arm’s length. It felt good in his hands even if it seemed heavy considering its size.
“Just so you know, all of them are loaded right now and always will be.”
Nick nodded. It made him a little nervous. People were always saying to not leave guns loaded. He had a feeling that Mike’s reasoning was legitimate, especially considering the circumstances. Nick knew that if things got half as bad as Mike seemed to think they would, they would run into trouble eventually. Having the guns loaded if something happened would make it that much easier to defend themselves.
“The extra ammo is in the truck. There’s a box in the cab, in the glove box, and the rest is in the bed.”
They carried the guns upstairs and Mike turned the lantern off before leaving the stairwell.
“Sorry, we have to go dark until we leave. I don’t want anyone to see the light.”
Mike seemed a little paranoid to Nick. He wasn’t going to question him because he knew his best chance for survival was to stick with him and learn from the man who clearly had spent time and energy preparing for such an event. Nick felt fortunate that Mike was even willing to take him and was ready to do whatever Mike asked. The men went into the garage and loaded the guns into the truck.
“Go lock up your house,” Mike said. “I’ll do the same and pull the truck out and park in front of your house. Try to hurry. I want to get there before it gets light.”
Nick held his tongue even though he wanted to ask where they were heading.
He left the garage and made his way back through the house and out the backdoor. He heard the faint click of the door locking behind him and he headed for his own backdoor. Nick went into his bedroom, pulled his backpack out and filled it with three shirts and enough socks and underwear for a few days. The rest of the room in the pack was taken up by an extra pair of tennis shoes. He zipped it up before checking each of the windows in his house to make sure they were locked.
Nick locked the back door and pulled it closed behind him. He saw Mike’s truck parked in front of his house when he rounded the corner. Nick jogged to the truck, jumped in the passenger seat and shoved his backpack between his feet before buckling his seatbelt.
Mike shifted the truck into drive and took off into the darkness. Nick watched out the passenger window as they passed the darkened houses. He wondered if life would ever be the same again.
They drove through Boulder and headed north on highway 66. Nick had been on the road just once when his parents had insisted on taking him to Rocky Mountain National Park when he moved to the area. The park had been beautiful and very isolated. Other than that, his memories of the day were few. A profound sadness swept over him as he thought of his parents. Nick told himself that they would be alright and that he would seem them again. His gut twisted as he tried to convince himself.
“Where we headed?”
“I have a cabin,” Mike said, “just outside of Lyons. It’s pretty stocked up already and fairly isolated. With the supplies in the truck, we should be able to easily sustain ourselves for the next few months.”
Months? Is that how long this will last?
“When do you think the power will come back on?”
Mike was silent and it worried Nick. When he finally spoke, there was a stern tone to his voice.
“It won’t.”
“Never?”
“I don’t think so, Nick. I think this is permanent… I would be shocked if the power ever came back on again.”
The thought had crossed Nick’s mind. It was a scary prospect. Never having power again would change everything, he knew that.
“What happens next?”
“We focus on surviving, one day at a time. There is going to be mass panic once people realize that the power isn’t coming back on. There will be riots over whatever food is left and our country will once again be ruled by those with the most firepower.”
Riots for food? Nick wondered if people