward and swung his sword across the back of Whale’s leg. It dropped to one knee then sat on the floor in its own blood. It held on to my neck. The sword fell. It pulled me forward. I fell to my knees. There was blood around us. I wasn’t breathing.

Dane cut at the hand around my neck but it didn’t loosen. I took my baton and plunged into The Whale’s chest. It shook but held on. I felt some of the current pass to me. The Whale’s eyes were wide open and I was staring into them. I saw Dane take his baton and push it into The Whale’s neck. I felt the current more then. The Whale squeezed tighter. I plunged the baton deeper into The Whale and his grip finally loosened a bit. Dane kicked at the wrist. The hand came off and I fell back. I took exaggerated breaths that wouldn’t synchronize. Dane dropped his sword and grabbed my baton then he added it to The Whale’s neck. The Whale shook. I could smell burning flesh. Its hair rose. It reached for my sword on the floor. I crawled over to it and slid it just past his reach. Dane pushed harder with the batons. The Whale’s eyes bulged. It bared its teeth. Then it stopped moving and its head hit the floor. The Whale’s blood was everywhere. On the floor and on Dane and me. On my hands and chest. On my face.

“We should kill this fuck for what he just put us through,” Dane said.

I couldn’t speak. I looked at Dane like I didn’t understand.

“He’s not dead,” Dane said. “He’s breathing see? Truth is I couldn’t do it. Not to him. I just liked him too much you know? He’s pretty damn cool don’t you think? Did you see his face when you said it wasn’t his money? It was like he was insulted.”