The Sect Leader System

Six o’clock had came and went, but Benton York was still at his desk, just about ready to pack it in for the day.

Edward, the executive vice-president of sales slipped in the open door. “Is there anyone in your section still here? I’ve got a presentation in the morning, and it needs some touchups.”

“Just me, Mr. Abbott,” Benton said. “But I can get it done for you.”

The PowerPoint emergency took close to another hour, but he didn’t mind too much. He liked helping people. Besides, it wasn’t like he had anyone waiting for him at home.

At sixty years old, Benton knew that death approached faster than he would like, but he never expected it to come so soon. Then again, not many people did once their number was up.

Nothing in the spring weather portended disaster. A gentle wind blew from the south. Wispy white clouds drifted lazily across the sky. It was a fine day. A fine, fine day.

Though it was well after the rush hour, many people still dashed hither and yon finishing up their business in the downtown metroscape, preparing to escape the daily grind. One such young lady grinned as her fingers rapidly tapped her phone, surely making plans for the evening. A young man hastily stepped into an Uber, eager to be about his life.

Benton sighed. He was much more conflicted. Though he definitely looked forward to kicking off his shoes and ditching his tie, maybe relaxing to the latest chapter in his grandson’s webnovel, he no longer had anyone to look forward to seeing. Even five years after Evelyn’s passing, he still wasn’t quite over it. Maybe he never would be.

It was the little things that really got him. How quiet the house always was. Reaching his arm across the bed upon waking and finding her spot empty. Having someone to share a meal with. Heck, even figuring out what to eat.

He grimaced. Probably fast food again.

Letting out a long breath, he expelled the melancholic thoughts that had overtaken him. He’d never been a gloomy person, and Evelyn certainly wouldn’t have put up with him becoming one in his old age.

Benton put a smile on his face. It was, after all, a fine day.

At the crosswalk leading to the parking garage on the other side of the street, a small crowd of about a half dozen had gathered, waiting for the light to change. The last man in line was a tall fellow with dirty blond hair wearing a suit. Generally, people’s backs were fairly nondescript, but something about that one tugged Benton’s memory. Something looked familiar.

“Mike?” he called. “Mike Larson?”

The man turned, his questioning visage quickly contorting into a slight frown. “Benton. Hello.”

“Congratulations on the promotion!”

“You almost sound like you mean it,” Mike said.

“I do. Why wouldn’t I?”

“Uh, because…”

At first, Benton was truly confused by the man’s reaction. In the years since transferring out of Benton’s section, Mike had rapidly ascended the corporate ladder, recently reaching the lofty status of vice president. And he deserved every bit of his success. He was hard working, sharp, decisive, and thought well on his feet, everything the board wanted and more.

“Ahh. You’re feeling guilty that you’ve left your old mentor languishing in a dead-end position, eh?”

Mike’s face scrunched up. “Well, yeah. Kind of.”

Benton laughed. “I am perfectly content where I am. Corporate climbing is a young man’s game, and I know my strengths, mainly nurturing young talents. Did you know that two of your fellow VPs worked under me at one time or the other?”

“Really?”

“Do you think it was a coincidence that a rising star like you ended up with me as a boss? Do you think that it’s a coincidence that at least two other young people in my division will soon be on that same fast track?” Benton watched as his words clicked home to his former protégé. “The company has been my home for almost my entire career. It’s been good to me and mine. When Evelyn got sick, they bent over backward to help. I’m happy I can give something back by nurturing the future.”

Mike nodded, the ends of his mouth slowly turning upward for the first time in the conversation. “To think I never realized. And here I am considering myself so clever.” He paused for a moment. “I’m not sure I really ever stopped to think about how much I learned during my time with you, from navigating the company’s labyrinthine bureaucracy to simply how best to effectively deal with people.”

“Well, you weren’t always the quickest, but you always got there eventually. Like figuring out that we’ve only got about twenty seconds before we have to wait through another light cycle.”

Mike turned saw that the rest of the people were already across the intersection. “Crap! Sorry!” He dashed out into the street.

Benton barked out a laugh at his protégé’s antics. His mirth lasted for but an instant as he noticed something that made his blood run cold. A white panel truck of an unknown make was barreling down the road right toward Mike.

There wasn’t much time for thought. There wasn’t much time for anything. Benton sprinted forward as fast as his aging legs could carry him and plowed into Mike’s back, propelling the man well into the next lane. To safety.

The collision had completely halted Benson’s momentum, leaving him staring at the hood of an oncoming truck that showed no sign of slowing. He did not want to die. To survive, he needed to get to the next lane. Fast.

Alas, it was not to be. He wasn’t nimble enough, not quick enough, and the truck was traveling far in excess of the speed limit.

Benton didn’t even have time to sigh.

It could have been worse. With Evelyn already passed, there was no one depending on him. His kids were all grown. He’d miss seeing his grandkids, but they’d all be just fine without him.

The important thing was that Mike would make it. His rising star would not be extinguished so soon. Benton’s death meant something at least.

Just then, he noticed a truck, identical to the one about to plow into him, traveling the opposite direction in the opposite lane and just as fast.

There was no way for Mike to escape.

Shit!

The last thing that Benton saw before the world faded to black was a weird hood ornament on the truck, a snake eating its own tail.