In a cloud of dust and flying gravel, the rusty old Pinto sped down the dark dirt road winding through the forest-covered hills. Jeezy’s grip on the steering wheel was so tight that sweat dribbled down his arm from the palms of his hands. Gravel showered the ditches as he slid around each curve and sparks flew from the bumper as he dipped hard into each low-water bridge until he finally reached the driveway to the tower site. He eased along the driveway, hitting the potholes slowly, and when he came to the clearing, he sped around the tower debris and came to a stop at the edge of the forest, the headlights shining right into the trail. After Jeezy turned the car’s engine off, he sat there for a while, trying to gather his thoughts. Then he grabbed the radio from the passenger side floor and walked into the woods. The tree was still there, and the air around it was still frigid. He set the radio on the ground and played the CD. “It’s Tool, Bob,” Jeezy said to the tree, “Don’t you remember? It’s your favorite.” No response came from the tree. “I know you’re in there, Bob,” he said calmly, “Do you remember those guys...what they did to you?” No response. Jeezy lost his temper and kicked the tree. “Well look what they did to me!” he yelled, pointing to his face,“Do you think they’re sorry for what they did to you? Do you think they care? Well they don’t! They couldn’t give a drop of piss for your dead ass!” He stepped closer to the tree, “I thought you were my friend. I thought you’d understand. They can’t get away with this!” He punched the tree, skinning his knuckles, “Damn it! Do something!” “I demand vengeance!” he screamed, “Give me vengeance!” Jeezy looked at the radio and then back at the tree, “Maybe you’d react better if I played Celine Dion, you pussy!” Suddenly a gust of wind blew out of the tree’s knothole. With it, a cloud of dust andtwigs from the squirrel’s bedding went into Jeezy’s face. He stumbled back, blinded from the dust, and fell on his bottom. In a state ofconfusion, he nervously wiped his eyes with his jacket sleeve. His watery eyes gave him temporary blurred vision, but he could see that the tree was standing as still as before. For several minutes, everything was still and silent, including Jeezy, except for the music blaring from the dust-covered radio. Then the tree began to tremble violently. One limb after another began to snap off and fall to the ground. Jeezy had to jump to one side as one of the dead limbs nearly fell on him. Jeezy sat still, too shocked and terrified to move. From within the knothole, a bluish-green light glowed brightly. Jeezy just watched, amazed, almost hypnotized. Then, as the light began to fade away, he could see a face staring back at him inside the hole. It was hideous, with a mouth and nose that bulged from its face like a small snout. Its eyes had slits for pupils, like that of a cat. Only two small branches remained attached to the tree, and they cracked and fell apart, leaving two outstretched arms in their places. The arms lowered and the bony hands gripped the outer rim of the knothole, breaking it and the entire upper half of the trunk to pieces like a peanut shell, exposing the head and torso of the creature within. With a quick jerk, its knee busted through the lower part of the trunk and the creature stepped out of the remaining shell of bark. This thing was tall and horribly skinny, with bluish-green skin all over. What looked like dark green vines covered its head and privates like hair. It lowered its head and smiled a devilish grin at Jeezy, its eyes glowing dimly. Jeezy did not know what to do, and even if he did, he was too scared to do it. He looked around for his sharpened crucifix but remembered he had left it in the car. He knew he could do nothing but sit there, silently staring at the creature. Tears and sweat ran down his face, despite the cold air around him. It took a step towards Jeezy and paused. Jeezy froze in fear. Then it leapt in the air at him. Jeezy flinched and brought his arms up in defense, but the creature had jumped completely over him and was now out of sight. Jeezy lowered his shaking arms and looked behind him but could only see the headlights of his car. He turned the radio off and listened carefully for any noise but could only hear the normal quiet sounds of the night. It was gone. Jeezy sat there, motionless for at least an hour before he left. Now that he had finally gotten a response from the tree, he was not so sure that he liked it. | 
