Prepper Fiction: Excerpt from Three Miles

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An excerpt from the novella Three Miles: When a Dream Trip Goes Terribly Mistaken, Who Can You Belief?

For in the present day’s weekend enjoyable, try three full chapters of my first novella, Three Miles.

As Max strolled by way of the traditional market, she couldn’t perceive a single phrase anybody was saying.

And she or he beloved it that means.

She had gone on this journey to Athens together with her coworkers to attend a “delivery summit.” May there truly be something extra boring {that a} bunch of logistics folks getting collectively in a stuffy room and discussing commodities, the volatility of the market, and delivery instances?

But when it got here with a free journey to Greece, Max was able to undergo by way of 7 stultifying hours of seminars and a pair of stale bagels every day. Athens had all the time been on her bucket checklist, ever since she was launched to Greek mythology in grade college and found the locations within the tales have been actual.

The second she may make her escape, she was out the door of the Capital Heart Lodge, taking particular care to flee earlier than a co-worker may recommend they hang around. She hadn’t even gone as much as her room to shove her gear into the backpack she carried, so involved was she that somebody would pop up and need to accompany her.

As she left the convention room within the resort, she strode swiftly throughout Syntagma Sq., noting how the yellow neoclassical structure of the Hellenic Parliament constructing shone in distinction to the vivid blue sky and dodging the group of vacationers who had gathered to look at the altering of the guard.

She’d been right here for 3 days and visited the Acropolis, had spent hours within the Nationwide Museum of Archaeology gazing at historic relics, had seen the solar set over the ocean on the Temple of Poseidon, and had shopped within the flower-covered Plaka neighborhood within the late-afternoon shadow of the Parthenon.

As a historical past geek, she was in her glory.

On the similar time, surrounded by all this magnificence, she additionally couldn’t assist however discover that issues in Athens have been reasonably tense. Graffiti was in all places and despite the fact that she couldn’t learn Greek, the illustrations and symbols have been sufficient to persuade her that there have been plenty of spray-paint-toting people who weren’t followers of native legislation enforcement or capitalism.

As effectively, poverty was deeply entrenched. Having no alternative however to dig by way of trash cans on your supper had a means of placing even the most effective natured particular person on edge. Max stored cash in her pockets to try to assist folks out. Some gladly accepted the cash, whereas others politely rejected her provide of two Euros and continued scavenging.

The indicators of pressured austerity and financial collapse have been throughout, though the nation had revived to some extent. Issues like that left scars on a nation and folks remembered the powerless feeling of desperation they skilled watching their nation, with its nice historical past, fall to its knees underneath the load of monetary strain and debt.

She paid consideration to issues like that. Max was an enormous fan of survival and preparedness and had cabinets filled with books, dozens of internet sites saved as favorites on her laptop computer, and had even attended a couple of in-person programs on her single-mom funds.

One of many subjects that she discovered essentially the most attention-grabbing, notably within the present day and age, was civil unrest and socio-economic collapse. She not often left residence and not using a bag stocked with the gear she’d have to journey on foot and escape a tense scenario.  Knives, water filters, shelter, and snacks, oh my. She had all of them and never only one – a alternative for each event, virtually like an oenophile knew exactly which purple or white wine went with each meal. As a result of, as each prepper is aware of, two is one and one is none.

Properly, aside from in the present day when she’d fled the resort as shortly as doable. However she was simply out for an informal journey to the market the place she’d seize a pita and see the sights, so she wasn’t terribly involved about her uncustomary lack of preparedness.

At present, she had gone to the Monastiraki Flea Market. The smells of recent baked bread and unique spices wafted by way of the air. Individuals chatted fortunately in a wide range of languages within the outdated assembly place. Some musicians have been leaning in opposition to the wall barricading the traditional Agora and taking part in conventional devices, setting the scene because it should have been for hundreds of years with out finish.

The market was every little thing she had imagined and extra. At present, she thought, she would discover items for her daughter, her dad and mom, and her greatest buddy. She was decided to search out distinctive mementos that whispered Greece versus the everyday memento that shouted it in all-caps.

In all places you appeared there was coloration, all in opposition to the backdrop of the Grecian-blue sky. (The sky was undoubtedly not that scrumptious cobalt coloration again residence in America.) From the vivid helium-filled balloons to the deep fuchsia bougainvillea climbing up buildings and throughout powerlines to the wealthy materials displayed within the retailer home windows of brightly painted buildings, it was a riotous assortment of magnificence.

