“Why don’t you go cool down for a while? We can delay the trip an hour or so.”
“No,” Will said. “I’ll be fine. What’s the plan?”
Timothy exchanged a look with Charlie, who nodded. The doctor sighed, then began.
“The main thing we need is medicine,” Timothy said. “We salvaged enough canned food from that school to keep us fed for many months, even with all the new people we’ve added. But we’ve run through basic medical supplies providing care for them. Needless to say, we didn’t expect to bring this many people into our community all at once. We just weren’t prepared.”
“So where are we going to get more?” Will asked.
“Adam’s,” Charlie said.
Will raised an eyebrow. “You sure that’s a good idea?” He thought of Spencer hanging from the tree as Empties reached up and tried to bring him down, eventually succeeding.
“We’ve been back since the incident with Spencer,” Karl said. “I went back there two days before you showed back up, and everything is all right. They got their fence patched up, and they’re willing to trade again.”
“Are we sure they have the things we need?” Will asked.
“You remember how much he had last time?” Charlie asked. “He had no issues giving us what we needed, and that was all for a generator. We’ve got endless weapons and ammunition to trade now.”
In his mind, Will questioned just how ‘endless’ weapons and ammunition would be in the future, but he nodded regardless, refusing to bring up such a small issue that could throw off the plan entirely.
“I’ve made you a list again,” Timothy said. “There’s a lot more on it this time, but as Charlie said, we’ve got more to offer them in trade.”
“So, who’s going with us?” Will asked.
“I’ve got four people to tag along with you,” Timothy said. “They all have experience with firearms. They just haven’t spent much time out there since all this started.”
“All right,” Will said. “So it’ll be the four of them, me, Charlie, and Karl?”
Timothy shook his head. “Karl won’t be going with you.”
“Why not?” Will asked.
“We need someone here in case something happens. We lost some of our best fighters going to that school. After seeing what I saw there, I just can’t risk sending all of our most experienced people out there. Karl here is by far the most experienced.”
“Sorry, man,” Karl added.
“I understand,” Will said. But he also thought about the way Adam had greeted Karl last time. They had seemed to have a really good relationship. Hopefully, Adam would be just as willing to trade without Karl there.
“I’d like to meet the people going with us before we leave,” Charlie said. “Just want to make sure they’re fit for this run.”
“I agree,” Will said. “It’s not that we don’t trust you—it’s just, we’re risking our lives going out there.”
“That’s totally fine.” He looked over his shoulder to the few people standing away from their small group. “Jen, do you mind going and grabbing the others?”
“No problem,” the blonde woman said.
Timothy gestured toward her as she walked away. “She’s one of them.”
“Good,” Will said. “Looking forward to meeting all of them.”
A few minutes later, Jen returned with three other people—a female and two males.
“You guys met Jen already,” Timothy said. He then pointed to the black female Jen had brought back with her. “This is Shawna.”
“Nice to meet you, Shawna,” Will said, shaking her hand. The woman used a firm grip and didn’t smile.
Timothy gestured toward the two men. “And this is Steve and Franklin.”
Will looked at Steve, realizing he recognized him.
“You’re the guy who lives in the house our friends are staying at, right?”
“That’s right,” Steve said, shaking Will’s hand.
“Sorry to hear it,” Will said half-jokingly, letting go of Steve’s grip.
The group stood together, across from Timothy, Will, and Charlie.
“Timothy here tells me and Charlie that you all have experience firing guns,” Will said. “That true?”
The group nodded, almost in unison.
“What kind of experience?” he asked, and pointed to Steve first for an answer.
“I managed a big box sporting goods store. Before I got promoted to store manager, I spent four years running the hunting department. I know my way around everything: shotguns, revolvers, Glocks, AR-15s, AKs. I’m even a pretty good shot with a bow.”
“I’d like to learn how to bow hunt,” Charlie said, smiling. “Could be a lot of use while hunting for food.”
Will looked to Shawna. “What about you?”
“My father retired after thirty-seven years with the New Orleans Police Department. I’ve had guns in my hands for literally as long as I can remember. He started me as soon as I could fire a pistol without falling down.”
Will nodded, then looked to Jen. He didn’t want to judge, but the thin blonde woman did not strike him as someone who could hit a house if given a gun.
“My husband was a gun enthusiast. I couldn’t care less before we got married, but he wasn’t going to give up until I learned how to shoot. Glad I took to it because it became quite the hobby. Great stress reliever—especially after he passed.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Charlie said. “Did he change when all this began?”
Jen shook her head, moving her hair from in front of her face. “Iraq.”
“Very sorry for your loss,” Will said. “I’m sure your husband would be proud that you’re volunteering to serve now.”
“I just want to help,” she said.
Will then turned his attention to Franklin, a Hispanic man who was tall enough to where Will had to look up to him.
“I grew up in the projects, so I’ve been around guns my whole life,” Franklin said. “Hung around some gangs in my early 20s. Served a little time. It was just the right thing to get me to wake up and turn my damn life around.”
