Cabal

by Mark Goodwin

  Christina pulled her daughter close. “I have a more important mission to complete first.”

  “You mean like taking care of me?” The teenage girl rolled her eyes. “Please, I’ve been watching out for you since I was like ten.”

  “Still no news of the FBI scooping up people from Patriot Pride.” Poochy pushed his thick glasses up on his nose and ran his hand over his unkempt beard.

  Josh stood behind the couch, which was already filled to capacity. “It’s possible that they might keep the bust under the radar. I’m sure federal agents have infiltrated similar groups all across the country. If the FBI allows the news to report on the raid, it could spook other groups before they have a chance to swoop in and make arrests.”

  “Wait! What’s this about?” Sitting on the floor with her legs crossed, Nicole pointed to the television.

  Lillian Lopez hosted her regular evening show from the WNN news desk. “We’re coming to you right now with breaking news from Kentucky. Multiple hijackings have just occurred in Louisville and Lexington. Federal transport vehicles filled with firearms purchased by the federal buy-back program were assaulted and then stolen by civilian militant groups in a coordinated attack. We know nothing yet about the identity of the individuals who carried out the assault, but the FBI is bringing in additional resources to the area to search for the missing guns and the people responsible for the attack.”

  Christina turned to look at Josh behind the couch. “I thought the FBI was going to arrest everybody before the action.”

  Josh lifted his shoulders. “I was sure they would. I don’t understand.”

  Christina glared at him. “I hope you’re not feeding us a line of bull about the FBI.”

  “Why would he do that?” Stephanie defended her husband with haste.

  “Easy, Sis. You have to look at things from where I’m sitting right now.”

  Stephanie walked around to the front of the couch with her hands on her hips. “Don’t call me Sis. I’m not your sister, and I’m not your friend. Furthermore, you’re a guest in this house. If you don’t like it, you can leave.”

  “Whoa!” Christina stood up. “I’m a guest in this house because your husband invited me after I heard some story about the FBI having me under surveillance.”

  Rev stood up between the two. “Hey, let’s both take a step back. Christina, I’ve seen Josh’s badge. He is who he says he is. If he was wrong about his assumptions, I’m sure there must be a reason.”

  Micah redirected everyone’s attention back to the television. “This might be it.”

  Lillian Lopez continued her report on the action. “After hearing about the incidents in Kentucky, Lucius Alexander tweeted a message saying ‘Today’s tragedy proves how important it is for us to take direct action to get all the guns off the street.’”

  Rev nodded. “A false flag. The FBI allowed the attacks to take place. Now the Global Union has an excuse to write a total gun ban.”

  Christina looked at the television screen, then turned to Josh. “I’m sorry.” She looked to Stephanie. “To you, also. I was out of line.” She offered her hand to Steph. “And I appreciate your hospitality.”

  Stephanie stepped past Christina’s hand to give her a hug. “It’s okay. We’re all under a lot of stress from being shuffled around like a pea under a shell.” She released the embrace and looked at Josh. “And my husband is right. If we’re going to get through this, we’ll need one another.”

  Micah looked Lindsey over in the same fashion that he’d done since her arrival the day prior. “It’s probably going to get violent before it’s all over. I can teach you how to shoot if you want.”

  She rolled her eyes and laughed. “You, teach me how to shoot? I was homeschooled by a soldier. I can probably show you a thing or two.”

  “That’s fine. I’m open.” Micah offered a charming smile. “Ever shot a fully-automatic M-4?”

  “Micah!” Josh gave him a stern look.

  “In case we ever need it. It’s good to be familiar with the full-auto function.” Micah said.

  “No more than two mags, sixty rounds. We can’t afford to waste ammo,” Josh conceded.

  “Full-auto, are you serious?” Lindsey looked as if she could not have been more impressed by a billion-dollar mega yacht.

  “Yeah, come on.” Micah took her hand and led her to retrieve the weapons.

  “At least those two are hitting it off,” Nicole said.

  “Mmmhmm. As if I didn’t have enough on my plate without keeping a closer eye on Lindsey,” said Christina.

  Stephanie gave her a look of solidarity. “You won’t be alone in that mission either. I’ll keep a short leash on Micah.”

  Josh felt glad that the group seemed to be getting along with one another. The end times were upon them, and they had no shortage of enemies.

  Thank you for reading

  The Beginning of Sorrows, Book One: Cabal

  Continue the adventure with

  The Beginning of Sorrows,

  Book Two: World Order

  If you liked the book, please take a moment to leave a review. It helps more than you can imagine.

  I love hearing from readers. So, whether it’s to say you enjoyed the book or to point out a typo that we missed, drop me a line. prepperrecon@gmail.com

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  Don’t Panic!

  Inevitably, books like this will wake folks up to the need to be prepared. Or, they cause those of us who are already prepared to take inventory of our preparations. New preppers can find the task of getting prepared for an economic collapse, EMP, or societal breakdown to be a source of great anxiety. It shouldn’t be. By following an organized plan and setting a goal of getting a little more prepared each day, you can do it.

  I always try to include a few prepper tips in my novels, but they’re fiction and not a comprehensive plan. Now that you’re motivated to start prepping, the last thing I want to do is leave you frustrated, not knowing what to do next. So, I’d like to offer you a free PDF copy of The Seven Step Survival Plan.

