Read When the Power Is Gone: A Powerless World - Book 1 for Free Online Page B

tuna, crackers and ramen noodles, instant oatmeal and cans – no, cases – of soups. He didn’t worry about water, counting on the utilities to be there, but had about a half dozen cases of bottled water just the same. He also had a sub-zero refrigerator, with a freezer full of steaks, pork chops, chicken, and an assortment of TV dinners, for those nights he didn’t feel like cooking. He had a huge outdoor kitchen set up in his backyard, with a gas grill and fireplace. He loved to cook – well, cook out – but didn’t go out much. For all his brash, asshole attitude, he was very much a loner. He dated rarely and never brought them home. Now, just reaching 30, he still had no one special in his life. He liked the solitude of his home, because he didn’t have to share it with anyone.
    If what Russ said was right, life was about to get interesting. Like scary interesting. Brian went home, changed into jeans, a sweatshirt and running shoes, grabbed all his stash cash (another hold over from his childhood), about $500, and put his Springfield XDS .40 in his waistband. He grabbed the biggest back pack he owned, and pulled his bike down out of the garage. He had always had a bike to ride, ever since that first one, and that was now turning out to be a really good thing. He checked the chain, tested the brakes and gear shift, and deemed it road worthy. There was a strip mall right before the on ramp to the interstate, about 5 miles away.  He could get there in about 15 to 20 minutes. He had something he wanted to get besides the food Russ had suggested. He needed to get going right away before someone else decided they wanted one, too. He headed out the driveway toward the mall.
     
    ****
     
    From the time he left their little dead end road, there were cars sitting here and there along the way. The closer he got to the mall, the more cars he saw – some abandoned, some with the occupants still in or around them. Everyone was milling around, holding their cell phones up like they were looking for service (really? The phone is a brick, and you think raising it in the air will fix that?), but they all had one thing in common: they had no idea what had happened. If they did, they would not be standing around looking for a cell signal. They would be heading home as fast as possible to make sure their family was safe. He thanked whatever powers that be that Russ had leveled with him on what was going on. He felt like he had a leg up on a bunch of other people.
    On the other side of the road was a school bus, about half full of kids, mostly teenagers, that would have been headed down his street for the neighbor kids, then on to the high school. While Brian was on a mission, he felt bad for the kids, and their parents. He rode over to the other side of the road and up to the bus. The driver had the door open, so Brian went over to it.  He looked in to the driver. “Hey man, you need to get these kids off the bus and have them start walking home.”
    The driver looked at him confused but didn’t argue. “You know, I think you’re right. I don’t know what’s going on, but this is just weird.” He turned to the kids and made an announcement: “Kids, school’s out today. The bus is hosed, so you better get out and try to make your way home. Team up with someone who lives close to you. Hurry.” The kids started off the bus, confused, but happy that school was out for the day.
    Brian got back on his way to the mall. He got a few strange looks from people still standing by their cars, like they were going to magically come back on. He got to the mall a few minutes later. It was not crazy – yet – so he headed to the bike store. This was the first, and most important, stop he had to make.
    The bike store, Riding My Life Away, was open but dark. He had bought the bike he was riding there, and the owner, Mitch, was at the door.
    “Hey Brian. Strange day, huh? We’re open, but no power, so no credit card purchases. Cash still