Preppers: The Event (The Falling Book 1)

by P. D. Clover

  Chapter 3

  I was impressed! In just under 50 minutes, we had emptied the Pro-shop of everything except the two brown leather chairs in the corner and a couple of bar stools at the checkout desk. Hats, shirts, range bags with embroidered range logos, as well as sweatshirts, hearing protection and everything else you would expect to find at a gun range Pro-shop had been hurried out the door and tossed in the back of the enclosed trailer attached to Dee’s SUV. We used some of the hoodies to cover the guns in the SUV’s up.

  As I exited the shop for probably the last time, I turned off the lights and locked the doors. I knew someone would try to get in soon enough, but why make it easy for them? I walked down the steps to the parking lot. Hearing Dee start the Expedition, I walked over to double check the trailer connections and then went to the driver’s side to run over the plan for the next few hours.

  “Okay, I am going to get the camper and then hit SAM’s and COSTCO if I can. They don’t close until 10 p.m. I should be able to make it, get what I can, and be home around 11 p.m. Matt should be there by then, he and I will continue making shopping runs until Noon tomorrow.”

  “What if Big Mike’s timetable is off?” Dee asked.

  “Then, getting home will be a bigger problem then I currently expect it to be… All we can do is trust Big Mike. He wouldn’t give us bad information, at least not knowingly… and that’s all the more reason for you to do your part and get home ASAP. I do not want to be trying to find you if this pops off early... but, just in case, you have your bug out bag in here. It has comms, laminated maps and plans. Stick to the plan on the map for getting home from West Knox, the one with the blue taped X on the back of it, and I will be able to find you… Although you probably won’t need to, remember our vehicles all have EMP-Shield devices installed. If it’s anything like that, just forget the mission and come home. Stop for no one! Keep it in all wheel drive. Your brush guard is reinforced, and all your windows have security film. The tires have run flats secured to the rims. This thing is as hard as we could make it!” Suddenly I felt a laugh bubble up and I couldn’t help but give in, “It doesn’t seem like such a waste of money now does it? Hahaha,” I said with real joy.

  “Shut it Henry… Your face looks very similar to a horse’s ass when you gloat. It’s not attractive,” Dee said sharply.

  “I love you too Boss. Be safe… I will call our credit card companies and let them know they should expect heavy spending over the next 48 hours.”

  Dee let out a loud laugh, “HAHAHA, I didn’t think about that. This will be kind a fun. If you can ignore the impending mystery disaster.”

  “I think you may be right about that. Don’t forget that you have five grand in cash in your go-bag, it’s in the outermost righthand pocket. It would be wise to use it to get employees to load the trailer.”

  “Good thinking Henry.” Dee agreed.

  “I love you, Boss…Be safe, and I will see you in a bit.” And with that, I walked over to my Expedition and started it up as Dee pulled out into the night to run her errands. Once I pulled out past the gate, I put it in park and jumped out to close the gate. No point in making it easy for whoever comes here trying to loot next, I suppose.

  Chapter 4

  As I jumped back into my vehicle, the weight of the impending situation started to take hold. An unknown event was going to take place. That event would be catastrophically life altering for every man woman and child in the world. But more importantly, it would directly impact my son, my daughters, and my wife who was carrying our unborn son. There is no escaping this. All I can do for my family is endure and protect them to the best of my ability and pray that will be enough. People will die; I will most likely be called on to do terrible things, society will breakdown, and people will turn on one another. I know these things are true. These things will happen.

  The gravity of that started to make my stomach turn. I quickly opened my door and vomited. Spaghetti and meatballs…what a waste of food. My hands were shaking. The rational side of my brain was assessing the situation, taking in the current circumstances, listing things to be done…but most importantly, protecting me from my emotional state. Thank God for my fight or flight response (which had always leaned toward fight), as my rational brain took in the metrics and analyzed the situation, my primitive brain just responded with adrenaline, glorious adrenaline… Now this could have easily posed a serious problem. Emotional distress combined with adrenaline and the host of other chemicals a human body will release when it’s in danger or under serious stress, can and will cause panic, if not shock. Thankfully, I have had years upon years of training aimed at extreme situations involving stress and adrenaline. I learned not only how to deal with it but to embrace it, to benefit myself and those around me…to use this dump of chemicals and hormones to gain the best possible outcome.

  I sat back in my seat, taking slow and steady breaths. I stared off into the edge of night. The darkness fighting against the intrusion of light thrown by my high beams into the dark’s domain. I rallied my thoughts and focused my mind. I willed the tunnel vision and ringing in my ears brought on by the adrenaline to go away, I rhythmically made my hands into fists and squeezed them, then released them and spread my fingers and stretched my hands. Soon my hands steadied, and my vision and hearing returned to normal. Now that I had regained my focus and control, I shifted the SUV in to drive and pulled away for the range. This was only the beginning of a busy 15-hour rush.