Then she heard it. Like a demise knell. Or at the very least the demise of her solitude, she thought drily.

“Maxine? Maxine Martin!!! It IS you!”

The voice was like fingernails on a chalkboard and clearly recognizable as Ellen Perkins, one of many co-workers with whom she had come to Greece. Ellen and her husband Robert (no “Ellie and Bob” for them – it was “Ellen and Robert,” thanks very a lot) truly didn’t run the delivery firm for whom all of them labored, however that is likely to be a newsflash to them.

Ellen was the sort of health fan who labored out earlier than coming to the workplace and by no means sampled something from the sweet dish. She did every little thing briskly, from answering the cellphone to delivering delivery manifests to Max’s inbox. Her husband Robert was a salesman. She was completely sure he had been in a fraternity in school and performed soccer in highschool. You could possibly simply inform by his florid face, close-cropped hair, and beefy construct that was now a bit extra pudgy than muscular.

Max was wildly irritated by each of them. She wasn’t a fan of small speak, costume codes, or workplace soirees and she or he persistently butted heads with Ellen.  Robert naturally backed Ellen in all issues, so Max disliked him by default.

With them was Will Simms. He was additionally a salesman and utterly match the profile of 1. He was the sort of man who most likely used extra hair merchandise day-after-day than Max utilized in a yr. He was effectively dressed, sleekly groomed, and thought of himself a negotiator. Max thought he was smarmy, however the clients appeared to like him.

As Max frantically appeared for a technique to escape the workplace crowd, Joan and Savannah joined the group. Joan was the comfortably rounded older girl who did the bookkeeping and Savannah was a fresh-faced younger intern within the advertising division. Since Max favored Joan and Savannah, she sighed deeply, pasted on a pretend smile, and walked over to her huddle of coworkers.

“I used to be questioning how you bought out so shortly, Maxine,” Ellen chided in a barely scolding tone. “I assumed you knew we have been all coming to the market in the present day.”

“I wish to get an early begin,” Max mumbled by way of gritted enamel. Why did it all the time appear to be Ellen was making an attempt to mom her? She even known as her by her full title, which no person did. Besides Ellen and, in fact, her mom. “Anyway, we’re all collectively now.” She hoped the sarcasm wasn’t obvious.

“We have been simply deciding the place to go for lunch,” Ellen knowledgeable her. “Do you have got any suggestions?”

Max waved her arm round and mentioned, “There’s meals in all places.”

Ellen gave a bit huff and commenced scrolling on her cellphone, little question looking for the place with the most effective critiques and highest costs. Max turned and appeared wistfully on the colourful market. She had deliberate on grabbing a pita filled with one thing scrumptious and strolling round whereas she ate.

“That is so cool,” Savannah mentioned, wanting round with the same enraptured look on her face.  She reminded Max of her daughter, Ariel.

“I discovered a spot,” Ellen said as she linked arms with Robert, turned on an impeccably clad excessive heel, and strode away, naturally assuming everybody would comply with her. She appeared pointedly at Max. “We’re right here for team-building.”

Will stored tempo with the couple and Savannah caught her tongue out at their backs. Joan stifled a giggle and elbowed Savannah. Max felt higher that she wasn’t the one one that was irritated. The three girls trailed companionably alongside behind Ellen and her snooty entourage, pausing right here and there to take a look at particularly uncommon objects.

They ended up close to the entrance of the market strolling right into a slim hallway. Ellen commandeered the elevator and mentioned, “We’re going to the roof prime. We’ll ship it again down for you because you’re sluggish.”

The door closed abruptly of their faces. “Do you guys need to take the steps?” Max requested.

“5 flights? I don’t assume so,” Joan shook her head. “However you two go forward, I don’t thoughts ready for the elevator in any respect.”

“No, we’ll wait with you,” Savannah mentioned warmly, grabbing the older lady’s hand. It didn’t take lengthy till the tiny, groaning elevator had returned, they usually squeezed in, headed for the roof.

The restaurant they have been at was known as Couleur Locale Athens and from the highest, you would see your complete market in addition to Monastiraki Sq.. The Acropolis gleamed from a close-by mountaintop because the fading solar shone by way of the pillars, and domes of the buildings within the sq. seemed to be dipped in gold.

Dang it. Max hated to confess it, however Ellen had made a superb alternative.

The meals was wonderful, though not the normal fare Max had been planning on consuming. She completed earlier than her dinner companions and wandered over to take some photographs together with her cellphone.

