Jessica nodded and holstered her gun in the back of her pants.
“Come on, guys. Stay close to me,” Jessica said. She put her hands out and each of the children grabbed hold.
Moving a few yards in front of Jessica, Holly, and the children, Gabriel and Will started down the middle of the two buildings. Gabriel shone the flashlight back and forth between the two buildings, as well as in front of them. The moon provided some light, but not enough to give them much assistance. Each unit he shone the light on looked untouched. They seemed destined to each be their own time capsule, not to be opened for years.
They came to the end of the row and reached the fence again. Gabriel looked to Will and whispered, “Take Holly and head around the far side of this unit.” He pointed to the building to his right. “I’ll go this way with Jessica and the kids, and we’ll meet you at the door of the climate controlled building.”
Will nodded, and he put his hand on Holly’s back to lead her around the side of the building. Will pulled his hand away from Holly and readied the shotgun, pointing it in front of him, as Holly used the flashlight to illuminate their path.
“Where are they going?” Dylan asked.
“Shh,” Jessica whispered, her finger to her lips. “They’ll be right back.”
Gabriel put his hand out toward Jessica, signaling her to hang back with the children. Checking to make sure it was clear, he peeked his head around the corner of the building, flashed the light down the back side of the structure, and saw nothing. He looked back to Jessica and nodded for her to follow.
They moved around the back of the building and the main office came into view. It was connected to the climate controlled storage building, but sat at the back of the property where they now stood. Gabriel narrowed his eyes. He raised his hand, urging Jessica and the kids to stop.
“What’s the matter?” Jessica asked.
Gabriel turned and whispered, “There’s a car parked over here. Stay back with the children.”
He crept toward the vehicle. It was a large SUV, parked in one of the spots near the office. He pointed the flashlight at it and saw that it still had the dealer tags on the back, and then he shone the light through the back window. Aside from some clothes in the back seat, the truck appeared to be empty.
Gabriel heard footsteps at the end of the row and quickly turned away from the SUV.
“It’s just us,” Holly said from the front side of the property.
Gabriel relaxed and waved them toward him. Jessica must’ve heard Holly because she came around the corner with the kids and walked over to the SUV.
“Anything inside?” Jessica asked.
Gabriel shook his head. “Doesn’t look like much. We’ll give it a better look later.”
Will and Holly arrived at the truck, and Holly stroked the side of it.
“Damn, this is nice. Too bad we can’t get that gate open and drive this outta here.”
“There’s still a chance that whoever owns this is here,” Gabriel said. “We’ve gotta stay on our toes and check inside this building. If someone is inside, they could very well already know that we’re here.”
“I checked the door to the climate controlled units on the way over here,” Will said. “It’s locked. We could easily break in, but we should check inside the office first. Maybe we can find a key.”
“Good idea,” Gabriel said. “You and I will check the office. Jessica and Holly, you two keep a look out here and stay with the children.”
The group nodded in unison.
Will walked over to Holly and handed her his shotgun. “Take this and give me the handgun.”
“You sure?” Holly asked.
Will nodded. “If you guys get into trouble, it’ll be better for you to have this. Gabriel has the rifle. We’ll be fine.”
Holly nodded.
Will looked over to Gabriel. “Let’s go.”
The glass shattered as the butt-end of Gabriel’s rifle slammed through the office’s front window. He reached around, unlocked the door, and opened it. Will sneaked by him and entered the office first, aiming his gun in front of his face.
“After you,” Gabriel mumbled, and used the flashlight to illuminate the room.
The office was simple. A desk sat in the middle of the room with all the essentials on top: a computer, phone, notepads, scattered papers, and pens. The wall nearby displayed various packing supplies that the facility sold, such as boxes and tape. There was a coffee machine and microwave sitting on top of a small table on the other side of the desk. Behind the desk, there was a single door. Will went to the desk.
“Come ‘ere and give me some light,” Will said. “Maybe there’s keys in one of these drawers.”
Gabriel hurried over to the desk and pointed the flashlight as Will opened up the top drawer and rummaged through it. He searched each drawer, throwing papers and other things all over the ground. When he’d looked through each drawer, he sighed and looked down to the ground.
Gabriel furrowed his brow. “You doin’ alright, man?”
“I’m fine.”
“You sure?”
Will narrowed his eyes. “Let’s just keep looking around.” He turned toward the door behind the desk.
Gabriel shook his head and shined the light onto the door as Will pushed down the handle. It clicked, and Will pushed it open, entering the room. Gabriel shined the light inside the space.
To the left was a set of stairs. Gabriel shone the light to the other side of the room and saw just how small it was. A cleaning cart with a mop and bucket sat against the wall, but that was it.
“You hear that?” Will asked.
Gabriel stood still and listened.
“Hear what?”
“Come on,” Will said, and he started up the stairs. Gabriel reached out and grabbed onto Will’s shoulder.
“Easy,” Gabriel said. “If there’s someone, or something, up there, we need to be quiet so they don’t hear us coming.”
Will stared at Gabriel for just a moment, then nodded. Gabriel entered the room behind Will, and pointed the flashlight up the stairs.
