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Pre-Emptive Revenge

                The road was windy.

                Through the Italian nighttime, the trendy sports car zipped along.  Its bright lights cast out over it as the overcast sky above threatened rain.  The wet road shined in the lights of the headlamps as the car roared down the narrow streets.  Along the country path, the dark passages of farmland isolated the car, keeping it within its own space.

                Behind the wheel of the car, a large man in a suit sat with his right hand on the steering wheel, his left hand holding a cell phone, and an unpleasant scowl on his face.  The glare off the road reflected back on the windshield, but he ignored it, leaning into the turns he took at a breakneck speed.

                “<I have no interest in their contributions, >” the man barked into the phone, his face turning red as he shouted in a course Italian voice.  “<The building isn’t up to specs; it doesn’t go up. >”  He swerved into another turn, the car’s tires squealing.  “<That’s the end of it, >” he declared, slapping the phone shut against the steering wheel.  He tossed the phone into the empty passenger seat, focusing ahead.  He leaned against the door, sighing angrily.  “<Idiots, >” he spat, focusing on the road.

                The car pulled into a long straightaway, the trees bowing over the car, blocking out the dark sky.  The silver convertible shot down the road, kicking up fallen, damp leaves behind as it went.  The moisture from the road fanned up from the rear wheels, leaving a near-invisible track behind.

                The man in the car, focused forward, leaning over the steering wheel.  He squinted his eyes, trying to see into the distance.  He could make out the end of the tunnel of trees and the open road beyond.  He sat back in his car, smiling, tension melting out from him.

                As the car began to drive more reasonably, there was a pop from within the trees.

                The car suddenly curved to the right, turning so fast, it flipped up onto two wheels.  Rolling over, it continued to twist on its course, flying into the steep embankment and down into the trees.  It crashed hard against the first row of flora, driving them down and sending them crashing into the thick forest by the road.

                The car rolled against the trees, continuing on its path of destruction before it finally came to a stop, crashing against an ancient, thick tree.  The giant trunk stood up to the car, stopping its roll, causing it to remain standing on its side.

                In the nighttime air, a roll of thunder cracked through the sky.  Like a gentle caress, rain began to fall from the sky.  But nothing moved within the crashed car.

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