She obtained some nice photographs of the Acropolis and the traditional Agora because the solar started to dip additional within the sky, however it was the Sq. that actually caught her consideration. She heard the slamming of sliding doorways and appeared down. The outlets have been closing in fast succession. She checked out her watch, puzzled. She had learn that the outlets have been open till later within the night.

Then she noticed the explanation why.

Within the sq., a gaggle of younger folks wearing black with bandanas over their faces, stood with indicators. Max couldn’t learn the indicators, however she may learn physique language, and these guys weren’t glad.

“We’ve obtained hassle,” she mentioned, turning to the others. “We have to get out of right here, NOW.”

Chapter 2

Ellen obtained up and strode to the facet so she may look down. “That’s not an enormous deal. Simply protesters.”

Max replied, “Protests can flip unhealthy in a rush. We should always return to the resort.”

Ellen shrugged and mentioned, “I’m having one other drink. Who’s with me?”

Robert summoned the waitress and ordered one other spherical. Max shook her head in refusal.

“You see doom in all places, Maxine,” Ellen lectured smugly. “It’s essential to study to reside a bit.”

“I’m going to go seize a couple of issues,” Max mentioned. “I’ll meet you again right here in half an hour after which I actually assume we must always head to the resort.”

Of all of the instances to be with out her bug-out bag, this was most likely the worst one she had encountered, she thought grimly. Max wanted provides and she or he wanted them shortly. She wouldn’t have the ability to change every little thing, however she may most likely put collectively an affordable, if considerably uncommon, equipment from the distributors of the market.

She hurried down the steps – no means did she need to get caught in that rickety elevator – and headed to the little kiosk that offered drinks and magazines. There she bought 3 liters of water, a map of Athens, some single serving bottles of vodka for cleansing potential wounds, and an armload of small snacks like nuts, sweet, and Pringles.  She additionally discovered some disposable rain ponchos, folded into tiny squares. They weren’t supreme, however they have been higher than nothing for a barrier in opposition to the weather. She paid the seller and popped the provides into her backpack.

Then she went to the financial institution machine and took out the utmost quantity on each card she had together with her. She appeared round to see if anybody was watching however all consideration gave the impression to be on the sq.. She left the ATM when her final transaction didn’t undergo – she had drained it of money however had 950 Euros. She separated the payments into completely different pockets, her pockets, and her backpack. You by no means wished to maintain all of your eggs in a single basket, and the identical philosophy utilized to money.

She shortly walked down the aisle to see if any distributors have been nonetheless open. She picked up half a dozen scarves, 3 baseball caps, 2 pairs of sun shades, and 4 extra-large black hooded sweatshirts that learn “College of Athens.” It’d pay to have some safety in opposition to tear fuel or different irritants, and in addition to not look fairly a lot like vacationers. She discovered a retailer that offered knives and selected a big folding knife with a strong blade. She folded down the perimeters of the bag and put the knife in her right-hand jacket pocket. It was inside straightforward attain if she wanted it however with the bag, may additionally appear to be a memento she had simply bought if she was questioned about it.

Her buying full and her backpack full, she hurried again towards the restaurant. The gang of protesters had grown, and their chants stuffed the air. You didn’t have to talk Greek to know that they have been pissed.

“Have you learnt what’s occurring?” she requested a shopkeeper who stood, arms folded, within the doorway of her retailer, watching the spectacle within the Sq. unfold. Max hoped the girl spoke English.

“They’re protesting capitalism,” mentioned the shopkeeper, rolling her eyes extensively. She was an ageless lady who spoke English in a delightfully unique accent, with unlined brown pores and skin and thick darkish hair generously streaked with silver. “The protesters imagine that greed and revenue are ruining our society. Possibly they need to attempt to work as a substitute of ready to have issues given to them.”

“Does this occur so much?” inquired Max.

“It occurs,” replied the shopkeeper. “However often not this many individuals and never fairly so indignant. At present it will likely be harmful.”

“Keep protected,” Max mentioned politely. “Thanks for the data.”

The girl squinted at her. “You appear good. Don’t simply fear about protestors. The astynomía – the police – usually are not your mates both.” With that, the shopkeeper turned and abruptly closed her door, locking it behind her.

Chapter 3

As Max hurried as much as the restaurant, her coworkers have been simply exiting the constructing. Ellen was laughing and leaning on Robert, and Will appeared flushed and barely raveled. Which for him meant there was one strand of his impeccably groomed hair misplaced.

