"Berry, Luke…we grew up together. Don't do this." He feigned sincerity. Both men stayed firm. Bigs suddenly laid his large hands on the shoulders of Carlo’s wool trench coat. His grip tightened around the fabric as just before he yanked towards him. The baggy arms in the coat allowed Carlo to drop his grocery bag and slip out from underneath in a low crouch. Bigs was too slow to react and paid for it with a face full of carbon steel.

There was a pop followed by a flash of orange light from the low right hook. The large man’s body flew back five feet into the wall on his right. His flattened head dragged against the bricks leaving a bloody smear along the way to the ground. His lifeless hand, still holding onto the coat. Beanie reacted quickly, drawing his pistol from his pocket. Carlo was in arms’ reach and swung his right hand wildly. It connected to Beanie's chin with an audible snap. The gangster's body hit the ground, the back of his head was where his face should have been. Carlo surveyed what he’d just done, finally exhaling. 

“Imbeciles…” Carlo muttered through closed eyes. He didn’t want to see what he’d done. He opened them however once he heard a low buzzing coming from the floor. 

Looking down, Carlo saw Beanie's phone. Its screen was facing up and the red dot had turned green with the words Ready spelled out in the center. He collected his things from the floor. His coat in particular required a heavy jerk before he could pry it free from Big's stiffened fingers. Carlo noted that the gangster's lifeless hand, now opened, resembled a flower in bloom. 

He fled the scene heading back to his room. Once inside, he dropped his bag on the floor, sat down on the corner of his bed. He said nothing at first, the only sound in the room being the vibrating metal frame underneath his legs. When he finally spoke it was prayer, a long one.

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Carlo finally whispered to himself, ending the prayer. “...hey computer?” 

“YES!!!” 

“Do you remember that story of David in the cave? Where he takes the spear of Saul, who hunted him, and instead showed him mercy?”   

“So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.”

“Yeah…David defeated the mad king with something greater than violence” his voice trailed off. ”Computer, I’m going to take my time on something.” 

“You no-good sinner, why?!” The computer shouted. 

“Because...It seems both God and the Devil are after me.” He sprung from his bed and marched to his closet. “You know what the bible calls it, when man must meet his maker?” he asked. 

Computer gave another burst of static before shouting out. “The world burns! Rapture! Armageddon!”.