Grid Attack (Cyber War #2) (6 page)

She nodded. It was risky, and we both knew it. But it would allow me to move faster and get us out of here.

The route we had planned had kept us on side roads as well as four-lane roads that weaved through the area. We made sure our plans allowed us plenty of room to turn around if needed.

As we drove through the area, we could see groups of people huddled up around barrels that were on fire. There were some places that looked like people had set up tents and created camping communities right inside some of the local parks.

It was as if tent cities had sprung up all over the place.

We didn’t slow down to take a look. I wasn’t about to take a chance on not being able to get out of town.

When we finally made it to the interstate ramp out of the city, I pulled over and turned off the lights.

The sun was peeking over the horizon and it was a good time to be on the highway if we had to be.

I radioed to the boys in back and told them to come out and stretch their legs and take a pee if needed while I walked up the on-ramp to take a look and see if I could tell if the way was clear enough.

All was quiet. That was a good thing in my book, because now I was looking around for someone to jump out at us. I hated feeling that way.

I thought about the delicate threads of our world and how easily things had turned into chaos. I regretted not getting to know my neighbors down the road better.

If we could have come together as a community beforehand and planned things out in case there was an emergency, things may have played out much differently.

As it was, right now the band of looters was probably burning our house down. I reached the peak of the on-ramp and looked around. There were a few stranded cars that looked like they had actually been pushed off the road, but for the most part, the area was clear and there was no traffic.

It was weird that I was standing in the middle of I-55 and nothing was moving. I wasn’t sure if it being deserted made me feel better or worse.

Could it be a trap? We weren’t that far out of the city yet. There was no way we would know for sure.

I decided to ask the rest of the group and see what we wanted to do. We could try to take the highway but that would leave us really open an exposed. However, it would also give us room to turn around if needed.

If we took the smaller two-lane road, it would be longer, but we wouldn’t be as exposed. The down side is that none of us really knew the road that well, and we didn’t know if we ran into a barricade or something if we would be able to turn around.

Plus, who knows what people might be waiting to take our stuff…or worse.

I presented the options to the group.

“I think we should chance it on the interstate. As much as I don’t like being on the highway, the ability to turn around and keep driving without hitting something is high on my list.” Carl said.

“I agree. The highway has my vote.” Evan said.

I looked over at Katherine. She was looking at the on ramp and pondering the options.

“The only thing I really worry about is how far any exits are spaced out. Plus, there are a lot of steep bluffs that people can hide in.” She said.

“True,” I said. “But that would be no different going the long way.”

She sighed.

“Okay. Let’s take the highway. You guys stay down and quiet if we have to stop. We will let you know if something is up. Otherwise, stay down. We don’t want anyone knowing you are there if at all possible.”

Carl and Evan both nodded and got back into the truck bed. I pulled the tarp taught against it and handed the bungees to the guys so they had access to the hook. They were able to hook it from the inside, concealing where they were.

I pulled Kat into my arms and hugged her tight before we hopped into the cab.

We were half-way there. If the highway was this clear all the way down, it would be an easy second half.

Of course, that wish was too good to be true.

Chapter 11 - Katherine

We were able to drive with the windows up for a while which was nice because the damp chill just seemed to penetrate all the way to the bone.

I was feeling a little bad for Carl and Evan in the truck bed. I’m sure it had to be cold as fuck and even with coats on, the wind coming from under the tarp had to be a pain.

But I was glad they were willing to do it. If we could get down to mom’s safely, it was because of the help we’d received from them.

We passed several cars that had ran out of gas on the road. For the most part, it was pretty open and it almost felt like we were driving down under normal circumstances.

I reached over and turned on the radio. I knew there would probably be nothing on, but it gave me something to do instead of the nervous chatter I would normally take on.

Tony was the type who didn’t really like to talk a lot when he drove. And in the current situation, I could tell he just needed to get us there and not be distracted.

He chuckled at my attempt to find something on the radio.

“Yeah, you know that’s a waste of time, right?” he said.

I gave him a glare then a wink to let him know I wasn’t irritated at his snark. It was good that he was able to come out of his shell momentarily.

“Yeah, I know. I was thinking maybe there was someone that figured out something. We can’t pick up stations out here from in the city. Maybe there is someone broadcasting. You know how it is in the movies. There is always a lone broadcaster that everyone hears and gives everyone hope that the end of the world really isn’t the end.” I said with a laugh.

I pushed the button and went over to the AM band. I used to listen to AM when I wanted to listen to talk radio.

I was just about to turn it off when I decided to let it scan one more time. Tony and I both jumped when it stopped on a signal with someone talking.

