Page 62 of In Darkness and Dank

“Browning doesn’t know what I want, okay?” Kittisak said earnestly, his hands still clinging to Shu’s shoulders. “Yes, I do have family and school waiting for me back in America, but none of that matters when I’m here with you. I know it’s absolutely insane, and Browning said all this other crazy stuff about love and discoveries, but I just… I…” His anxiety got the better of him, fearful that Browning might have been wrong, and he suddenly lost track of what he was going to say. “Fuck, why is this so damn hard? Brain damage. I absolutely have fucking brain damage because I can’t get it out—”

“Kitty,” Shu soothed, leaning in to press his forehead against Kittisak’s. “What does Kitty want? Tell me.”

“Shu.” Kittisak took a deep breath, summoning up all of his courage and focusing on the beautiful warmth that filled his heart whenever Shu was near as he said, “I just want y—”

“Look, y’all!” a booming voice shouted. “It’s there! It’s right fuckin’ there!

So distracted by his conversation with Shu, Kittisak hadn’t even heard the three armed assholes charging through the brush at him and Shu.

It was Bissell, Zimm, and of course that king asshole himself, Denninger.

They were only a few yards away, and their weapons were pointed at Shu and Kittisak.

Fear licked up Kittisak’s spine, and his heart tried to leap out from his ribs. He didn’t think Browning would hear him if he tried to call out for help, and fuck, what would an old man even do against three douchebags with guns?

Not a whole lot, was Kittisak’s guess, and so he quickly pushed himself in front of Shu to shield him. Maybe if Shu was quick enough, he could dive into the pool.

No, shit. They’d still shoot at Shu in the water, and the bullets might hit him.

Maybe Kittisak could try tackling one of them. Fuck, no that was stupid. But what about—

“Wait, wait! Look! Kittisak? Is that you?” Zimm lowered his rifle. “Holy fuck! You’re alive?”

“Yes! Obviously!” Kittisak wondered if he could try reasoning with them. “How about lowering your fucking guns? I would really rather not get shot again.”

“Denninger said the monster fuckin’ ate you!” Bissell exclaimed. He frowned, saying again at a very slow, stunted pace, “He… told… us… you… got… ate… Do… you… understand… me?”

“Did you seriously not just hear me? For fuck’s sake!” Kittisak groaned. “I fucking speak English, you stupid assholes!”

Bissell and Zimm were genuinely surprised.

“Really?” Bissell gasped. “Did almost dyin’ have somethin’ to do with—”

“Bissell,” Denninger drawled. “Shut up.”

Shu had narrowed his eyes, growling softly, and every muscle was poised to attack.

“Get out of the way now,” Denninger called to Kittisak. “You’re in my way again, kid.”

“Oh, I don’t fucking think so.” Kittisak refused to budge. “Go on. Shoot me some more, asshole. You’re gonna have to if you think—”

“Come on! Get!” Zimm pleaded. “It ain’t gotta be like this, Kittisak! Just go on and get, so Denninger can kill that fucking thing.”

“He’s not a thing,” Kittisak shouted. “His name is Shu. He’s from an extraordinary race of people called the Rife. He’s my friend, and I’m not letting you—”

“Friend or a friend?” Zimm asked suddenly. “Like, would he pass the Harkness test?”

“Huh?”

“You know, Jack Harkness? He’s that there fella from Doctor Who—”

“Enough of this,” Denninger barked. “I came out here to drag that monster’s corpse back with us to Bio-Minex.”

“But you didn’t even fucking know he was here!” Kittisak’s brain dragged up the conversation about the lumber yard. “Oh, you son of a bitch. Hutte was right. The pictures of the monster at the lumber yard. That’s why you came here, isn’t it? To fucking hunt?”

“Yes!” Denninger seethed. “I’ve spent my entire life looking for fantastic beasts all over the planet. I know a fake when I see one, and I knew that thing—” He jerked his head toward Shu. “—was real! This is the discovery of a lifetime, and it’s mine. The documentaries, the press conferences, all of it! It will be mine!

“Eat a whole bag of dicks!” Kittisak snarled. “I’m not moving, fucker.”

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