The Fortress Blueprint
| September 22, 2023 - 11:32 PM
Lin sat cross-legged on her bed, laptop open, the glow of the screen reflecting off her tired eyes. A cold cup of tea sat forgotten on the nightstand.
She had one chance to get this right.
She needed land—far from the city, but not isolated. She needed defenses, access to water, and space for food production. And most importantly, she needed something she could reinforce before the world collapsed.
The internet was a good resource to find information, scout location first and then plan later.
Her fingers flew across the keyboard as she filtered properties:
Too close to highways. Reject. Too deep into the mountains. Reject. Too expensive. Reject.
Then she found them.
Option 1: Abandoned School – $210,000
A large, reinforced structure with thick brick walls and multiple floors. Its limited entry points make it highly defensible, and its location on a hill provides a natural high-ground advantage. Ideal for converting into a stronghold or a community hub.
Downside: No farmland, located in a dying town, and far from fresh water.
Option 2: Sunrise Valley Hotel – $195,000
Spanning 17 acres, this property includes an old hotel, guest cabins, farmland, and a river. Designed for long-term stays, it already has a generator system, water tanks, and multiple kitchens. The numerous structures offer flexibility for housing survivors, storage, or farming.
Downside: The site had a mass shooting last year, leading to a haunted reputation. Some repairs are needed.
Option 3: Old Farmhouse – $170,000
A secluded, rural property with vast fields for farming, a small barn, and a hot spring. Its remote location ensures privacy and security from outsiders.
Downside: The wooden structure is weak in terms of defense and require extensive fortifications to be truly secure.
Option 4: Failed Shopping Mall – $350,000
A massive, multi-story structure with a large parking lot and reinforced glass windows. Features multiple entry points, escalators, and loading docks. The vast space allows for large-scale storage and the possibility of creating an indoor marketplace or safe zone.
Downside: Difficult to secure due to numerous access points. High maintenance costs.
Option 5: Mountain Lodge – $250,000
A stone-built lodge nestled deep in the mountains, surrounded by dense forest. Features a reinforced main building, a separate storage shed, and a freshwater stream nearby. Its elevation makes it highly defensible and provides a breathtaking view of the surroundings.
Downside: Remote location makes resupplying difficult. Heavy snowfall in winter could limit movement and access.
Option 6: Decommissioned Military Bunker – $500,000
A fortified underground facility with thick concrete walls, an air filtration system, and a deep well for fresh water. Comes with multiple rooms, storage units, and an emergency generator. Almost impenetrable to outside threats.
Downside: High upfront cost. Isolated, with little access to fresh food sources. Requires alternative power sources for long-term sustainability.
Lin stared at the screen.
The school was secure, but without food or water, it would be a death trap.
The farmhouse had good land, but weak defenses.
The shopping mall was in a small town too far, the same was the Moutain Lodge.
But the hotel and the Bunker.
Her mind began constructing it, piece by piece.
To be honest the Bunker almost won but she didn't want to live in fear. The farm had the edge when it came to life quality.
The main building—thick walls, multiple rooms. Easily fortifiable. Could be turned into a command center.
The cabins—small but useful. Separate shelters for farming staff or allies.
The farmland—food production year-round.
The river—unlimited fresh water.
And the best part? No one would want to live there because of the shooting.
It was perfect.
| September 22, 2023 - 11:58 PM
Lin pulled up her bank account.
$750,000.
She had been saving since she was twenty. Every raise, every bonus, every side hustle—she had stockpiled it, hoping for an early retirement when she made a million.
Well, that retirement was coming sooner than expected.
| September 23, 2023 - 00:12 AM
Lin stared at the screen, pulse steady.
She had 93 days before the world collapsed.
Lin cracked her knuckles, staring at the property listing for the Sunrise Valley Hotel.
The land was perfect, the price was insanely low, and no one else was stupid enough to buy it.
Which meant she needed to lock it down fast.
She clicked on the contact email and started typing.
To: sunrisevalleyrealty@email.com
Subject: Urgent Inquiry – Sunrise Valley Hotel Property
Dear Seller,
I'm highly interested in purchasing the Sunrise Valley Hotel property. I'd like to schedule a viewing as soon as possible and discuss a potential offer. My finances are in order, and I'm prepared to move forward quickly.
Please let me know your earliest availability.
Looking forward to your response.
Best,
Lin Zhang
| September 23, 2023 - 00:18 AM
Lin hit send, leaning back in her chair.
Now, she just had to wait.
She had no idea how fast they would respond, but if they were as desperate to sell as she suspected…
Her phone vibrated.
New Email.
Lin's eyebrows lifted. That was fast.
She clicked it open.
From: sunrisevalleyrealty@email.com
Subject: Re: Urgent Inquiry – Sunrise Valley Hotel Property
Dear Miss Zhang,
Thank you for your interest. The property is still available, and we are happy to schedule a viewing. We have an opening tomorrow at 2 PM. If that works for you, please confirm, and we will provide the location details.
Best regards,
Amy Carter
Sunrise Valley Realty
| September 23, 2023 - 00:20 AM
Lin's lips curled into a small smirk.
Tomorrow at 2 PM.
Perfect.
She typed her response.
To: sunrisevalleyrealty@email.com
Subject: Re: Urgent Inquiry – Sunrise Valley Hotel Property
Tomorrow at 2 PM works for me. Please send the details.
Best,
Lin Zhang
| September 23, 2023 - 00:22 AM
Lin exhaled slowly, closing her laptop.
Tomorrow, she would see her future safe haven with her own eyes.
And if everything checked out—
She was putting money down immediately. There was no time to waste.