Rise of the Prepper: A Story of the Coming Collapse by Frank Bates Page A

was just walking down the road following its winding path having no idea where to go. It had been such a long time since she had been outside and free. It was ironic though. She had finally achieved freedom only to have it when the world was no longer the same—a time when simply breathing could kill someone. It was like she had been finally given a piece of her favorite chocolate cake only to be told that it was poisoned. Amelia took a deep breath. Oh, well. It’s not like I have anyone waiting for me. Seriously, Amelia thought, what should I do now?
                  Amelia had walked about half a mile when she came upon a Church’s Chicken restaurant with a burning helicopter on its rooftop. “That’s new. Whoever came up with that design had a very unique sense of artistry.”
                  The helicopter had become charred. The flames that had once devoured it had dwindled down and was on its way to burning itself out. The surrounding area was deserted except for a few a cars that had been abandoned.
                  Amelia was still looking at the restaurant, wondering if she could cook some food if she went inside. There must be some chicken left. She could fry a couple and make spicy buffalo wings. Her stomach grumbled and she remembered that she hadn’t eaten anything yet. “You know what, I’m going to do just that.”
                  Amelia was about to go into the store when she heard a commotion on the rooftop. She looked up and saw a young girl stumbling to the edge of roof and doubling over, coughing. The girl was dangerously close to falling off of the rooftop. If she moved just a little bit more forward, she was going to be in trouble.
                  The girl looked down and saw Amelia. “Please help me!” She said.
                  “Okay. Just stay calm and don’t move from there. I’ll be right back.” Amelia called out to the girl. The girl nodded.
                  “Okay, let’ see.”  Amelia looked around for a ladder or something that she can step or climb on and reach for the girl but there was none. “Now what are the chances that a trampoline is around here somewhere?” If she found one, the girl could jump down instead. Okay, fine. Who was she kidding? There’s no way something convenient like that would be lying around.
                  Amelia went back to the front of the restaurant. “Hey!” She called out to the girl. “Do you see any door there? You can  go down through it.”
                  “I-I’ll check!” The girl said. Amelia watched her disappear from view. After a minute or so, the girl came back, almost ready to cry. “There’s no door here!”
                  Shit. Amelia looked around with her hands on her hips. Is there really no trampoline around I might have just missed it.
                  “Please help me!” The girl cried.
                  “All right. Here’s what I want you to do.” Amelia said. “See the ledge there? I want you to go there.”
                  The girl looked at where Amelia was pointing. “Are you crazy? I can’t possibly get down there.”
                  “You want to get down here or not?”
                  “I’m not going to that ledge!”
                  “Fine. You can stay up there forever for all I care.” Amelia said and turned her back.
                  “Wait!” The girl sobbed. “F-Fine. I-I’ll go down there.”
                  “That’s a good girl.” Amelia smiled. She watched as the young girl carefully climbed over the edge of the rooftop and slowly lowered herself to the ledge with shaking arms.
                  “You can do it! Don’t worry, I’m here. I’ll catch you so just relax and take it slow.” Amelia cheered from below.
                  At last,