CHAPTER 16

Zim carefully opened his eyes. If he was napping, he didn't want to lose any sleep. Then he remembered the car accident. His eyes zipped open to see he was in a cornfield. The burning car was not too far away. He stood and moved through the corn until he could see the ruin of David's car.

He checked his crotch, and his genitals were still there. He breathed a sigh of relief, then decided that maybe he should check out the others. If Kristen was unconscious . . .

He saw David ahead, leaning on a fence around the cornfield. Blood dribbled down from his brow and from his nose, which he held with one hand. Ben staggered from the backseat of the car and puked on the roadside. Kristen . . . where was she?

Zim got close to the car and saw that she hadn't been so lucky. Her seatbelt had ridden up on her a little and strangled her to death. It looked like her head barely held on.

"FACK!" Zim screamed. He was never going to get laid now.

"Oh shit," Ben said. "David! Get over here!"

David shook his head and approached the car. As soon as he saw Kristen, he closed his eyes and crossed himself. "My God. I hope it wasn't painful in any way."

"This is nuts," Ben said. "It was supposed to be just another assessment. And now . . ." He narrowed his eyes, looking at Zim. "This is his fault."

"Ben," David said.

Ben's hands rolled into fists. He snarled, bracing himself. He looked like he was about to launch himself at Zim.

"Ben, it was an accident," David said. "This Zim kid is dumb, but I don't think he could have caused a car accident."

"We wouldn't be here without him," Ben said. "Fuck him. I'm fucking him up."

David lurched forward, trying to stop Ben. Ben also lurched forward. Toward Zim. Raising his fist to deliver a haystack of a punch.

Zim did the only thing he could think to do: he ducked. Ben's fist soared over him and cracked into the burning roof of the car. Ben screamed, holding his broken hand, blood and fire engulfing it.

"Ben! My God!" David screamed.

The fire spread. "No!" Ben screamed. "I'm not dying because of this fucking loser!" He drew back for another punch, but the fire on his fist brushed a lock of hair, setting his head on fire, too. He screamed more, beating at his head. David ripped off his coat and tried to beat the fire out. By the time it was done, Ben was already gone.

"How can this be happening?" David said. "Two of my colleagues. I've never lost any of my partners before."

"That sucks," Zim said. "Too bad that car's all messed up. I could use a ride to Braidwood."

This time David's eyes narrowed. "That's all you can think of? Two good people are dead, and you just want a goddam ride?" He gasped at his own blasphemy and started to pray to God.

Zim had a sneaking suspicion that Bruni wrote his life story, and if that was the case, then Bruni was God, and he was a cruel God at that. He didn't think David would get his prayers answered. So Zim gave up and left him kneeling in the road, praying for forgiveness.

And just so happened to come upon the sign that said WELCOME TO BRAIDWOOD! He still had a long way to walk, though.

"Fuck." He sighed tremendously and continued to walk.

TO BE CONTINUED . . .