I decided he would be an ideal prepper partner. He has weapons and tactical training that are miserably missing in my survival skills. My analytical skills and engineering discipline, together with his defensive skills, could create a perfect team in a world ruled by gangs.
I had given him the cabin’s address. He stocked a year of supply in a nearby spot just like I did. We had agreed to bug out from our places and meet at the cabin as soon as we saw signs of the government lose control of the streets. Hopefully, the cabin would be vacant like it usually was during most of the year.
The problem is… I waited too long. I kept my positivity and thought this nightmare would be over soon. Unfortunately, it only got worse.
He is probably in the cabin already. I hope he made it there safely. We lost communication after the grid had gone down. I am looking forward to joining him soon.
I go back to the window and look at the downtown skyline. I love this apartment and its city view. It will be hard to say goodbye to my life here, but I know this is necessary. Around midnight three days from now, I will be on my way to the cabin.
I decide now is the time to ask Kathleen to come with me. Leyton and I can use one more hand to gather resources and protect our cabin.
Since there is no electronic way of contacting her, I guess I will need to do it the old-fashion way. The way I used to communicate with my classmates in high school during a lecture.
I write down my plan on a piece of paper and fold it, placing it in a red envelope a friend had given me for Christmas. If not now, hopefully, it will get her attention within three days before I bug out. I tape a few pens to ensure it is heavy enough to make it to her balcony.
I first glance through my window to see if there is any patrol nearby. Two men are at the corner of the street. They seem to be too busy joking around and enjoying their beer.
I open my balcony door and quietly listen and observe. The men are still in a safe distance from me. Unless they look up to my floor, there is no way for them to notice me.
I quickly throw the envelope toward her balcony. It hit her balcony door’s glass surface. Hopefully, it wasn’t too loud to be heard from the street.
I see her coming near the balcony window. I sigh with relief knowing I got her attention.
That was easier than I thought. I turn back to get inside before she opens her door. No need to see each other and possibly make noise. She can do the same thing to respond to my offer.
I hear her opening her balcony door when I reach for the doorknob to go back inside, but her dog begins to bark. This time a lot louder. The dog runs to her balcony and keeps barking. I lie on the ground hoping the Saviors didn’t see me. I hear Kathleen forcing her dog to go back inside and closing the door.
“Hey, is anybody there?” one of the men yells in our direction.
The barking continues inside. It’s less loud, but the damage is done. I hear the guys walking to our building’s entrance.
“Steven, we got a neighbor upstairs. Mind giving us keys?” one of the guys says.
Steven apparently comes out of the building after hearing the dog. “Which floor?” he asks.
I can’t believe how corrupt he is now. He turned against the residents the moment things went south—the residents who paid his salary for months.
I remain lying down on my balcony floor. They must be in front of the entrance. Hoping they won’t be able to see me or the balcony door, I slowly open the door and quickly get back inside. I take a deep breath.
I screwed everything. Not only me, but Kathleen is also in danger now.
Think quickly, Matt Macaine. You got this.
I assess the situation. They will figure out which apartment the dog barked from very soon. They will find her and search her entire apartment for valuable supplies. Then they will see the red envelope on the balcony.
I shouldn’t have laid out my entire plan before making the first contact with her. It was a stupid idea. If they find the note, they can quickly figure out that there is someone else hiding around in one of the apartments.
I can’t wait for three days to bug out. I have to leave now—during broad daylight and when Saviors are patrolling the streets. There is no other option. It’s better to try it rather than staying stuck at home and getting caught.
I run to my closet to change my clothes and pick up my bug-out bag. The bag is already fully loaded and ready to go.
I look around my apartment one more time.
It’s time to say goodbye.
Chapter 2
There is dead silence in the hallway. I think about using the stairs to get on the street level, but I know it’s a bad idea. The stairway opens to the lobby. Steven and the Saviors might be there. If it was nighttime, my chances of not being seen would be higher, but it’s too dangerous now.
I decide to execute my plan B. I will use mattress sheets I cut evenly to make a rope. Based on my calculations, it should be long enough to climb down from my balcony on the 9th floor and all the way to the street.
My original plan B was using this rope on the front side of the building at midnight. Since it is still daytime, it’s better to use it on the backside and land near the dog park.
