Prepper Central: A Prepper Fiction Novel (Prepping - Together we will Survive Book 1) by Chad Evercroft

Thanks guys, and keep safe.’
    I was the last person to speak and so, after my few words, everyone rushed to the back of the room. I’d never seen so many people eager to stay awake longer than was normal. However, it was great to see just how enthusiastic everyone was about protecting our community. I spotted Jonathan, who joined our group not too long ago, and was overjoyed to see that we’d have some military skills during night patrol. Rather than joining the line to sign up for night watch, I hung around with mom, dad and Marge, until mostly everyone was gone. Seeing as I needed to collect the shopping list, I needed to hang around until the end anyways.
    ‘That’s horrific, isn’t it?’ Marge took hold of my hand.
    ‘Could have been worse. I’m just happy that she’s okay. Sometimes it takes a bad incident to get us all in the right frame of mind,’ I replied.
    ‘But gosh,’ Marge shook her head, ‘pick on someone your own size. I just find it so pathetic when these so-called criminals take advantage of the weak, you know.’
    ‘At least now, she knows that we’re all here for her and we all know that it’s time to really start looking out for each other.’
    ‘I’m not weak,’ dad chimed in, perhaps offended by the fact that I had insinuated that old people are weak.
    ‘I know you’re not, dad,’ I smiled.
    ‘I would have shot him right where he stood.’
    ‘With what gun?’ I chuckled. Dad losing his gun was, by no means, something to find humorous. However, the way he perched himself like a teenager and shot off rounds with his finger guns was a sight to be seen.
    ‘Damn it,’ he exclaimed. Remembering that his gun had been stolen.
    ‘I’ve got a weaponry cabinet. Well, not quite. I’ve got a spare gun or two in the safe,’ I whispered. ‘Maybe we can go to the shooting range with these guys.’
    Dad nodded, seeming interested in something I had to say for the first time since he’d been in my company. I looked over to the auditorium door to see that the last person was jotting down their name on the list.
    ‘Okay, let me collect this list and then we can head home.’
    I scanned over the list before folding it neatly and placing it in the inside pocket of my jacket.
    ‘Night,’ I said to Tommy who was standing outside the door, ready to lock up.
    ‘Night, y’all,’ he replied.

Chapter 6
     
    The economy diminished in a shorter period of time than any of us could have ever imagined. Respectable citizens had rapidly transformed into vultures; posing a threat to whoever crossed their paths. There were no jobs, no laws, no order; just hunger, crime and death. Our Cul De Sac, hadn’t yet become the primary target of those around us but we all knew that time was our worst enemy.
    ‘You’ve got to speed things up a bit,’ Tommy said, realizing that my hands were by my side rather than smashing glass after glass.
    With hardly any barbed wire left, we resorted to securing the grand wall around our Cul De Sac with broken bottles. Stewart and I were responsible for smashing glass and passing it to Tommy who stood on the ladder waiting to scatter the pieces on the surface. We knew that this wouldn’t keep the intruders out. However, if it slowed them down for even a few minutes, then we’d have a slight advantage.
    ‘I’m trying Tommy,’ I replied, rubbing my hands on my jeans as an attempt to keep them warm.
    The weather was, by no means, in our favor and with a hand that already bled from the pain of one too many splinters, breaking glass was a job I no longer wanted to do. Smash. Smash. Smash. One glass bottle after the other was slammed against the cinder block in front of me, sending the pieces in a tub below.
    ‘Hold up!’ Stewart exclaimed, running to the side of the house and ducking down.
    We followed his lead, not knowing why. ‘What is it?’ Tommy demanded.
    Stewart’s voice grew softer, ‘don’t look just yet but the guy who broke into Anna’s home is walking