Empty Bodies 3: Deliverance (Empty Bodies Series Book 3) by Zach Bohannon Page B

understood the intention in Will’s plan, and it was smart. But the way he’d gone about it still felt a touch reckless. Brandon sat in the front seat with his arms crossed, and he looked like he’d lost his patience with Will altogether.
    In minutes, they were pulling onto the ramp for I-40, headed for Brandon’s dad’s house.

CHAPTER EIGHT

    Will
    Brandon’s father, Jack Nix, owned a house on the western outskirts of Knoxville. It wasn’t the same house Brandon had grown up in; his mother still resided in that house. They’d divorced on the tail end of Brandon’s teenage years when he’d just turned twenty. So his father, a hard-working independent contractor, had bought a small ranch-style home on a couple of acres, giving him at least a little space from his neighbors.
    When they arrived at the road Jack lived on, the lights in most of the houses were off. The street lights were no longer on, and Will assumed that they must have lost power in the neighborhood. Two houses had small gleams of light on the inside, likely drawing power from generators. No Empties appeared to be in the street, but Will had the headlights turned off so as to not draw any attention. Through the silence, they could hear that there were indeed beasts out there somewhere, but they didn’t sound to be too close. Thankfully, the moon was full and provided them with a little bit of light, though Will could still barely see beyond a few yards in front of the car.
    “We’re almost there. It’s just up here on the right,” Brandon said.
    Easing the car forward, Will’s heart raced. He had a feeling that one of the creatures would jump out in front of the small SUV at any moment, but it had yet to happen, leaving him all the more on edge. Sweat surrounded the perimeter of his hands on the steering wheel as he waited for Brandon to tell him they’d arrived.
    “Slow down,” Brandon said, “the driveway’s right here.”
    Will saw the entrance to the driveway and eased the car into it. The outline of the house appeared and Will tapped the brakes just as they approached the garage. He put it into park, and then they sat quietly and listened for Empties surrounding the area.
    After a few moments, Jessica whispered, “Sounds clear.”
    Will looked over to Brandon. “So, what’s the plan? Do you have a key?”
    Shaking his head, Brandon said, “Not on me. Left that at my house.” He looked back toward his father’s home. “I think we should go around the back just in case any of the neighbors are still home. People around here are pretty damn protective, and I know they’d look out for my old man’s shit.”
    “Sounds like a plan,” Will said.
    “What do you want me to do?” Sam asked.
    “Stand outside the car and keep a look out,” Will said.
    Sam nodded.
    “Hope his place hasn’t already been raided,” Will said.
    “Only one way to find out,” Jessica said, and Will heard her door click open.
    Leaving the key in the ignition, Will pulled the handle and joined Jessica outside. He grabbed her by the arm.
    “I think you should stay in here.”
    “Why?” Jessica asked.
    “Because one of us needs to keep the car running. You already have a hurt shoulder, so it makes sense for you to be ready to get us the hell out of here. Sam can stand outside and keep a look-out.”
    “Alright,” Jessica said, sighing.
    “If either of you see or hear anything strange, honk the horn three times,” Will said.
    “Roger that,” Sam said.
    Will turned to head behind the house, and Jessica called his name. He looked back to face her.
    “Don’t do anything stupid in there,” Jessica said.
    Will shook his head. “I won’t.”
    ***
    Empties howled off in the distance. Will could even hear them shuffling through the fields behind Jack’s house, but creatures didn’t appear to be an immediate threat. The windows and door at the back of the house were still intact and looked untouched—a good sign that no one had raided the place