Chris Bostic [Bostic - Prepper Mountain

Prepper Mountain

CHRIS BOSTIC

First printing, April 2019

Copyright 2019, Chris Bostic

All rights reserved.

ISBN-13: 9 78-1092594097

Cover Design by Chris Bostic

All characters and events in this book are fictitious products of the authors imagination and are not to be construed as real.

DEDICATION

To my loving family;

Thanks for putting up with me while

I turn every great vacation into

a survivalist disaster

.

CHAPTER 1

F or most people, the last day of sophomore year should have been a time for celebration. For a while, it was off the charts. Just not long enough.

You, uhm, excited about the summer? I managed to ask after several quiet footsteps and an equal number of furtive looks at Katelyn Jennings. The fact she had agreed to walk home with me was astounding. Birds sang and butterflies circledboth the flowers and my stomach. I could only hope my parents didnt blow it.

Katelyn turned her heart-shaped face to me and teased me with her big brown eyes. I dug my hands into my pockets and tried to keep a silly grin off my face. I wasnt sure I completely succeeded.

Yeah, we might be going to the beach at the end of June, she said.

Cool. Where at? Images of Katelyn in a bikini danced in my head until I missed almost her entire reply.

mostly be at Myrtle, if we get to go.

Why wouldnt you? I asked without thinking.

You know, she replied. All the protests or whatevs. My folks have been saying that the government might shut everything down.

Like the beach?

No, sillyI mean not really. Its more the traveling around, like out of state. She looked at me curiously, perhaps wondering if Id been joking. I tried not to look as embarrassed as I felt.

I knew things in general seemed pretty awful. Far worse than I could ever remember, not that Id paid much attention before. But everyone was definitely edgy, and the cops were everywhere, watching everything. My parents helped remind me of that all the time. Still, I had no clue about the government cracking down on people traveling. That seemed ridiculous, and equally as unlikely.

If we get to go, my folks wanted to at least keep it close to homeso they were thinking Myrtle.

I hope it all works out. That, uhm, sounds nice.

Oh, yeah, its gonna be awesome. I cant wait. She smiled, forming the cutest dimples in her round cheeks. How about you, Zach?

I struggled to think of a way to make my summer plans sound more exciting. There wasnt much to say to spice it up. Were going camping in the Smokies.

Oh. A little frown creased her forehead. Like in a tent?

I think so.

That sounds, uh

Horrible, I know. Maybe well get a cabin this year.

You dont have one of those camper things?

She was right. It seemed like everyone around there had some kind of pop-up or the tow behind ones. It was surprising too. It was something outdoorsy parents like mine shouldve hadpreferably with air conditioning. Anything had to be better than a rock or tree root poking through the thin vinyl floor of a tent.

I just shrugged and pretended to avoid one of the many cracks in the deteriorating sidewalk.

Katelyn looked at the hazy green of the mountaintops in the distance and smirked. At least you dont have far to drive.

Yeah, not even a half hour. At least when the tourists arent around. I looked at her and grinned. I guess if travels shut down, that definitely wont be a problem.

True enough. Katelyn smiled back. I didnt think anybody who lived around here actually went to the park. Seems kinda crowded in the summer.

Really crowded, I replied. Or it used to be. My dad was saying that no ones been doing much vacationing the last couple years on account of the epic depression, so maybe a travel ban wouldnt make a difference. Saying that made me realize Katelyns folks mustve had really good jobs. And still had them, unlike so many others. Most folks barely had enough to eat since the stock market collapsed.

I hadnt thought of that. Katelyn adjusted her backpack and scratched her chin. I guess theres lots of poor folks now and such. Are you guys-

I interrupted before she could ask about my situation. Its not much farther. At least its not too hot today.

Another typical Knoxville summer, huh? Katelyn sighed. Is it always this hot down in the valleys?

Yeah. Whered you move here from?

Nashville. Its not any cooler. She pushed a lock of long brown hair off her forehead before it matted with sweat. Probably hotter.

I wiped my forehead with the back of my hand. It wasnt horribly dampyet. Its cooler in the mountains. Temperature-wise, but maybe not in the other, more important, way.

I supposed that her moving to town recently was the only reason she had been willing to come home with me. All the other locals knew about my unique situation. Of them, my friend Joe seemed to be the most understanding. He was more of a class clown who never took anything too seriously.

I pity the ones who cant afford air conditioning, Katelyn said, probably not meaning to come off like a snob. Not that I wouldve held it against her. She was too pretty to offend me for long.

I worried more that shed see the fans in our windows and would immediately figure out that we were one of those newly poor, unfortunate families. But better that than the aluminum foil that usually covered them. Before I could start to regret asking her to come over, we were almost there.

Just one more block, I said. You sure you dont want me to carry your backpack?

Thats sweet, but it really doesnt weigh a thing. I took pretty much all my junk home yesterday. She smiled and softly added, Im really glad you asked me to come over.

I choked on my saliva, and barely managed to spit out, Well, Imglad you agreed to.

Dont be silly. She laughed it off, as if it was completely normal for a guy like me to be seen with a girl as perfect as her. I thought it had been a longshot when Id asked her to hang out with me. Even then, I still didnt believe shed agreed.

Before I could dwell on my good fortune, she added, You know, it was weird that we were texting the last couple weeks, then nothing. I thought you were mad at me.

No way. It was just, uhm, the phone thing.

So you were saying your phone had a bug?

I hesitated before saying, Sorta. It was more like a different kind of bug.

Are you gonna get a new one soon?

Though encouraged that she cared enough to ask, I really needed to dodge the question. There was no way to answer even half-truthfully and not scare her off.

Before the pause became too awkward, I came up with something. It, uhm, might be a whileI think.

Why?

Things are just really messed up now.

With the phone?

I nodded, cursing myself for not being able to tell the truth about my crazy parents. Id told myself shed find out everything eventually, but I hadnt expected it would be so soon.

We rounded the corner to head down my cul-de-sac and were greeted by more flashing lights than a nightclub. The police cars didnt surprise me. That was nothing new. It was the trio of black Suburbans with darkened windows that set me on full alarm. Two blocked the driveway, pinning our Jeep in front of the garage. The third was parked sideways in our yard.

I grabbed Katelyns hand, something I never couldve done without full-on panic spurring me on. We, uh, wed better go to your house.

What? Is that-

I pulled her hand, cutting her question short, and dragged her across the street.

Shouldnt we-

No. I wanted to tell her it was the neighbors, but couldnt lie. That looks serious. Wed better stay out of the way.

She dug in her heels, not ready to be hauled away without an explanation. What about your folks, Zach? Was your house next door?