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all day yesterday.”
    Gabriel shook his head. “I’m fine. I prefer this.”
    “How’re we doing on gas?” Will asked from the back seat.
    Gabriel chewed on his bottom lip. Though he needed to keep close attention to it, the gas gauge only stressed him out. He’d chosen to ignore it, much like people ignore the need for going to the dentist. The last thing he wanted was to have to waste time finding another vehicle on the road that met the list of criteria the group had; it had to start, be spacious enough for five people and their things, and have plenty of gas. It wasn’t exactly ideal to have such a wish list with the threat of flesh-eating creatures wandering around outside.
    “The light’s been on for a few minutes now,” Jessica said, replying to Will’s question for Gabriel.
    Everyone fell silent.
    They’d all grown accustomed to ignoring the Empties outside. Even the children didn’t let the beasts faze them anymore. But with Jessica’s answer to Will, each person in the van became acutely aware of the danger lurking outside.
    In an attempt to ease the mood, Gabriel reached down and powered on the stereo. Inside, the same The Cadillac Three CD that they’d heard many times over the past few days spun to life. Though Southern rock wasn’t Gabriel’s favorite, hearing the music play was a welcome alternative to the snarling beasts outside.
    As they passed over the top of a steep Appalachian incline, Gabriel’s eyes widened.
    “My God,” Jessica said from the passenger seat.
    Smoke rose from a building a few miles further up the open road. They weren’t coming into a city, but a small town along the I-40 countryside. A building sat aflame, and from what he could see, it didn’t appear that any emergency crews were there fighting it off.
    As they approached, Gabriel noticed something. A sign of hope.
    Another mile up the road, he took the exit.
    ***
    Gabriel pulled the van into the parking lot of Home Depot. The burning building sat about a block away. He pulled to the front of the store and shifted the van into park. The glass front doors and windows had been shattered, the place apparently already ransacked by looters.
    “I don’t see any Empties anywhere,” Holly said.
    “They may have been attracted to the fire,” Will suggested.
    “Doesn’t mean there won’t be some inside,” Jessica said.
    Gabriel unfastened his seatbelt and turned back to the group.
    “We need to go inside and see if we can find some gas cans and a hose,” he said. “Though, I doubt we’ll have much luck.”
    “I’ll go in with you,” Will said.
    Gabriel nodded, then looked over to Jessica. “When I get out, jump into the driver’s seat. Keep it cranked, because it’s gonna use more gas turning the engine back over if you shut it off.”
    “You three keep a look out the back and sides for her,” Will said to Holly and the two children. “Can you do that, kids?”
    In near unison, the children nodded.
    Will looked to Gabriel. “You got ammo for your pistol?”
    “I’m good. Just grab that rifle for me.”
    Will reached into the bag and retrieved ammunition for his own sidearm. He then grabbed the rifle for Gabriel and a shotgun for himself, and moved to get out of the van. A hand squeezed his arm.
    “If you aren’t back in ten minutes, I’m coming in after you,” Holly said, looking back at Will and holding onto his forearm.
    Will smiled and said, “I’ll be back.” He leaned over and kissed Holly. “I promise.”
    ***
    Shards of glass lay all over the entrance, covering three human bodies, the flesh on them having been picked apart. Every display in sight had been turned over and emptied. At first glance, only useless items seemed to have been left behind. Looters apparently had no interest in planting flowers, as packs of daisy and lily seeds covered the ground near the customer service desk to their left.
    “It looks like a tornado rolled through this place,” Gabriel said.
    “Strange we