The spiteful wind blasted down the windshield of Thomas Bane's car. Ominous dark grey clouds hovered over the moon, casting creepy shadows. He yawned and checked his wristwatch, it was quarter past midnight. The business trip had been hectic but none the less, successful. Thomas had been a new recruit in the Lane's architectural firm and having surpassed all the others, by hook or by crook, which was mainly by crook, he became a director and he only took him four months and the sack of an older member. Thomas knew he had made himself an enemy but who cares? The race is afterall for the swift.
Thomas was a smart guy. He was 30 years old, well built, thanks to the weekend gym exercises and his perfect smile could charm almost anyone. He was shrewd and conniving, especially when he needed something done. Being relentless and persuasive in his goals, he treaded on people’s feet frequently and without a second thought, he didn’t stop at anything to achieve his goal. Sometimes he felt guilty at his ways, but it didn’t last long.
Feeling pressed and with no petrol station in sight he stopped the car and got down, walked a bit further from the hood of the car and faced away from the road, zipping down his pants to ease himself. He heaved a sigh of relief when he was done, zipped up and headed back to his car, he jumped in and started the engine.
The wheels screeched as he stepped on the gas a bit more, sending the car forward faster as bright headlights split through the dark night. He thought how mysterious the night was; it deceived the eyes, making colors seem what they are not. It hid terrible secrets in its fold. He thought of his own and shrugged. Drumming his fingers on the steering wheel, he hummed a tune and his thoughts drifted towards Sam, his girlfriend.
What a beauty she was and it wasn't really difficult to get her because all she really wanted was more money and of course, this handsome face. He put his hand on the rear view mirror to admire his looks and noticed something shining behind. What was that!? A pair of oval eyes stared at him from the backseat. The blood in his veins turned to ice crystals and with a wild cry, he brought the car to an abrupt halt.
“Who the hell are you?” he shouted, fumbling with the light switch. He whirled to take a closer look.
“Andrew?!” How in God's name did he get in here?
“Hahaha!" Andrew roared in laughter. "Man you should see your face! I totally scared you didn’t I?”
“Well hell yes! How did you even...?" Thomas yelled.
“Relax. My car broke down in the middle of freaking nowhere and I thought I would be damned to spend the night outside and then I saw you taking a piss at the roadside. I sneaked in here and decided to have some fun. You can drop me at the next petrol station. I won't be a bother.”
Andrew was the unlucky fella that got relieved from working at the firm when he had rose to stardom. Thomas resumed driving.
“Come on up in front,” he said, feeling uncomfortable with Andrew’s presence.
“Nah, I'm good here.”
Thomas stared at him for a moment. “Alright then, suit yourself. Tell me, what have you been doing these days?”
“Drifting. Wandering,” He replied.
An awkward silence hovered between them like a cloud. Lost in thought, he saw a car leap out from the darkness without headlights. He swerved and fought to control the car, cursing abuses. Andrew laughed and this riled him.
“What’s so funny man?” he snapped.
Quieting down Andrew said, “You remember Thomas, I used to be your boss.”
Thomas shrugged. “Life’s like that. You're at the head today, others rise tomorrow."
“Yeah it’s a bad world. Ready to pounce and kill. To slit your throat and eliminate those whose presence you feel threatened by.”
“Why do you say that?” Thomas asked in a wary tone.
“You know what I am talking about, don’t you?”
Thomas suspected Andrew knew he had played dirty to rise to such position quickly. He glanced at him from the mirror. What else could he do, he thought. He didn’t stand a chance before and he wasn't one to lose.
“You are a low-lying, evil bastard, Tom.”
“Watch your words Andrew! I believe in winning. Look at where I am today. My methods may not be fair, but I am a winner. I'm living the life and with a girl anyone would kill for. What about you? Just a miserable loser,” Thomas spat out.
He saw Andrew looking at him with cold eyes. Then he noticed the blood dripping from his head. “What happened to your head? You're bleeding.”
Andrew drew closer and said in a slow drawl. “Yes…I am.”
Then like a part of his memory was added back, he remembered a rumor about Andrew being hit by a truck while he was drunk few days after being sacked. According to what he had heard, Andrew had ran into the road and straight onto the path of the incoming truck. He had died instantly.
Unable to breathe, Thomas clutched his throat, terror gripping his mind. Confusion and anxiety seized him and swerved to the side of the road and pressed hard on the brake then shot out of the car, running across the road without looking. He felt something hard hit him and as he went down he felt excruciating pain in his legs and abdomen like they were being crushed. Only when did he stop rolling did he realize that he had just been hit by a truck.
The wailing wind stilled for a while and the last thing Thomas heard before darkness engulfed his life was the unmistakable chuckle of Andrew.
The break is a good read though! Karm is a b*tch indeed but that's life