Escape Plan is Go

Posted on Tue Jan 7th, 2025 @ 9:56am by Mackenzie Ellis & Jackson Dalton

1,084 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Settling In
Timeline: September 3rd 2010 - 3 days until collapse

September 3rd 2010 - 3 days until collapse 


Mackenzie looked around the store room of her Cafe. She had loaded her shop Trolley with several bags of flour, yeast, sugar and slabs of water bottles and other items like herbs and spices. She had already loaded two loads into her dark red Rav4 and this was the last load. Beverages, bags of coffee beans and ground coffee were also packed. 


It took her about 20 minutes to take the last polaroids of the business she had built from scratch and now she stowed them in her purse. She had boarded up the windows and now as she finished loading the last of the supplies at the back of the cafe she knew she was not coming back. 


Mackenzie drove back to the house which she and Jackson had built. When she arrived she parked beside their Caravan and began unloading the supplies into the Caravan. 


Their plan was fairly simple: pack up everything they could, hook it up to Jackson's Ram and leave in the middle of the night and get as far as they could before dark. They had really no idea where it would be safe but maybe they could get a flight or boat from L.A. who knew. Their home while fenced was not secure and who knew how long they would be able to remain.


Mackenzie stored the supplies as best she could, and considered that they may not have time to use the seating area then she added more supplies to it. Then she went and gathered her herb pots and put them in the kitchen area. 


Then she headed into the house to begin gathering their clothes and bedding. Winter was close and if it snowed early then they would need the extra blankets and clothes. Jackson was getting fuel and filling their jerry cans as that was part of their plans. He had a list as did Mac. They hoped that they would be good to go that night. 


Returning to the Caravan, her arms filled with heavy blankets and pillows, Mac deposited them on the bed and then went back to get the duffles they had packed with clothes and the two boxes of toiletries and other products. 


Jackson filled the last of the jerry cans, loaded and secured them in the back of his pickup.  His eyes darted around as numerous people were rushing around.  The feel of his glock 17 on his hip was reassuring, but if people were desperate it would not help him much.


His suppressed SR-25 locked in the truck would be useless here anyway besides he had to get more ammunition if he could and maybe a pistol for Mac.  He knew she could handle the glock but it was a bit awkward for her to hold, he knew that Walther made pistols that she would be able to grip easier and it wouldn’t hurt her.  As he finished at the service station he headed towards his next stop.


After a while he headed home his gear secured new holsters and enough ammo to hopefully get them to safety.  Some of the ammo was subsonic which he had shot before but not in a while.  As he positioned the pickup to connect the caravan he saw Mac emerge from it.


“Hey babe how is the packing going?” he asked as he slid from the truck and headed to give her a hand.


Mackenzie flashed him a smile.  “Going well. Just finished packing the kitchen items and cleaning products. I also packed extra Blankets and our snow boots.”

 

“Good idea we are going to need them when the weather turns.  Is there anything I can help with or are we just about set to go?” he asked as he leaned down to kiss her briefly before he moved to start helping her pack the caravan.


“I just need to grab the solar panels out of storage.” Mac replied. “And I have packed all our important documents and the cash in the van. There are two boxes for the Truck and we need to syphon the remaining fuel from the Rav.”


Jackson nodded.  “Alright I’ll syphon from the Rav, and load the boxes once we have the solar panels we’ll head out and plan our route as we go.” he said more confidently than he felt.


Mac nodded. “Are we going to wait until dark?” She asked as she picked up a small jewellery box from the outdoor table on their porch.


Jackson shrugged.  “There are pros and cons to leaving during the day or night if we leave tonight we get out ahead of people and hopefully don't get followed, but we might, and if we leave in the morning who knows what the chaos will be.  What do you want to do?”


Mackenzie gnawed on her lower lip a sure sign of uncertainty in her. “Leave as soon as possible” she said after some thought. “I.. tried my father, and brother but no answer. I think they left for the safe zones a few days ago.”


He nodded slowly as he pulled her into a hug.  “They'll be fine, baby they know how to survive.” He muttered into her hair.  “Alright lets finish packing and get going.”


Mackenzie nodded and gently pulled back to gather the last of their personal items.


Two hours later the Van was hooked up to the Ram, Mac had finished a final sweep of the house they had worked so hard to build together and then locked it up, pulling the shutters and securing it. With no children or pets there was only themselves and their memories which were now loaded into the Van and the coolers held their frozen food stores in the backseat of the Ram. 


Mac climbed into the passenger seat, dressed in dark jeans and shirt with her favourite jacket being placed on her lap with her purse.  


As Jackson climbed in he reached back and grabbed the more ergonomically Walther P99 and handed it to Mac in its holsters.  “It handles better for you than my glock and works the same way.  I know you don't like it, but if we need it be glad you have it.”  He said as he started them off.  Leaving memories was always hard, but he knew they could make new ones.  “There's also a few Louisville sluggers in the back.  Anyway rest for now babe we'll be on the road for a while.”

 

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