Free Zero Hour: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival Fiction Series (The Blackout Series Book 2) by Bobby Akart

into the roof truss system. The family once used it to shoot pool and play video games.
    More sandbags were stacked in front of the pool table. Under the pool table was an area rug. Colton dropped onto his hands and knees, pulled aside the rug, and revealed a two-foot-by-three-foot opening in the floor between the trusses.
    Madison and Alex crawled under the pool table to look as well. “A hidey hole,” exclaimed Alex. The three of them looked into the garage, where the roof of the Jeep Wagoneer was parked a few feet below them.
    “We’re gonna practice this until it becomes easy,” said Colton. “But the plan would be to lure them up the stairs, delay their access to the second floor, and then drop ourselves through this hole and into the Wagoneer.”
    “You mean we’ll leave everything behind?” asked Madison.
    “Not entirely,” replied Colton. “We need to pack the truck with clothing, supplies, and food. Use every available suitcase, duffle bag, and backpack.”
    “I should also put the camping supplies and fishing gear in the back,” added Madison. “We don’t need them here.”
    Colton slid out from underneath the pool table and bumped his head in the process. “Defending our home against armed gunmen is our biggest weakness. We only have one weapon, and none of us are trained. A gunfight is not conducive to on-the-job training. All of these measures are designed to delay the attack so we can escape.”
    “Live to fight another day,” added Alex.
    “Exactly.”
     

Chapter 13
    DAY THREE
    Noon, September 11
    HPA Meeting House
    Trimble Rd. & Lynnwood Blvd.
    Belle Meade, Tennessee
     
    The second meeting of the HPA took place in front of the house in the circle drive. Attendance was larger today. Alex saw the Youngs and the Kaplans hanging out under a large oak tree. They’d had a conversation about this on the way over to the meeting.
    Colton felt like they were better off than most of their neighbors thanks to the efforts of Madison and Alex. The acquisition of the Jeep Wagoneer in a world full of the latest and greatest, but now inoperable, vehicle transportation was very fortunate.
    In the past seventy-hours, they’d not heard any generators running. This could be because no one in the vicinity owned one or because they didn’t have the fuel to run it. Either way, the Rymans had both and would shield these assets from others as well.
    With this in mind, the Rymans decided to blend in and not stick out. The plan was to dress normal and move and act in a way that was forgettable. They agreed to use their best efforts not to draw unnecessary attention to themselves. If their neighbors realized the extent of their supplies, they would become jealous or even angry. As time passed, that anger could turn to desperation and violence.
    “Invisible in plain sight,” Alex whispered to her dad as they walked to the middle of the pack.
    Wren walked onto the front porch of the home, followed by his two sidekicks—Holder and Andrews. The grand appearance of the anointed leaders of the HPA disgusted Alex. She could see disdain on a few of her neighbors’ faces as well. She quickly glanced through the crowd, looking for Jimmy Holder. She couldn’t see him.
    Then, a moment later, three men in mismatched uniforms joined them. They were carrying sidearms and had rifles slung over their shoulders. They looked like they were military or National Guardsmen.
    “May I have your attention, please,” started Wren. “Once again, I want to thank all of you for attending. I anticipated a bigger turnout today, so I moved the meeting to the front yard. I apologize for the heat, but the shade trees and the slight breeze should make it more comfortable.”
    Wren turned and received a clipboard from Holder, with a pen tied to it by a string. Wren continued. “I’d like everyone present today to sign in with your name and address, if you don’t mind. In order to help one another, we need to know who is here. Also, if you