Page 127 of The Mob: Shio Cuppacio

The stick reached the boat before I could, after I’d flapped it around for a minute. Tossing it inside, I carefully climbed in, and it was more of a fucking canoe than a boatonly one person could fit inside. Using the paddle, I pushed the boat into the water and sat up straight to balance myself.

“Hi, Shio. This is a pre-recorded message,” Scarlett’s voice came over the speaker.

“Who is that?” Nel asked.

“Aye, shut up. It’s Scarlett’s voice.”

Paddling, the water flow aided in carrying the boat.

“It has been said that pyramids were built as ancient tombs, but no one has ever found a mummy of any kind there. It is nearly impossible to understand how the pyramids were built by humans, due to the lack of their instruments and technology. This is not an original pyramid, but it was built to mimic one. The water you are rowing on is fresh. Always keep your body straight and your hands inside the boat at all times, cousin. I love you.”

“Damn, Scarlett must be sick of this job. The facts are gettin' shorter and shorter with each mission.”

Matteo scolded Metavello. “Nah, she’s just sick of you niggas.”

The boat jerked, so I stopped paddling and used the paddle to feel around in the water to make sure I didn’t hit anything.

“Whatchu doin’, bro?”

“I felt somethin’ hit the boat.”

“It’s nothing in the water, Shio. Go head now,” Vello alleged.

“You see how dark it is in there? You don’t know what’s in that muthafucka,” Matteo said.

Since I couldn’t see, I pulled the paddle in the boat and used the stick to poke in the water to check once more.

“Hold up! Zoom in, Tune! I think I see a tail!”

“A tail?” I probed.

The boat pushed forward with a jerk, and I nearly dropped the stick, trying to hold my balance.

“Nigga! That’s three tails!”

“Shio! Stop fuckin’ moving! It’s some shit in the water!” Tunan sounded in a panic.

Pausing, I held my breath while swiveling my head, trying to hear as much as I could.

“Awl, hell nawl! It’s dinosaurs in that bitch! I see scales for sure.”

“Alligators aremassivesemi-aquatic reptiles!” Scarlett disclosed, coming over the loudspeaker again.

“They are cold-blooded and found in freshwater habitats. They are carnivores, feeding on fish, small mammals, birds, and even sometimes deer.”

“Nigga, if they can eat deer, they can eat a nigga. Awl nawl!” Nel panicked like he was the one in fucking boat.

“These alligators are unlike anything you’ve ever witnessed. They are all twelve feet in length, and their owner, Goal Navarro, keeps them on a special diet of… human flesh.”

The boat jerked forward again, and Nel and Vello screamed over the loudspeaker.

“You need to get the fuck out of dur now, yo’! They are semi-aquatic, meaning they live in the water and on land.” Tunan was now huffing into the speaker while Nel and Vello could be heard in the background, freaking out.

Using the paddle, I began rowing as fast as my arms would allow. The boat continued to jerk as the three reptiles pushed it with their noses from different directions as if they were playing volleyball. Still, I kept rowing.

“The bank is up ahead, but just as you can get outta the water, dey can too. It’s shallow, too, Shio. You need a plan!”

Pulling the paddle back in the boat, I grabbed the stick I’d been using and put it against my mouth. Using my teeth, I bit into it, hurting the fuck out of my gums. Using my fingers to find the gnawed spot, I broke the stick there and grabbed the piece with the most rugged edge. Scrubbing the rugged edge up and down my arm, I winced at the burning sensation from my skin being rubbed raw. When I began to smell blood, I tore the bottom half of my shirt off, balling it up and pressing it against my self-inflicted wounds. I then tied the bloody shirt around the stick, slapped the water until I felt one nudge the side, and then tossed it behind me as far as it could go. I felt the water ripple and the slapping of tails. Wasting no time, I hopped from the boat. My feet hit the water, which came up to my knees.