“What’d you go in for?” Charlie asked.
“Served four years for assisting an armed robbery. Sentenced to eleven years, but got out early on good behavior. Worst four years of my life.”
“I could imagine,” Will said. He then cleared his throat. “Well, it’s good to know you all can shoot. But do any of you have experience out there since everyone Fell?”
Looking at each other, each member of the group shook their head.
“It’s a different world out there,” Will said. “Charlie and me have a lot of experience in it. You’re going to follow our lead and learn from us. It’s important, because Timothy needs you to become leaders yourselves so that you can help protect these people, and make sure they’re fully supplied by going out on more runs. So when we’re out there today, you’ll do as Charlie and I say, is that clear?”
They nodded, and two of them said, “Yes.”
“Good,” Will said. “We’re leaving in half an hour.” He looked to Steve and Shawna. “I want you two to go with Timothy and start gathering weapons we’ll be taking with us for trade. Jen, I want you to go get whatever vehicle we’re taking with us and pull it into the driveway where they’ll be loading the weapons, then help them out.”
“On it,” she said.
Will looked to Franklin last. “Go get enough food and water to last the six of us for three days. We want to have enough just in case something happens to us out there.”
“Got it,” Franklin said.
Will eyed the group again from side to side. “Everyone cool?”
They nodded.
“All right,” Will said. “See you in thirty minutes.”
***
He retreated back to his room to see Holly.
Everyone did their jobs, and within 30 minutes they were ready to leave. Will watched through the window of his bedroom as
they loaded the vehicle across the street.
“It’s time for me to go,” he said, moving closer to her.
Holly looked down at the ground, her arms crossed. He reached out to touch her face and lift her head up, but she jerked away.
“Holly, I’m sorry.”
Still focusing on the ground, Holly said, “I’m tired, Will. I’m tired of you being the one who always goes out and does this stuff. I’m tired of you always being the one risking your life. I’m tired of sleepless days and nights, wondering if you’ll return to me. I'm just tired.” She began to cry, covering her face with her hands. Will leaned in to hug her, and she allowed him to, cradling her head into his chest.
“We’re not going far,” Will said. “This is the same trip I made last time I was here. We’ll make it back. I promise.”
“You say that every time,” Holly said, her voice sounding muffled with her face on his chest.
“And have I ever been wrong?”
“Actually, yeah.”
And in a way she was right. The scar on his arm would forever remind both of them of that moment. He pulled away from her, resting his hands on her shoulders.
Looking her in the eyes, he said, “Yeah, but I’m here, aren’t I?”
“Don’t do that,” she said, shaking her head. “You know what I mean. It’s dumb luck that preacher was there to save you. What are the odds that one of the only people who knew how to help you happened to be there with you?”
For that, Will had no answer. And he wouldn’t try to come up with one.
The horn of the vehicle honked twice. Will walked over to the window, and saw Charlie waving up toward him.
“All right, I’ve got to go.”
He walked back over to her, and gave her another hug. This time when he pulled away, he kissed her. At first it was just meant to be a quick kiss, and then she grabbed his shirt, clutching a wad of it in her hand as she kissed him harder. When she was finished, she looked into his eyes.
“Come back to me, and then we’re never splitting up again. You got that?”
Will nodded. “I’ve got it.”
He gave her another kiss, this one quick, then turned and left.
When he walked into the hallway, both Dylan and Mary Beth were waiting on him. He smiled when he saw them.
“You have to leave again, Mr. Kessler?” Mary Beth asked.
Will nodded. “Just for a little while, sweetie. I won’t be gone long, I promise.”
“But I don’t want you to leave again,” the girl said.
She started to cry, and Will wasn’t sure he could hold back from joining her. Leaving Holly had been difficult enough, but seeing the children cry broke his heart even more. But Dylan, whose eyes remained dry, reached his hand over and put it on her shoulder.
“Everything's going to be fine,” Dylan said. “Will, and Charlie, and everyone else will make it back just fine.”
Continuing to cry, Mary Beth said, “I just want to go to Florida.”
Will bent down so he could be face-to-face with her. He ran his hand through her hair, and said, “And we will. Tomorrow, we’re going to find Gabriel’s family, and then we can go to Florida.”
Will leaned in and hugged both the children at the same time. When he pulled away, he looked to Dylan.
“You take care of her and Holly. You got me?”
Dylan nodded, holding a serious look on his face. Will ran his hand through the boy’s hair.
“Good. I love you guys.”
“Love you, too,” the two children said in unison.
Will turned around and headed down the stairs.
He choked back tears all the way outside.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Will made sure he was calm by the time he made it down to the van. He didn’t want Charlie thinking he was rattled, and he also wanted to have his head on straight so that he could focus on the trip and fulfill his promise to Holly and the kids.
Charlie stood outside the van chatting with Karl, while the rest of the group was already waiting inside.
“Sorry I took so long,” Will said.
“All good, man,” Charlie said. “Everything cool?”
