The Doomsday Series Box Set | Books 1-5

by Akart, Bobby

  “Good afternoon, everybody,” he greeted as he pulled the scarf a little higher on his neck. “I’m Ryan Smart. Welcome to the Haven.”

  The father approached Ryan first, and the two men shook hands. His wife stepped forward and she exchanged small talk with Ryan about the beautiful entry to the property. The oak-lined driveway had an air of mystery about it as the centuries-old trees created a tunnel-like canopy over the gravel. The leafless branches swayed in the wind like ghostly arms threatening to scoop up an unsuspecting passerby.

  Ryan was pleased with his initial impressions although he wasn’t too thrilled to see they were driving a Subaru. Blair had admonished him many times not to judge a book by its cover, and just because someone drove a Subaru didn’t mean they were a tree-hugger from the left coast. He promised her that he would keep an open mind without reminding her that he’d been right every time. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but there was something about Subarus.

  “Let me take y’all on the nickel tour,” he began as they piled into his truck. With the temperatures dropping and the group of four in tow, he decided to park the Ranger. The Chevy Suburban was the oldest-running vehicle nameplate in America and a favorite of law enforcement and U.S. Special Forces. His Z71 Midnight Edition package gave the large SUV a sinister look, complete with black-painted wheels, a black mesh grille, and black roof rack crossrails. It befitted the mystery behind the iron fence that surrounded the Haven.

  Ryan casually inquired about the husband’s background in holistic healing methods and the family’s level of preparedness. His interview process always centered around questions, slyly incorporated into the conversation, to elicit a truthful response as to whether they were committed preppers.

  A prospect’s skills were very important to the prequalifying process, but their commitment to leading a preparedness lifestyle was tantamount when determining whether a long-term relationship could be established.

  Ryan pointed out the highlights as they drove slowly through the Haven. “All of these saltbox-style homes have a distinct purpose. Some are occupied with families, as you can see, while others make up all the essentials of our own town.”

  He was interrupted by the family’s oldest daughter, a girl of ten. “We wanna see where Katniss lived!”

  “Yeah,” added the youngest girl. “Tell us all about District 12!”

  Ryan looked up in the rearview and forced a smile as the girls’ mother told them to wait until later for the Hunger Games tour.

  Tour? Ryan bristled. He was not a tour guide for the Hunger Games, but he shook it off. It had happened before, so he continued. “The Haven was designed to be self-reliant and separate from the outside world in a time of crisis. It’s a place to take refuge in times of turmoil and to protect your family when chaos strikes during a catastrophic event. Here, you surround yourself with like-minded people who have a common goal—protect those you love using the unique skills each of us has. It’s a place where you can find safety in a storm and a feeling of community at the same time.”

  The husband, who rode next to Ryan in the front of the Suburban, nodded as Ryan spoke. “We wholeheartedly agree, don’t we, honey?”

  “Sure,” the wife replied unemotionally.

  Ryan slowed and pointed to his right. “Here on the right is our Armageddon Hospital, as we like to call it. Ma’am, it may not have the quantity of medical equipment you’re accustomed to in the hospital where you work, but you’ll find we are remarkably well equipped. Why don’t we pull in here and let you take a look?”

  He slowed the truck and eased off the road in front of the building, and she replied, “No, I’m sure it’s fine, Ryan. Listen, would it be possible to show the girls the places where the movie was filmed, or at least point them out along the way? You know, Peeta’s bakery, the Everdeen home, and maybe even some of the places where they practiced their archery?”

  Ryan sat silently for a moment, allowing the Suburban to idle and his blood to stop boiling. “I’d love to, but it is getting late in the day, and the weather is getting worse. I’m afraid we’ll have to save that for your second visit.”

  The husband questioned Ryan’s statement. “But we’re ready to make a decision, aren’t we, honey?”

  “Um, well, I don’t know,” she replied. “Ryan, our children are young, and they haven’t been exposed to things like we adults have. I have to ask you something.”