  As I pulled away, I pressed the voice command button on the steering wheel and said, “call American Express Platinum Service.” It was the service number for our small businesses company credit card. We have used it many times to upgrade seating on planes or to get special reservations at different fancy-schmancy restaurants. The card was useful but was only ever used for business, so I didn’t want any red flags going up when we started using it heavily to buy random stuff. The phone rang once and was immediately answered by a human. This was my favorite thing about this card, once we got upgraded after a few large business purchases, we got a special service number and I have never had to talk to an automated system again. “Hello, this is Karen. I am your American Express Account liaison. How may I help you today?”

  “Hi Karen, I was just wanting to inform you that my wife and I will be make some substantial purchases tonight and possibly tomorrow, I just didn’t want any red flags or anything getting in the way.”

  “Absolutely, sir! I can definitely take care of that for you. I have pulled up your card, associated with this cell phone number. May I please have your verification pass phrase and four-digit pin please so I may proceed with your request?”

  “June-bug-1776”, I said.

  “Thank you very much sir. May I inquire as to why these may seem odd or suspicious?”

  “No problem Karen. My wife and I have an opportunity to win a contract if the right donations are made to the right charities. I feel like if I say more it could be sticky, if you know what I mean?”

  Karen let out a bit of laugh with her response, “That is far more common than you may think, Sir. Would you like me to allow crypto currency purchases as well?”

  I had not thought about that, I wonder what the probability was of crypto being worth something after a flare or emp? Still, the code phrase Big Mike used didn’t specifically mean either of those things. This catastrophic event could be a lot of things.

  I responded “Yes, please do and thank you for that information. It makes me feel a lot better!”

  Karen replied, “You are most welcome, Sir! Give me just one more minute, then I will have the proper notes made and your account status will be updated!” she said. “Okay Sir, all done! Your discretionary purchase window will stay open for 48 hours. After that you will need to call back in. Is there anything else I can assist you with today?”

  “No Karen, you have been wonderful. Thank you for your help!”

  I hit the voice command button on the steering wheel to disconnect the ca
ll. By the time the call was over I had turned onto the highway, heading toward Oak Ridge and the storage facility where my 29 ft travel trailer was stored.

  As I drove toward the storage facility, I attempted to retry everyone on the daisy chain who didn’t answer. Unfortunately, no one picked up. I called Matt to see if had hit the road or was still loading. He answered after one ring, “What’s up?” Matt asked.

  “Just checking on ya’ Killer, you know me.”

  “Indeed, I do!... I am hooked, loaded and moving. I should be at the GNC in about 20 minutes, I imagine that will be an interesting exchange when they realize I am literally buying everything I can. Maybe I should I record it with my phone…you know, for posterity?”

  “HAHAHA! Yeah, maybe you should. Just a thought…it might be a good idea to call your card provider and let them know that you are making some strange purchases, so they know that it is in fact you making them. Could cut down the hassle of having to call in and get them unfrozen when they suspect fraud or theft.”

  “Shit, that’s good thinking. I’ll do that after we hang up. Have you gotten a hold of anyone else?”

  “No, not yet, but I’ll keep trying. Sooner or later someone will pick up. I already left voice messages and sent the authentication texts.”

  “But did you send out the authentication email through Proton?” Matt asked.

  Proton Email is one of our groups preferred methods of contact. It is a secured and encrypted email service that is free to use. It was originally created for the scientists and contractors who were building the Large Hadron Collider in Europe, which is an enormous particle accelerator. In fact, it’s supposedly the largest in the world or at least the biggest that the public knows about. So, to maintain secrecy those involved in development and construction created Proton Email to keep their emails secure. While it’s not truly NSA proof, it’s not bad. They would have to have a reason to look and an email address. We avoided drawing this attention by utilizing the ProtonVPN service to mask our IP’s and our identities. It’s not fool-proof, but it’s not horrible either.

  I responded, “Damnit, I knew I forgot something! I will send it out as soon as I get the travel trailer hitched up. Thanks for the reminder.”

  “No worries Bro. I’m gonna jump off and call my credit card company. I’ll give you a call after I leave the GNC. Be safe,” Matt said.

  “You too Bro. I’ll see you shortly,” I said as I hit the voice command button to end the call.

  Chapter 5

  I tried to think of anyone else I should warn. Every person I reached out to beyond my group was a person that could be a threat. Warning someone now of an imminent disaster was one thing. Not being able to tell them what the disaster is or how I have this knowledge that something is going to happen, just seems like it will create more issues than it will solve.

  That said, there is the matter of my sister. She is my blood, and she has two teenagers at home. There is also the matter of her husband, who hates the very idea that people like me exist. He doesn’t just disagree with my politics or my stance on virtually any topic I can think of, he truly hates my existence. Heck, he hates the fact that I found someone to share my life and start a family with. The thought of a “deplorable” raising kids was and is unthinkable to Bill. He hates not only myself but my wife, kids, and I am sure my unborn child. Even with that jackass of a husband, at the end of the day she is still my sister, still my blood.

  I exhaled slowly as I hit the voice command button once again and said, “Call Kat.”