“Nice,” Max thought to herself. “These a**holes are drunk.”

Savannah and Joan didn’t seem like impaired, they usually had the widespread sense to look involved in regards to the protesters.

Then she heard a cacophony of vehicle horns and noticed {that a} bus filled with cops had stopped in the midst of the street, infuriating the drivers behind them. When the cops disembarked, she realized with dread that they have been laughing, strapping on their helmets, donning physique armor, and holding clear shields. The cops have been having fun with this – reveling within the anticipation of violence.

A few of the officers turned their backs to {the marketplace}, making solely a minimal effort to cover what they have been doing. She was shocked to see that these males seemed to be snorting one thing proper out within the open. Excessive fives have been exchanged, and you would see by the repair of their shoulders that they have been about to escalate your complete scenario. The environment was charged with their anticipation of a battle.

“Guys, we now have to go NOW,” Max insisted. One thing in her voice appeared to be a magnet for the group. Their heads swiveled towards the cops and again to Max virtually in unison.

However they’d waited too lengthy to behave. With what may solely be known as a battle cry, the cops and the protestors rushed towards each other, and it was recreation on. The perimeters got here along with a crash and a refrain of shouts.

Max dashed to the door of the restaurant and ushered the group again inside. One of many waiters got here to the door shaking his head and scolding them in Greek, making an attempt to maintain them out, however they ignored him. Savannah was the final particular person to come back in and Max reached previous the waiter to seize the youthful lady by the arm and yank her into the slim hall.

The noise of the battle crept into the hallway, the place Max and her coworkers have been packed in with a couple of different vacationers and the employees. Different workers got here down from the rooftop and sat on the steps. It appeared like there was no choice however to attend out the chaos.

Max wiggled by way of the group to see if she may safely get to a glimpse of what was occurring outdoors. She prevented the massive plate glass home windows and located one tall, slim window that appeared out onto the sq. that she may peek by way of whereas conserving most of her physique behind the concealment of the wall.

The battle was heated and in contrast to something she’d ever seen in particular person – it appeared like one thing out of a film. She may hear the meaty thunks of police batons hitting human flesh, the screams of the injured, the cries of rage. By way of the glass, she may scent the hearth from the petrol bombs that had been flung. She checked to see if her cellphone had service. Up to now, the web was nonetheless working within the Sq.. She went onto Google Information to see if she may discover out any details about what was occurring outdoors.

She felt a sinking feeling within the pit of her abdomen as she learn. The protests weren’t simply confined to this space. Syntagma Sq., the place their resort was situated, was stuffed with an estimated 5000 protestors. Dumpsters have been burning all through town. Automobiles have been being set on hearth. Authorities have been barricading the principle streets to site visitors.

The sound of shattering glass jolted her away from her cellphone. One of many giant home windows of the restaurant had been shattered by somebody throwing a brick by way of it. The brick was adopted by a whiff of gasoline and a flaming bottle. Max was on the transfer as she acknowledged it for a Molotov cocktail simply because the bottle shattered. Flames unfold quickly throughout the eating space and Max yelled, “Go, go, go!!!! Go now!”

The particular person closest to the door fumbled with the lock in a panic. One of many waiters pushed him out of the way in which and obtained the door open as smoke started filling the hallway.

Max grabbed Savannah and Joan by the arm and yelled, “Come on!”

Individuals have been pushing, shoving, coughing, determined to get out the door. After they obtained out, they stopped, not sure which course to take. A few of the folks speeding out of the restaurant headed towards the battlefield within the Sq. the place the principle entrance to the market was.

Max was completely sure which means they need to go – she wished to go in the other way from the chaos.  She appeared round for her coworkers. Ellen appeared scared, for as soon as not making an attempt to take management of the scenario. “Come on,” Max mentioned, nonetheless hanging onto Savannah and Joan. “This fashion.” She turned proper, away from the Sq..

“However our resort is that means,” Will argued.

Max let go of the ladies’s arms and whirled round.  “Do you need to undergo that riot? I’m not arguing with you. Include me or don’t. It’s your alternative.”

She turned and headed down the alley to the best, not wanting again to see if anybody was following her. She slowed her tempo out of consideration for Joan, however the older girls confirmed no indicators of being winded.  No person spoke as they made their means by way of the darkish, uninhabited walkways. The one sounds have been the ridiculous clomping of Ellen’s excessive heels on the cobblestones and the distant din of the riot behind them.

If you wish to examine the remainder of Max’s escape from Athens, title your value for the novella right here.