  Ryan put the truck in drive and continued down the road toward the schoolhouse. He anticipated she might ask about furthering the education of their children, a common question from parents. “Sure, go ahead.”

  “Well, um, I noticed your assistant was carrying a weapon.”

  “Yes, he was. We all do while we’re on the property.”

  She sat up in the backseat and glanced at her husband. “Um, you mean you’re carrying a weapon now?”

  “Yes, two, actually. One on my hip and another around my ankle. In addition, there’s one in the console under your husband’s elbow.”

  Ryan stifled a chuckle, but smiled as the man jerked his arm off the armrest, recoiling as if a rattlesnake had revealed itself.

  “Oh,” she said in a concerned tone. “Why is that necessary? I mean, right now, anyway. Is something happening?”

  “Ma’am, you never know when the day before is the day before. In other words, a collapse event can, and most likely will, happen when you least expect it. It’s a good habit we’ve adopted, and we expect everyone who lives here to do the same.”

  Ryan’s mind tried to recall the extensive pre-interview file Blair had created on the family. They represented they were pro-Second Amendment and were comfortable handling firearms. Additional training would be provided once they became full-time residents, although they were encouraged to practice with their own weapons in their hometowns. The wife’s hesitation regarding the presence of firearms didn’t mesh with their prescreening.

  He pulled up to the school, where Alpha and Echo stood on ladders, erecting a sign that read Little Red Schoolhouse, a name that accurately described the barn-red-painted building surrounded by a stand of white pine trees.

  “This is our newly constructed schoolhouse. We have several educators, who will teach children of all ages when the time comes. Would you kids like to take a look?”

  “Yeah!” replied the youngest.

  “Um, okay,” the other equivocated and then bargained, “After this, Mom, can we see the Everdeen home?”

  “Yes, honey, I’m sure Mr. Smart won’t mind taking us around to see all the buildings.”

  Not a chance, Ryan thought to himself.

  He left the truck running, and the family emptied out and approached the schoolhouse. Ryan introduced Echo, the more patient of his two guys and the least likely to offend a new prospect. Alpha was not a people person.

  While Echo showed them around, Ryan sent Blair a text.

  Ryan: The wife is gun-shy. Scared is more like it. Maybe the husband too?

  Blair: What? I spoke to them about it during the phone interview.

  Ryan: When?

  Blair: Last summer.

  Ryan: That was before the Delaware Valley school shooting.

  Blair: Yeah, so?

  Ryan: They also want a Hunger Games tour.

  Blair: NO! Give them the boot.

  Ryan: Their resumes are strong and they fill a void.

  Blair: Doesn’t matter. If they’re a pain in the ass from the start, they’re always gonna be a pain in the ass. Boot them!

  Ryan: OK. Love.

  Blair: Love you.

  The group emerged from the school, and Ryan heard the mother promising their much-awaited Hunger Games tour that wasn’t going to happen.

  “Folks, I’m afraid that something has come up, and we’re gonna have to adjourn this for a second interview at a later date.”

  The husband looked puzzled and glanced at his wife. “But there’s more to see, right?”

  “Well, of course, but you’ve g
ot the gist of what we do,” Ryan replied. He wasn’t going to disclose anything else to them, especially the location within the Haven of their food storage and armory. “Let me have Alpha drive you back to your car.”

  Ryan purposefully bailed out of the interview and turned the family over to Alpha. If they peppered him with questions, he’d just stare back in response. He politely thanked them for coming and sent them on their way.

  Not everyone was a good fit for the Haven, regardless of potential.

  Chapter Nine

  Early Evening

  New Year’s Eve

  Haven House

  The onset of evening, coupled with a light snow, had engulfed the Haven as Ryan returned home for a New Year’s party with Blair and the girls. Blair was baking potatoes to be smothered in leftover chili, sour cream, and cheddar cheese, a meal that would clog the best of the human body’s arteries, which was why she only dished it up on special occasions like holidays.