  As the phone started to ring, I immediately regretted my decision and after a couple of rings I heard my sisters voice, dripping with sarcasm, “Hello big brother. Just calling to do your yearly check in? It’s not Christmas sooo… is anyone dead or are you just trying to change things up?”

  Strangely, her acrid tone and oozing venom somehow made me feel a little more normal than I had for the last hour or so.

  “I did not call to start shit, and no one has died. Thanks for asking. I need to give you a heads up that something is going to happen tomorrow around 2 p.m. eastern. It’s going to…”

  She cut me off, “It’s going to what? Be the end of the world? Please, is this more of your Right-wing, religious-prepper-survivalist crap? Maybe the DCS should have taken your kids beca...”

  I cut her off and said very sternly, “Say one more word and there will be a reckoning...”

  I said, as calmly as I could. “I did not call to talk about the past or the fucking pathetic excuse for a man, you call your husband. I am calling because whatever has passed between us, doesn’t change the fact that you are my only sister. Your kids are my only blood relatives outside of mom and my kids; that means something. I don’t know what exactly… but something. Now, there is an event that is going to take place tomorrow at 2 p.m.-ish. It is going to change the world. People will die, governments will collapse. It’s not the end of the world, but it will be very difficult. You need to go right now and buy as much food as you can, as much propane as you can, as much ammo for the guns Gary left you as you can…Tell no one and move now! I love you, little sister. I always will, and I truly am sorry for my part in digging the canyon that now exists between us. I really am, but there is nothing that can be done about that right now. So please, for the sake of your kids do this.”

  There was a long silence. Then she said, “You’re serious.” It was a statement, not a question.

  I answered “Yes I am… please don’t forget to get ammo, you need 12 gauge and 357 magnum or 38 special. They will both work in the…” she interrupted me “We turned those in a few years ago.”

  I knew I should have expected this, but I was still in disbelief, “You did what?”

  “We turned them in to be destroyed, it was gun buyback thing the local police department did.”

  I could feel my blood pressure rising, I took a couple deep breathes before responding. “You turned in part of your inheritance from Gary? For what a 20-dollar gas card? I would have bought them from you if you didn’t want them… I mean, WHY?” I shouted. I tried but failed miserably to hold back the disgust from my voice.

  Her answer should have been obvious to me. Her reply was simple, one word that spoke volumes.

  “Bill.”

  I took a few more seconds to breathe and think, “Okay, what’s done is done. Go to Walmart and buy a shotgun and any caliber of lever action rifle you can find. You should remember how to handle one. They are basically all just like your old 30-30. Get what ammo you can for them and first thing in the morning go get a handgun, magazines for that handgun and ammo for it… Don’t forget a holster… Please Sister, you will have to defend yourself at some point. That is inevitable.”

  Before she could say anything else, I noticed that I was almost at the storage facility where I kept my camper-trailer. “Okay, I have to go. I’m at the storage facility to grab my camper and then go shopping. I love you, Little Sister. I’m sorry for everything. I could have been less stubborn and a better brother. I’m sorry for holding grudges. I’m sorry for all the family stuff that was blown up because Bill and I…we are who we are…I’m just so sorry, and I love you…I always will. Goodbye.”

  I could hear her crying as I hit the voice command button to end the call.

  Chapter 6

  After ending the call with my sister, I reached up to hit the gate opener that the storage facility issued to those willing to pay the little extra to use the large exit gate as an entrance. When I turned in, I happened to catch a look at myself in the rearview mirror. Tears…I was crying. I was taken aback. I didn’t realize how much I needed to say those things. I had no idea I was holding onto so much. It felt good to get it off my conscience, like a weight had been physically removed from my chest and shoulders. It felt good.

  As the gate rolled open, I started to pull in and I immediately noticed some of the slots were empty. It’s a bit too cold right now to go camping for most people. I mean, we definitely have in the
past so I suppose it’s not that unusual. But there must be 20 rigs missing. That was just too many for this time of year.

  People must know. That’s all that made sense…probably some of the scientists from the labs. After all, I was warned, it is only logical to assume others have been warned as well. Hell, with the labs so close and given the nature of weird shit they did, some of those people were probably high enough up they were among the first to know and were warning others. This is definitely real. There were ruts made in the gravel from people pulling there rigs out too fast. I rolled over them slowly as I backed up to my camper. Thank God for the backup cameras.

  Once I was aligned, I jumped out with my trailer keys in hand, opened the driver’s side storage compartment on the camper, and pulled out the weight distribution hitch and sway control bars. Then I got to work lifting, plugging, hooking, removing the chalk blocks and finally checking the trailer all around one last time. I had done this so many times in the past, I could hook it up in my sleep. Before I jumped back into my SUV, I grabbed the last thing needed for this little journey: the wireless rear-camera receiver. At the dealership, when we bought the camper, I had them install a wireless rearview camera system so I could see what was behind the rig while driving at all times. That camera had paid for itself countless times over by keeping me from hitting or getting hit by random things over the years. Once inside, I swiftly hooked up the camera, checked the expedition’s towing setting, and pulled out.