“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!”