  “How long until the bakers are ready?” asked Ryan. “I wanna take the girls out for a romp in the snow.”

  Blair adopted a motherly tone, showing a vulnerable, soft side that only applied to Ryan and their bulldogs. “Twenty minutes, but no longer. It’s dark outside and I’m worried about snakes.”

  “Snakes? Darling, the snakes have been hibernating for months.”

  “It’s not hibernation, it’s called brumation for rattlers. And they do move around, even during the winter months sometimes.”

  “Brumation? What?”

  Blair walked up to Ryan and whispered in his ear, “Do not get my children hurt or lose one of them in the dark. If you do, you’ll see what happens when rattlesnakes bite.”

  Ryan chuckled. “Yes, ma’am.”

  He put the girls in their matching camouflage harnesses and attached them to a six-foot-long matching leash. The Roo, a name that was a derivative of Scamper-Roo, was appropriate for a sixty-two-pound bulldog who could run like the wind. If she got the slightest inkling that something in the woods was interesting enough to investigate, she’d be gone in a flash. Chubby, on the other hand, would stand by and watch.

  While her children, big and small, went out to play in the snow, Blair stoked the fire and turned on the news. Once again, the screen was filled with thousands of protesters who’d encircled the White House. The screen switched to a replay of the president’s remarks as he boarded Marine One earlier. A reporter had shouted a question to him about allegations of corruption within his administration. Leaving his wife and son standing alone, the president turned and addressed the issue.

  “All too often, we think of corruption as a low-level problem within government. We’ve all heard stories of the cop who accepts a bribe to let someone off or the bureaucrat who demands an extra tip before granting a permit.

  “What has been brought to my attention is a level of corruption that goes far beyond a few individual bad apples within government. I’ve seen nation-states around the world that exist mostly to enrich the rulers and the tiny circles of political cronies at the top of the food chain.

  “I was astonished, as many of you were, to learn that some of the former members of my cabinet who rose up against me with this bogus Twenty-Fifth Amendment claim are also alleged to have committed corruption while they held a position of trust within my administration. I find this unconscionable, and I’ve asked Attorney General Christie to look into the allegations thoroughly.”

  The president turned to rejoin his family, and then he suddenly stopped. He returned to the press gaggle and added the following thoughts.

  “One more thing. There are those who claim my requests to investigate these matters are a way to gain revenge or at least discredit my former cabinet members. That simply is not true. Combating corruption is not just about eliciting trust in government, it’s about maintaining peace and security as well.

  “Historically, the pattern is clear for anyone to see. Corruption spurs revolutions, enabling extremist groups and, ultimately, fueling civil wars. Do you think America is immune to this possibility? I don’t.

  “When people come together to protest in other countries, we need to pay attention. That’s because, as we’ve all seen, the ramifications can be vast, and regime change can come much faster than anyone expects.

  “The same holds true in this country. In America, the right to peaceful protest is a given. So is the right to vote. When the will of the people is spoken at the ballot box, it should be respected. What was done back in November by these corrupt individuals amounted to an attempted coup d’état. We can’t have that in America.

  “Many countries prefer not to shed light on their corruption for fear of losing the confidence of their people in the government. I’m not afraid to do that. By uncovering the actions of these corrupt individuals and holding them to account, we can ensure they get the punishment they deserve.

  “It’s imperative we recognize that government corruption and the insecurity of those governed go hand in hand. The more effective we are at addressing these issues, the more effective we’ll be in both ending conflicts and stopping violence before it breaks out in the first place.”

  She’d heard enough. Blair turned off the television and returned to the kitchen. In her mind, the whole bunch in Washington was corrupt. They lied to get elected, and then they spent their years in office manipulating voters and donors to stay there. Needless to say, she was a big supporter of term limits. In her mind, it seemed to work pretty well for presidents.

