Wraith Cars: Part II
Antonio looked at himself in the hotel mirror. He had gotten a decent suit, a rental. He had cleaned himself up as best he could, and was taking a moment to really let it soak in.
He had fallen so far. But tonight, that changed forever.
First things first, though, he had a preview to attend, and some old faces to see once more.
It was the night before the big expo. Dubbed "Preview Night" by the press, it was more of a gala event than a real car expo. It was a chance to mingle, and a place that offered photo ops for the executives in charge of the juggernaut companies.
Antonio arrived in a cab, paid the driver, and stepped out. There was no rush of reporters or photographers. No screams from adorning fans. Just a few side-eye glances from security as he approached the main entrance into the building.
This event was taking place at a large convention center just a mile from the racetrack. Antonio remembered coming to the place a few times, years ago. The place had changed, with modern amenities strewn all throughout the area.
Antonio could not help but chuckle at all the peripheral luxuries that had slowly become necessities over the years. He found himself wandering around for a while until he found the main catering area. It was full of people and the roar of their conversations. Antonio stepped in and quickly found himself looking into the shocked face of Marco Luganotti. Marco had been the first to drag Antonio's name through the mud after the D-TH crash, and Antonio had not seen him in well over twenty years.
Antonio relished the thick tension that filled the air as he approached Marco wearing a very polite smile.
"Marco! Hello. Been some time, hasn't it?" Antonio said as he left an outstretched hand in front of Marco. Macro hesitated, but then shook it briskly.
"Antonio? How…how are you? I wasn't aware that you..." Marco stumbled through his words.
"Were still alive? Yes, so sorry to disappoint. I see you've been having continued success over these years. Why I even saw the new model you have, the Tempesta, it looks very sharp." Antonio said.
"Why, yes, thank you." Marco said, still a bit flustered.
"You know it looks awfully familiar. Ah, yes, it looks almost exactly like the concept I had drawn years ago, the one you bought from me after the closure. Yes, always said it was an ugly design, didn't you? Ah, yes. All water under the bridge now." Antonio watched every grimace and stance shift that Marco had, and could not hide the enjoyment in his face. Marco's face had reddened a tad, and he was no longer flustered.
"Yes. In fact it is the design I bought from you after your company had to close shop due to, what was the legal term? Incidental manslaughter?" Marco said, his face now a wall holding back a torrent of rage.
Antonio did not react at all.
"Yes, that was what they said. Have you told all these investors and reporters that you used designs from the madman who made the D-TH? Oh, I think not." Antonio maintained composure, but Marco did not.
"Where is Jasmine? Did she not accompany you here Antonio?" Marco said, razors laced on every word. He knew of Jasmine's demise, but decided to open the wound. His hate was palpable. Antonio did not react much, save for all the humor and bravado drained away from him, and now he held a look of cold, controlled malice. Antonio moved close to Marco, and whispered softly.
"My wife sleeps eternal now. My life ended when she left me, and now I am just a ghost. But ghosts can still haunt." Antonio locked eyes with Marco and then moved away, back into the party.
Marco shook himself, trying to remove the remnants of the interaction. He went back to conversing with his guests, but Marco spent the rest of the night with a watchful eye over his shoulder, never fully able to get the last words of Antonio to leave him entirely.
As Antonio made his way to the exit, feeling he had accomplished all he needed to do, one last face found him. Just as he left the building, he found himself in a cloud of clove cigarette smoke. Antonio swatted the smoke away, finding another devil from his past looking back at him
Maggie Fazaralla held the cigarette loosely, and it nearly fell from her fingers as she realized who she was looking at. Then a half smile formed on her face, and she took another puff of her cigarette as she chuckled softy.
"Well I'll be damned. The Death Dealer in the flesh." She said through another cloud of smoke.
"Maggie. I see you’re still alive. My apologies to your family." Antonio said. Maggie shook her head and laughed.
"What dick did you have to suck to get in here?" Maggie asked with a large dose of venom. Antonio found himself growing weary of this, and decided it was time to go.
"I’m leaving, Maggie. Don't worry, you won't see me again." Antonio said as he walked by. Maggie watched him go and then shouted to him in the falling darkness.
"The Death Dealer, ladies and gentleman!" She announced. A few patrons looked over at Antonio with confusion and pity, and Antonio turned to face Maggie.
"An old name, from an old time. Maybe I can still live up to it? What do you think Maggie? Enjoy tomorrow, Maggie, enjoy it." Antonio said as he turned and walked into the large parking area. Maggie went to take another drag of her cigarette, and kept looking at the darkness that had swallowed Antonio..
Antonio went to a spot just away from the preview event, and met up with the cab driver from earlier, as had been planned. The driver took him to the outskirts of the racetrack and left him there.
Antonio carried a briefcase with him, and he stopped at the fence that ran around the perimeter of the track. Opening the briefcase he took out a strong pair of wire cutters and quickly went to work. After cutting a big enough area he pushed the fence free and crawled in.
Antonio had put on a large black cloak and he pulled the hood over his head. He moved quickly and found his way to the giant garage on the premises. The guards were lackluster and just simply walked a security patrol around the building every twenty minutes or so.
Antonio timed it well and snuck up behind the one guard that was meandering around the building. He struck the guard from behind with a hammer he had in his briefcase and watched blood ooze out of the man's head as he scavenged his body, finding the keys for the garage.
Antonio let himself into the complex and was in awe. The moonlight was coming into every window, illuminating the rows of supercars with a ghostly hue.
Antonio began speaking the verses he needed to recite as he removed his sacrificial blade. He drew it along his hands, a line of fire on his skin. The blood dripped out, and Antonio dipped his fingers in it. Murmurs of his ghastly incantations echoed in the large garage, and Antonio slowly went from car to car, speaking the words and leaving a mark of his own blood on the underside of each.
It took him almost two hours to get through all the cars.
As Antonio finished the ritual with the last car, he heard the clatter of men around the front of the garage.
A shift change. They must have found the guard outside. It did not matter to Antonio, his work had been completed.
The room spun around Antonio, as he was already dealing with a decent amount of blood loss. He saw lights from flashlights enter the garage, and he had only one last thing to do.
The blade found his wrist and it cut deep and quick. Antonio collapsed to the ground, but could hear the voices of all he had summoned as they passed him in transit.
Antonio died, his blood slowly pooling around him as all the lights in the garage flickered on.
Antonio was gone, but his work would be on display at the expo, and it was sure to be a hell of a show.
STAY TUNED FOR PART THREE TOMORROW
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