http://i64.tinypic.com/2mq9amo.jpgJoe had taken his bashed up old campervan off the road and into a thick secluded forest. He didn't even know where he was going and he'd been driving for months, ever since his crushing and humiliating defeat at the hands of Big Ed. Eventually, Joe managed to start a campfire and after tending to it for a little while, the flames began reaching up to caress the starry night's sky.
Joe Zhivago stared pensively into the fire before taking his black leather jacket off. It was his only jacket; Joe never understood what everyone's problem with it was. He turned it round and read the words inked on the back: “Made in Scotland”. He shook his head, Madison was right, it was a little crusty and smelly.
He held the jacket out towards the fire when he heard a familiar, deep voice.
Familiar voice: Hey, you're not burning that - you'll regret it! Haven't you set enough fires recently?
Joe winced, thinking back on when he destroyed his Uncle Johnny's club in a fire. What was he thinking? But Ed had pushed him over the edge - attacking Johnny with the help of his gang, leaving him in hospital.
Familiar voice: Where the hell are you going anyway?
Joe frowned, it was a good question, but he didn't have an answer, so he sighed instead.
Familiar voice: How are you supposed to get revenge, out here in the middle of nowhere?
Joe was still holding his jacket in front of him, his grip tightened. He wished he could make Big Ed suffer, make the Club suffer.
Familiar voice: You just need to man the hell up, go back there and kick them in their stupid faces… And please buy some new gear - that singlet of yours is stinkin’, disgraceful, have some pride…
Joe made a mocking face: Alright, Dad…
Perhaps all the time alone had made him a little crazy or maybe he was talking to a ghost. It didn't matter, the ghost was right - although he hadn't noticed the stink…
Joe carried his jacket back to the van, carefully folded it up and laid it down gently on the passenger seat. He made sure the fire was out before returning to his van and starting the engine - it wouldn't be long before he'd see the sky lit up by the lights of New York City - hopefully he had enough gas to get him there. Joe frowned.