Free Dystopia: The Beginning of the End by DJ Cooper

and share information from each location. 
    Things were getting rough already, a few issues had already arisen, but when Sam and Jeremy went over today they noticed that there were a couple cars across the road, blocking the entrance to the cul-de-sac.
    Approaching the roadblock Jeremy raised his hand in greeting and asked Frank,
    “Hey Frank, what is with the roadblock?”
    He said, “We’ve been having trouble from a group of teens out joyriding.  Riding around smashing windows and mailboxes.” 
    As soon as Sam and Jeremy arrived back at the house they went and talked with Dez and Matt.  They were not only concerned for their friends, but the continuing safety of those who were scheduled to go check in each day,
    “Listen Ma, we have to get our people out of there.” Jeremy said.
    Tawny came in just then and noticed Jeremy and Sam Looked concerned about something.  She didn’t hear what they were saying, but the tone Jeremy had used seemed urgent, she asked,
    “Hey guys, what’s up?.” 
    Jeremy continued explaining what was going on, saying, “They have the entrance blocked off because of vandalism mostly, but I think they are not safe there.” 
    “Well, we could use the tents out in the back yard” Tawny said. 
    Sam spoke up and said, “That would be ok for now, but once it starts getting colder we will have to think of something else.” 
    Everyone agreed it would be better to have the whole group all in one place.
    Matt called Frank on the CB. 
    “Hey Frank, Matt here, you listening?  Over.”
    Frank replied “Hey Matt, what’s up?  Over.”
    “Frank, we want all the families to come here ASAP, we are not sure we can get to you quick enough if you are having more issues than just some broken windows, over.”
    Frank replied, “You don’t have enough space for all of us, what would we do?  Over.”
    Matt explained the tents and Frank was reluctant, saying, “It’s going to get cold soon, I don’t know if I can sell this to these guys, over.” 
    Matt replied, “How about you gather your people for 6pm and Dez and I will come by and talk to them.  Over.”
    Frank responded, “See you then? Over and out.”
    Dez said she had an idea, not sure how it would go over, but asked Matt to come look at something. 
    Matt did not know what she was thinking, but followed her out the back door. 
    She explained while they walked across the back yard, “This house behind us was a foreclosure and has been empty for the past year or so.” 
    Matt knew the house and immediately caught on to what she was thinking.  The house had been broken into and the doors were unlocked. Dez would occasionally go close the doors on the house and had been inside it.
    As they walked over to it, she said, “I know it’s not right to squat and at this point and I don’t think it is a good idea to do so, but if things get worse.  I’m sure the bank isn’t going to come looking.” 
    She continued, “If stuff gets back to normal, it will be in better shape because of its use.  Right now it is vandalized and dirty, but we could clean it up.”
    Matt thought about it and said, “We will mention it at the meeting and get their thoughts on it.  At least it is an option and it is better than having some people move into it that we don’t know and might make trouble for us.” 
    Dez agreed, and said, “There is also a pretty big barn, and while it is not ideal, it does have a cement floor that would work to house the group from the north when they get here if we need to.”
                  As Dez and Matt were walking back to the house, they heard Toni shouting for Jeremy.  They entered the back door just as Jeremy came in from the garage; they were all on edge and feared that an intruder had entered the house or worse.
    Toni had the phone in her hand excitedly handing it to Jeremy.
    Practically crying as she said, “Here, it’s Danny he wants to talk to you.” 
    Jeremy took the phone and