He reached over and turned up the volume. The signal faded in and out but as we kept moving south, it kept getting stronger.

“Is that the…President?” Tony asked, as we both heard the sound of the familiar voice.

He slowed down the truck a little to see if he could hear better, then eventually pulled off to the side.

Then there was a beeping sound. Just like the sound that the Emergency Broadcast System does on the TV when it’s being tested.

A voice came on, and this time it was clear. It was the President.

Tony grabbed the walkie and told Evan and Carl to just listen, that we’d found an announcement. He handed the walkie to me and I held it next to the speaker as we listened.

“Today is a sad day in our country’s history. There has been a cyber attack on all major networks, including most of the country’s electrical grid. From what intelligence we have, this was an act carried out by ISIS. They had people in our country that they had coordinated to carry this out all at the same time.

From what we know, most of the lower 48 states are without power. The exception is Texas, which has it’s own grid. There are a few smaller areas that have alternative energy who are using that, but anyone that relied on the electric grid is out of power and we do not have a time frame of when the grid will be back online.

Please know that we are working as fast and as hard as we can to restore power. We want to ask all of you to do your best to help your fellow man.

It is times like this that test the civility of humanity. Let’s not allow ISIS to win by turning us into the same barbarians that they are.

We can rebuild and come back stronger and better, but we have to do it together.

When we have new information, this message will be updated. Until then, may God bless you, and may God Bless America.”

The message went silent and then began to beep again. Tony turned down the radio and I spoke into the walkie.

“You guys hear all that?” I asked.

“Yeah. Let’s get moving.” Evan said.

“10-4” I said as Tony went to put the truck into drive.

As Tony began to pull back out into the lane, out of the corner of my eye I could see a big red truck fast approaching from behind.

“Look out!” I yelled.

Chapter 12 - Anthony

I slammed on the brakes as a big four-wheel drive pickup just barely clipped the front bumper.

As it sped by, there were a bunch of young boys sitting in the back hollering while they were holding shotguns in the air.

I held my breath as I watched them pass us and disappear over the next hill.

Reaching over, I grabbed Kat’s hand and gave it a squeeze.

I then rolled down my window and listened to see if I could hear them. It sounded like they kept on going. I slowly pulled out into the road and made my way up to the crest of the hill.

The truck was just cresting the another hill a few miles ahead.

I breathed a sigh of relief. The last thing we needed was a gunfight out here in the middle of nowhere.

However, I wasn’t disillusioned into thinking that we may not see them again. They may be up around the next bend waiting for us and I kept that in mind as I drove.

Fortunately, most of the rest of the drive was long stretches and there weren’t too many places that you couldn’t see several miles ahead. That had its advantage.

When you can see far enough ahead, you can choose whether to keep going or turn around.

I really didn’t want to have to turn back and try to find a way down through side roads. We just didn’t know how good or bad they would be.

As we continued to drive I relaxed a bit. It looked like the boys had gone wherever they were going and weren’t concerned about us. That was a relief.

Kat had decided to turn the radio off since the message was just repeating itself. I could tell she was thinking about it.

“I wonder how many people will be planning on going to Texas. Can you imagine? The whole country moving to Texas?” she said.

I could tell she was actually thinking about it herself.

“It would be either that or Alaska, providing you could get there.” I said. “Alaska has it’s own grid as well, so unless they attacked them directly that’s probably the other place to go.”

“Ugh, Alaska. I know it would be less populated, but there is no way I would want to try to become an Eskimo.” She laughed.

“What, you don’t want to live on seal blubber all winter?” I joked, feeling a little squeamish at the thought of it myself.

“I have a great deal of respect for the Eskimos and any other other human that can endure living up there. Hell, I’m pretty sure that most people that live in Alaska probably would laugh at how soft and spoiled we are down here.”

I nodded in agreement.

Both Kat and I had lost weight since the grid went down. We teased each other that we should put together a manual called “The Apocalypse Diet” and make a million.

Of course, money wasn’t good anymore. Food, water, fuel and any other conveniences that weren’t being supplied anymore was the new currency.

I thought back to when Kat was begging me to allow her to stockpile supplies. I didn’t mind it so much, but I was afraid she would go overboard.

The one thing she asked for that I really wished now I had done, was buy some property out of town. We would have the conversation every so often.

She would try to explain to me why it was important. She said it made sense to get it now, while we were young enough to work the land and put in a garage, so we could set it up to camp on when we came out. She said we could plant fruit and nut trees and let them grow over time so that if the time ever came, we would have a ready made cereal forest.