“Holy shit,” Gabriel said.
Blood stained the wall in the shape of human handprints. Gabriel moved the beam up the wall, and the same stains decorated it every few feet. He shone the light down onto the stairs, which also had blood on them. He whipped his head toward the top of the staircase when he heard a snarl.
“Hear it that time?” Will asked.
“Let’s just be careful.”
Will nodded in agreement, then turned to move up the stairs. The steps were made of metal, making them easy to mount without making much of a noise. Eight stairs up came to a landing, and then five more stairs to the right led to a door. The familiar hiss was prevalent now.
“Sounds like it’s just one of ‘em,” Gabriel whispered.
Will crept up the stairs and gently turned the handle. He looked back to Gabriel and said, “It’s locked.”
“Let’s just turn back and leave it in there. It’s trapped in that room.”
Will shook his head. “It’s probably the live-in tenant. I bet we’ll find the keys in here, and maybe some other goods.” He moved back down the steps and joined Gabriel. “Stand back and give me some light.”
“Will, no,” Gabriel hissed.
But Will had already decided on his next move as he charged up the stairs and threw his shoulder into the door. Gabriel darted up the stairs behind him, and shone the light inward as the door fell into the room, and Will with it. It must’ve gone down easier than Will thought it was going to, because his momentum carried him all the way to the ground.
The beast snarled, but Gabriel couldn’t see where it was.
“Here!” Will yelled.
Gabriel pointed the light down and saw the hands coming up from each side of the door.
“Shoot it!”
Gabriel saw Will’s pistol had fallen onto the ground near him, and he hurried to pick it up. He positioned
himself at the top of the door where he could see the creature’s head peeking over the top. Gabriel used one hand to point the light down at the beast’s head, and aimed the gun with the other; then he pulled the trigger. Blood shot up as the bullet entered the thing’s skull.
Will rolled off the door, onto his back. “Thanks,” he said, gasping for air.
“Pretty lucky that he was right on the other side of the door,” Gabriel said.
Will reached over and moved the door out of the way, and Gabriel directed the light to the Empty’s face.
“She,” Will said, correcting Gabriel.
Downstairs, the door to the front of the office creaked opened, then slammed shut.
“Are you guys okay?” Jessica called. “Where are you?”
“Up here,” Gabriel replied. “Through the door behind the desk.”
They heard footsteps come up the stairs, and the two women and children appeared in the doorway.
“Will,” Holly said, and she rushed to his side.
“I’m fine. No worries.”
Gabriel moved the door the rest of the way off the Empty, and tilted his head. He pointed the flashlight at its waist and he smiled. Kneeling down, he grabbed something off the creature’s pants.
“What’s that?” Will asked.
Gabriel flashed the light on the object he held up in front of his face, revealing the dangling keys to the rest of the group.
The third key that Gabriel tried opened the door into the climate controlled storage space.
“Will and I will go in first,” he said. “Stand back and give us plenty of light.”
Gabriel pushed through the door, and Will followed close behind. Each of them readied their weapons, prepared to face any threat. Once everyone was inside, Gabriel put his finger to his lips, urging the others to be silent, then signaled for Holly to point her flashlight ahead of them. The air was filled with silence, aside from the five of them breathing. Ahead, the hallway appeared vacant, lined with blue, metal doors on either side which all looked to be closed. Gabriel turned to the right, and the women followed him with the light. He looked down another hall of similar length, its scene exactly the same.
“I think we’re clear, but we should look around,” Will said.
“Agreed,” Gabriel replied.
At the cautious pace they used, it took them ten minutes to check the building before arriving back at the entrance. As predicted, the facility was vacant.
One of the units near the front door was open. They took a brief look at the items at the front of the unit before deciding they’d check in more detail in the morning when they’d have natural light pouring in through the glass front door. Gabriel wished he had a way to open some of the other units up and look to see if he could find a blanket or something he could use as a pillow. But the kids each had their bedding, at least, and the two of them being comfortable was what really mattered.
“I’ll keep first watch,” Will said.
“I don’t think it’ll be necessary,” Gabriel said, shaking his head. “The door’s locked and we know we’re the only ones here. Even if someone shows up, they’re gonna have to come crashing through that glass door. We’ll just sleep up here; that way, we’ll hear if someone shows up.”
Gabriel looked over to Will, and he could see the pure exhaustion in his friend’s face. He walked over to him and put his hand on Will’s shoulder.
“Tonight, we all rest.”
Chapter 3
I see the blood stains on the road. I notice the iron substance dripping off a nearby bush. It’s almost as if I can smell him. He’s here.
And then he jumps out of the vegetation, and I’m taken by surprise. I feel the burn in my arm. The reanimated David Ellis falls, but not before he curses me.
My arm pulsating from the two bite wounds, I lie on the ground alone, looking at the sky. Cold. Becoming so cold.
What’s that voice? Who is that?
I don’t know who or what it is, but it’s inside my head. I can’t understand what it’s saying. Slowly, it’s becoming clearer.
It’s the voice of my mother.
“Will… Will… Will.”
Her voice sounds so tired and defeated.
