Empty Bodies (Book 2): Adaptation by Zach Bohannon

It seemed to go on forever until it finally met the slowly rising sun at the horizon. About fifty yards off the road, three Empties limped through the farmland. Everyone in the vehicle was silent, and Gabriel could feel the others looking out into the field just as he was, and watching the three creatures walk aimlessly through it.
    Gabriel re-focused his attention on the road and could feel the boy looking up to him. Dylan was awaiting a response. Finally, one came, but not from Gabriel.
    “Buddy, we don’t know why they’re here,” Marcus said. “But we’re going to make sure that they don’t hurt you, okay?”
    Dylan looked back at Marcus, and then stared over at Gabriel as he navigated the vehicle around a small group of Empties and an abandoned semi-truck that was taking up a large portion of the highway.
    “Do you think… God sent them?”
    Gabriel glanced into the rearview mirror to see if anyone else looked as if they’d respond. When no one did, he broke the awkward silence.
    “Why would God send something to kill us?”
    Dylan shrugged. “Maybe he’s mad at us.”
    Gabriel was a man of no faith. He grew up in a Catholic home, but quit going to church after going off to college and living on his own. He simply didn’t believe in all the things the Bible had to say about rights and wrongs, life and death. But, he wasn’t sure of the boy’s beliefs and allegiances, so he decided to take the high road.
    “Dylan, I don’t think that a loving God would send anything down here to hurt us. I mean…”
    “Look out!” The yell came from Holly in the very rear of the truck.
    Gabriel looked ahead and saw the SUV heading straight for a fire truck parked in the middle of the road.
    He reacted quickly and turned the wheel hard to his left, the sound of screeching tires and the aroma of burning rubber moving through the autumn air. Behind him, everyone in the vehicle was in a panic, yelling out, and Gabriel struggled to regain control of the truck.
    But he couldn’t.
    The SUV swerved off of the road, flying over a ditch and rolled into the grass just on the other side.
    With Gabriel’s foot still on the brakes, the vehicle slid in the grass and stopped as it collided with a tree.
    Steam rose from the engine and the air bags deployed.
    Inside the truck, no one moved.
    But outside, the Empties loitering on the highway were making their way toward the truck.

CHAPTER EIGHT

    Jessica
    Jessica had almost fallen back to sleep in the chair when the door to the room opened. She nearly hopped out of her skin and the nurse herself jumped in reaction to seeing how she’d frightened Jessica.
    “Oh, I’m sorry!” Sarah said.
    Jessica sat up straight in the chair, then sighed and rubbed the side of her head. She watched Sarah walk over to her bed and check the various machines connected to Melissa, recording data on a chart as she did.
    “She doing about the same? No movement?” Sarah asked.
    Jessica shook her head. “Not from what I’ve seen.”
    Sarah took a few notes, then looked back over to Jessica. “How about you? How’s your shoulder?”
    “Actually, much better today, thanks.”
    Sarah placed the clipboard back on the table beside the bed, then asked, “You up for a little walk?”
    Jessica looked over to Melissa, seeing the woman in the same state she’d been in since they arrived. While she wanted to be here when Melissa awoke, she knew that it would be a futile task, simply waiting . So, she looked up to the smiling nurse and nodded.
    “Sure.”
    ***
    Sarah led Jessica down the hallway to a small room near the front corridor. She went inside and picked up a large plastic tote, then smiled at Jessica. “Laundry day.”
    “Do you do everyone’s laundry?”
    “It’s not a huge deal. It’s not like everyone has very much. I mainly just end up washing sheets and linens.”
    Sarah rested the bin on the ground and then walked back into the room, returning moments later with an additional laundry