“Yeah, everything’s cool.”
Charlie gave Will a look that said he didn’t one-hundred percent believe him, but if he didn’t, he never said as much.
“Where’s Timothy?” Will asked.
“He went to check on some of the survivors from the school,” Charlie said.
“You guys should have everything you need,” Karl said. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper and handed it to Will. “There should be more than enough guns and ammo back there to get all this if he has it. Just don’t let him take all of it. This isn’t worth everything we gave you.”
“Then why overload us?” Will asked.
“In case you come across anything else we might need that he’d be willing to barter.”
Will nodded, and Karl stuck his hand out.
“I really appreciate you doing this.”
“With all you guys have done for us, it’s only fair.”
Karl smiled. “There’s got to still be some good people left in the world, I guess. Right?”
“Right,” Will said, returning the smile.
“Let’s get going,” Charlie said. “I’m driving.”
Will passed him a funny look and said, “Yes, sir.”
He walked around the front of the car and hopped into the passenger seat. As he put on his seatbelt, he turned around and glanced over the rest of the group. The passenger van held up to fifteen people and still had the name of the Baptist church plastered on the side panel. With all the weapons in the very rear of the vehicle, the four still had room to spread out and be comfortable.
“Everyone ready to go?” Will asked.
“More than ready,” Shawna said.
Will smiled. He could tell from her enthusiasm that he was going to get along well with this daughter of a New Orleans cop.
As Charlie pulled away, Will looked to the house he was staying in, shifting his gaze up toward the window of their bedroom. There, Holly stood with one hand over her mouth and the other holding her elbow. Will waved, and she returned the gesture, wiping her eyes. He then turned away before he became upset all over again, and focused on the trip. Peeking in the rearview mirror, he could see Jen looking at him, but she quickly looked off outside.
“Have any of you been to where we’re going?” Will asked.
“I made one trip with Karl,” Steve said. No one else responded.
“All right, well, we aren’t going far,” Will said. “It should only take us about twenty minutes to get there, assuming we don’t run into any Empties.”
“Empties?” Shawna asked. “What the hell is that?”
“That’s what we call the sick people,” Charlie said.
“Who came up with that?” Franklin asked, chuckling.
“I did,” Will said.
“Why would you call them that?” Shawna asked.
Will shrugged. “When all this started, it was just the first thing that came to mind. They all seemed empty of any thought, life, or soul. I guess it just made sense.” He had of course since learned that he hadn’t been far from the truth in his assessment of what had happened to The Fallen, but decided now that he would wait and let them hear that later in the evening with everyone else from the community.
“Makes sense to me,” Jen said.
Will decided he wanted to change the subject. “You’re all carrying, right?”
Shawna was the first to draw her weapon, pulling out a semi-automatic .45 pistol. She shoved a magazine in and popped the slide back, loading the weapon. The others followed her lead.
“Good,” Will said. “Keep those on you. I want you to be ready for any situation. You have to out here because you never know what you might run into—even on back roads like these.”
“Is it true that you made it all the way here from Nashvil
le?” Jen asked.
Will nodded.
“Holy shit,” Franklin said. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah,” Will said.
“That’s not even the half of it,” Charlie said, looking at the rest of the group through the rearview mirror. “You should talk to Gabriel. He and the little boy with us were on a plane when all this started. It crashed and they were the only two survivors.”
“No way,” Steve said. “How did they survive?”
“No idea,” Will said. “And don’t ask him about it. He doesn’t like talking about it, and it’s best Dylan doesn’t either.”
“So y’all been through a lot of shit, huh?” Shawna said.
Will was silent for a moment. Then he mumbled, “Yeah, we’ve been through a lot.” He cleared his throat. “And that’s why Timothy wants you out here with us. So that you can learn and you can be there for your community.”
“I also heard y’all are leaving tomorrow,” Jen said. “That true, too?”
“You hear a lot,” Charlie said.
“Sorry,” Jen said. “Not a lot for us to talk about, ya know? Gossip gets around.”
“Yes, that’s true,” Will said. “We have to get to Alexandria and try to find Gabriel’s family.”
“He hasn’t seen them since all this started?” Franklin asked.
Will looked back at the former gang member and shook his head.
Franklin scoffed. “Good luck on that.”
Will scowled at him, and Franklin immediately apologized.
“How about we be quiet and focus for a while?” Charlie suggested, and they all fell silent.
As Charlie drove the familiar country roads, Will looked out the window. Though they’d only made this trip once before, it had been a memorable one. When they passed the place where they’d had to stop the last time to clear the Empties from the road, Will looked down into the ditch he’d nearly been killed in. Then he looked back to the dash in front of him, ignoring the outside world. When he glanced up and over to Charlie, he saw in his face that he’d been thinking about that last trip as well, but neither of them spoke about it in front of the others.
Will wasn’t looking outside when Charlie took the final turn before the neighborhood Adam’s group lived in and suddenly slammed on the brakes.
Empty Bodies (Book 6): Revelation Page 4