  As she passed through the foyer, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. The move to the Haven had been good for her in many ways. She often withheld the truth from Ryan because the way she felt about their home in Florida was not his fault. It was her idea to move there, and he’d give her anything she wanted if he could.

  No, it had been the culture shock and the cramped surroundings that brought on the fits of anxiety she’d begun to experience not long after their initial move to Orlando. There was never any silence in their neighborhood, even at night. During the day, cars and people scurried about. Kids playing outside, shrieking at the top of their lungs, became an annoyance.

  The nonstop roar of lawn equipment was a constant irritation. At night, the blare of sirens or police helicopters pursuing bad guys interrupted their attempts to relax. Even as she fell asleep, all she could think about was the fact the next morning, it would all crank up again. There simply was no respite.

  Their lottery win was a miracle in so many ways. What excited her most was not the prospect of buying things. She never really cared about stuff, although she frequently teased Ryan about it. What she really sought was peace and serenity.

  Blair prepared the girls’ dinner of kibbles and strained pumpkin, designed to assist their digestive system. They had just turned eleven, which was remarkable. The two sisters were loved and well cared for. Age was just a number to those two, as they still considered themselves to be puppies. Kinda like their parents.

  As Ryan returned with the snow-covered, wet pups, Blair paused to smile and admire her home and family. There was nothing more important in the world than their being together and safe.

  Chapter Ten

  Late Evening

  New Year’s Eve

  Haven House

  Blair had turned the volume down on the television an hour before. As predicted, Ryan had drifted off to sleep with The Roo piled on top of his lap. To her right, Chubby’s tongue stuck out over her signature English bulldog underbite. She too was in a deep sleep as the three of them snored blissfully.

  She had one eye on the festivities in Times Square as one unknown performing artist after another lip-synced their way through a song. Nothing but smiling faces braved the icy cold weather of New York City, as a sea of blue Nivea hats and foam wands waved happily to the music.

  Once in a while, the cable news networks would switch to celebrations around the world. Christmas Island and Samoa were the first places to welcome the new year, but Sydney, Au
stralia, was the world’s first major city to put on a real performance for the big event, one that overshadowed New York City with its firework displays.

  Ryan made her promise to wake him at 11:30 if, as he put it, he happened to fall asleep early. Every family had traditions around holidays. Waking Ryan up at 11:30 was one of the Smarts’.

  “Ryan, it’s almost New Year’s.” She started the arduous process. “Wake up. I wanna go in the media room so we can watch all the network coverage at once.”

  He tried to shake himself out of his fog. “What? Um, I’m awake. I was just resting my eyes.”

  “Yeah, resting your eyes for two hours,” said Blair with a chuckle as she wrapped a blanket over Chubby to keep her in a slumber. They’d wake the girls to go to bed after midnight.

  “Did I miss anything?” asked Ryan as he straightened up in his chair and slid The Roo off his lap. She managed a big stretch and grumbled at the rude intrusion on her sleep.

  “Nope, but let’s go into the media room and watch. You fire up the TVs while I get the bubbly.”

  “Why can’t we just watch from here?” protested Ryan as he stood to stretch his legs and pop his back.

  “I wanna see all the angles in Times Square,” replied Blair. “Plus, they’re gonna include Vegas too.”

  Ryan grumbled, “I don’t understand why we even have the media room and all those televisions. I hate television. Why would anyone want more than one TV?”

  Blair ignored his complaining and gathered up their iPads and reading glasses. Both were tools that were constantly by their sides when at home.

  “Here, grumpy,” began Blair. She handed Ryan the devices. “Take these, please. I’ll be right there.”

  Ryan was fully awake now, but still in a grumpy mood. He didn’t like being awakened from a deep sleep. “Seriously, Blair, the media room is like polygamy. The same thing applies to wives. I don’t get these polygamists. Why in the heck would any man want more than one?”