  For the new prepper, The Seven Step Survival Plan provides a blueprint that prioritizes the different aspects of preparedness and breaks them down into achievable goals. For seasoned preppers who often get overweight in one particular area of preparedness, The Seven Step Survival Plan provides basic guidelines to help keep their plan in balance and ensures they’re not missing any critical segments of a well-adjusted survival strategy.

  Click HERE To get your free PDF copy of The Seven Step Survival Plan.

  Can’t get enough post-apocalyptic chaos? Check out my other heart-stopping tales about the end of the world as we know it.

  Black Swan: A Novel of America's Coming Financial Nightmare

  America’s financial doomsday. A wayward son.

  The epic struggle to survive.

  Country music icon Shane Black is this year’s headliner for the New Year’s Eve bash in Times Square, but when violent riots break out, he’ll need more than a six string to escape the maelstrom.

  After decades of abuse as the world’s reserve currency, the US Dollar’s day of reckoning is at hand. Without a functioning monetary system to purchase basic goods, society rapidly descends into abject chaos. Protests, looting, and bloodletting take the place of civility in a country which is coming unhinged.

  Thrust into an apocalyptic gauntlet of terror, Shane must resort to savage brutality to get out of Manhattan alive.

  Cyber Armageddon: A Post-Apocalyptic Techno-Thriller

  Cyber Security Analyst Kate McCarthy knows something ominous is about to happen in the US banking system. She has a place to go if things get hectic, but it’s far from the perfect retreat.

  When a new breed of computer virus takes down America’s financial network, chaos and violence erupt. Access to cash disappears and credit cards become worthless. Desperate consumers are left with no means to purchase food, fuel, and basic ne
cessities. Society melts down instantly and the threat of starvation brings out the absolute worst humanity has to offer.

  In the midst of the mayhem, Kate will face a post-apocalyptic nightmare that she never could have imagined. Her only reward for survival is to live another day in the gruesome new reality which has eradicated the world she once knew.

  Ava’s Crucible

  The Second American Civil War Has Begun!

  The deck is stacked against twenty-nine-year-old Ava. She’s a fighter, but she’s got trust issues and doesn’t always make the best decisions. Her personal complications aren’t without merit, but America is on the verge of a second civil war, and Ava must pull it together if she wants to survive.

  The tentacles of the deep state have infiltrated every facet of American culture. The public education system, entertainment industry, and mainstream media have all been hijacked by a shadow government intent on fomenting a communist revolution in the United States. The antagonistic message of this agenda has poisoned the minds of America’s youth who are convinced that capitalism and conservatism are responsible for all the ills of the world. Violent protest, widespread destruction, and politicians who insist on letting the disassociated vent their rage will bring America to her knees, threatening to decapitate the laws, principles, and values on which the country was founded. The revolution has been well-planned, but the socialists may have underestimated America’s true patriots who refuse to give up without a fight.

  Ava refuses to give in to fear, but she simply cannot survive on her own. She must deal with her crisis of faith and learn to trust others, or she’ll never make it through the bloodiest period of America’s history.

  The Days of Noah

  A hidden conspiracy. A shadow government. The CIA analyst who uncovers it all.

  In an off-site CIA facility outside of Langley, rookie analyst Everett Carroll discovers he’s not being told the whole truth. He’s instructed to disregard troubling information uncovered by his research. Everett ignores his directive and keeps digging. What he finds goes against everything he’s been taught to believe. Unfortunately, his curiosity doesn’t escape the attention of his superiors, and it may cost him his life.

  Meanwhile, Tennessee public school teacher, Noah Parker, like many in the United States, has been asleep at the wheel. During his complacency, the founding precepts of America have been systematically destroyed by a conspiracy that dates back hundreds of years.

  Cassandra Parker, Noah’s wife, has diligently followed end-times prophecy and the shifting tide against freedom in America. Noah has tried to avoid the subject, but when charges are filed against him for deviating from the approved curriculum in his school, he quickly understands the seriousness of the situation. The signs can no longer be ignored, and Noah is forced to prepare for the cataclysmic period of financial and political upheaval ahead.

  Watch through the eyes of Noah Parker and Everett Carroll as the world descends into chaos, a global empire takes shape, ancient writings are fulfilled, and the last days fall upon the once-great United States of America.

  Behold, Darkness, and Sorrow

  A Prophetic Dream. An EMP Attack. The Ultimate Contest for Survival!

  Danny and Alisa's lives are turned upside down when Danny begins having prophetic dreams about the judgment coming upon America. Through one of Danny’s dreams, they learn about the imminent threat of an EMP attack which will wipe out America’s electric grid, sending the country into a technological dark age.

  Living in a nation where life-sustaining systems of support are completely dependent on electricity and computers, the odds of survival are dismal. Municipal water services, retail food distribution, police, fire, EMS, and emergency services will come to a screeching halt.

  If they want to live through the most catastrophic period in American history, Danny and Alisa will have to race against time to get prepared, before the lights go out.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Mark Goodwin holds a degree in accounting and monitors macroeconomic conditions to stay up-to-date with the ongoing global meltdown. He is an avid student of the Holy Bible and spends several hours every week devoted to the study of Scripture and the prophecies contained therein. The troubling trends in the moral, social, political, and financial landscapes have prompted Mark to conduct extensive research within the arena of preparedness. He weaves his knowledge of biblical prophecy, economics, politics, prepping, and survival into an action-packed tapestry of post-apocalyptic fiction. Having been a sinner saved by grace himself, the story of redemption is a prominent theme in all of Mark’s writings.

  “He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.” Psalm 40:2