Open Roads by Zach Bohannon Read Free Book Online Page A

would only make her run recklessly into the building, doing so all on a hunch.
    “Nothing,” Jessica said.
    ***
    Gabriel stopped just outside the garden center when he heard the scream again. This time, it came with a word.
    “Help!”
    It was a man’s voice, and it sounded as if it were coming from the back of the store.
      Gabriel raced down the paint aisle. He was forced to dodge cans and hop over puddles of spilled paint on the floor, but he managed to get through without slipping and falling.
    He’d arrived across from the appliances section when he reached the end of the paint aisle, and stopped to look both ways to see if he could see Will, the man who was screaming, or any Empties.
    A snarl and another scream.
    A gunshot. Then another.
    Shit.
    Gabriel turned and followed the sound.
    Two more gunshots.
    He jogged down the center lane in the back of the store, glancing down each aisle to his right and left as he passed them.
    As he came to the plumbing area, he looked down the aisle to his right. Displayed on the walls on either side were water faucets and various sink parts. In the middle of the aisle, four bodies lay sprawling. Blood soaked the floor. Will stood in the middle of the aisle, his shotgun in hand, trying to calm a man down.
    “Will,” Gabriel said, and he hurried over.
    Gabriel looked down to the bodies as he passed them. Three of them were women and one was a male — all of them Empty. The man and one of the women wore the same orange aprons as the Empty in the garden center had sported.
    “You alright?” Gabriel asked Will.
    Will nodded.
    Gabriel turned his attention to the stranger in the red t-shirt and dark jeans, who had his hand over his heart, trying to catch his breath. He was black, and looked to be in his late 30s or early 40s.
    “Thanks so much, man,” the guy said. “Holy shit.” He ran both his hands through his short afro and said, “My name’s Charlie Luck.”
    “Luck? No shit,” Will said, taking the man’s hand and smiling. “I’m Will Kessler.”
    Gabriel stuck out his hand. “Gabriel Alexander.”
    “Good to meet you gentlemen,” Charlie said. “Where you from?”
    “All over,” Will said. “We all kinda met in Nashville, and now we’re headed to D.C. That’s where Gabriel’s from and where his family is.”
    “I see. Any contact with them?”
    Gabriel shook his head.
    “Sorry, man,” Charlie said. “What are you guys doing here?”
    “Been having trouble finding gas,” Will replied. “We came in here hoping to find a hose and maybe a gas can or two.”
    “Definitely not gonna find any cans,” Charlie said. “Those’ve been gone a while.”
    “You’ve been here?” Gabriel asked.
    Charlie nodded. “Many times.”
    Gabriel turned, readying the rifle to his shoulder, when he heard approaching footsteps.
    “It’s just me,” Holly said.
    She showed her face around the corner of the aisle’s end cap. Holly’s eyes widened when she looked to the floor and saw the bodies, and then she hurried over to Will.
    “You okay?” Holly asked him.
    “Fine. Where’s Jessica and the kids?”
    “In the van, keeping an eye on things.”
    While Will explained to Holly what had happened, Charlie turned and stepped around the back corner of the aisle. When he reappeared, he wore a jacket and was adjusting the collar. Gabriel pushed past Will. Charlie looked up just as Gabriel approached him, and he opened his eyes wide and raised his eyebrows. Gabriel grabbed Charlie by the collar and slammed him against a display of faucet parts.
    “What the fuck, man?” Charlie said.
    “Gabriel!” Will yelled.
    “Where’d you get that jacket?” Gabriel asked.
    “What?” Charlie asked, face painted with confusion.
    Together, Will and Jessica worked to pry Gabriel away from Charlie, who lost his balance and fell onto the ground. He stumbled to his feet again and backed away.
    “Let me go,” Gabriel demanded. “He’s wearing my fucking jacket!”
    The blue ski