“Mom?”
“How could you, William? How could you let him do that to me?”
I begin to cry. “I’m so sorry, Mom. I wish I could take it all back. If I could, I would’ve just killed myself when I woke up in that fucking warehouse.”
“William?”
That’s my father’s voice. I look to the gunmetal sky, but I see nothing. No face. Nothing.
“Dad?”
“You were supposed to protect her,” my father says. He’s crying almost as hard as I am. “How could you fail me like that, son?”
“But, Dad, I—”
“Don’t ‘Dad’ me! You fucked up! This is all your fault! You’re a worthless piece of trash, son! You always have been!”
I shake my head and I squeeze my eyes shut as hard as I can. Something trickles down my face, and I put my hand to my cheek and pull it away to see blood. Near convulsing, I rub my eyes with my fingers and can feel the blood flowing from my eyes in place of tears.
Then a laugh. It’s familiar, but it’s not that of my mother, nor my father.
David.
He continues to laugh as I feel something inside me taking over. All the blood in my body seems to be rushing to my head, and it feels as if two hands are squeezing my brain, like one of those foam stress balls.
Oh, God, what’s happening to me?
“God?” David says. “God?”
My eyes widen as I see his face in the sky above me. His eyes aflame, and that laugh.
“I’m your God,” he says.
He starts with that evil laugh again, as I find myself gasping for air. My back arches.
I scream, and the last thing I see before everything goes black is the large head in the sky opening his mouth, and coming down to swallow me.
Will awoke in the middle of the scream from his nightmare. It carried over into reality, and he let out a dry, raspy yell. He sat up and saw Holly sitting on the floor nearby with the kids. All three of them looked startled, and Holly jumped to her feet and rushed over to him.
“Oh, my God. Are you alright?”
Will lay back down, realizing that he’d shot up too fast and that the blood had rushed to his head. He put his hand to his forehead and breathed in and out in rapid succession.
“Will, talk to me,” Holly said.
“I’m fine,” Will said. “Really. It was just a bad dream.”
The front door opened, and Gabriel and Jessica came into the facility.
“Is everything okay?” Gabriel asked. “We heard a scream.”
“I'm fine,” Will repeated, still rubbing his forehead, his hand now wet from perspiration. “Just a nightmare.”
Will heard a sniffle and looked over to see Mary Beth in tears. Before he could say anything, Jessica went to the children and took their hands.
“Come on, let’s go outside,” she said, and she led Dylan and Mary Beth out the door.
His breathing back to normal, Will sat up. He used the collar of his shirt to wipe the sweat from his face and let out a long sigh.
“How long have you guys been up?” Will asked.
“Couple of hours,” Holly said. “You were sleeping like a rock, so we decided to let you just rest.”
Will ran his hands through his hair. “Shit. Guess I didn’t realize I was that tired.”
“Yeah, well, luckily we noticed,” Gabriel said.
Holly looked up to Gabriel and asked, “You guys find anything yet?”
Gabriel nodded.
“What’s she mean?” Will asked.
“When I woke up this morning, I went to check out that SUV and went back inside that apartment above the office to see if there was anything up there we could use. The SUV didn’t have anything in it aside from some makeup and shit, and it’s almost o
ut of gas. The needle is on empty. But inside the apartment, I found some canned food, bottled water, and some nuts. We can’t have enough of that stuff.”
“Great,” Holly said.
“I also found these in the office.” Gabriel pushed the door open and leaned outside on one foot, bending over to grab something. He came back in grasping a set of bolt cutters. “We’ve already busted open a few of the units to see if we could find anything.”
“And?” Will asked.
Gabriel shook his head. “We grabbed a few blankets that were being used to cover furniture, but that’s about all we found that would be useful. Found a bunch of shit probably worth a lot of money, but I don’t see that doing us good anytime soon.”
“We probably don’t need to hang around here too much longer,” Will said. “I know it’s cozy, but we need to get back on the road.”
“Don’t have to tell me twice,” Gabriel said.
The door opened, and Jessica moved halfway into the doorway with a concerned look.
“You guys need to come have a look at this.”
“And you haven’t seen or heard anybody?” Gabriel asked.
“No,” Jessica said. “I looked around for just a second, then I grabbed the kids and ran back over to the storage unit.”
Will walked around to where he could see through the wrought iron fence. The driver’s side panel door of the van was wide open.
“You sure we shut it last night?” Holly asked. “Who was the last one out of the van?”
“I made sure it was closed,” Will said.
“You sure? You were pretty out of it,” Gabriel said.
“I shut the fucking door!”
“Whoa, easy,” Jessica said, nodding in the direction of the children.
“This isn’t helping anyone, guys,” Holly added.
Will blew out a deep breath. If there was one thing he was tired of, it was the group babying him over the last few days just because of the shit that had happened. He distinctly remembered closing the door to the van all the way, no matter how exhausted he’d been.
“Let’s run back to the building and grab our things,” Gabriel said. “If someone knows we’re here, it’s best we get the hell out of here as fast as we can. We don’t need to be lingering around.”
Empty Bodies Box Set | Books 1-6 Page 48