18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 2

After paying the deposit, Stella dashed to the largest outdoor supply store in downtown.

Two inflatable rafts, four rubber dinghies, earthquake and fire emergency kits, tents, fire axes, climbing ropes, telescopes, radios, waterproof flashlights, ultra-large capacity solar chargers, and so on.

She couldn't skimp on survival supplies; they all had to be of good quality.

Seeing a major customer, the store owner enthusiastically recommended storm jackets and sleeping bags, "There's a store-wide discount today, and the quality is guaranteed to satisfy you."

Stella looked unimpressed, "Do you have anything that can withstand minus sixty or seventy degrees?"

The store owner was shocked, "This is the south; you can wear short sleeves in the winter."

"I'm going to the Arctic for research soon."

Realizing she wasn't joking, the store owner immediately contacted colleagues, telling Stella: "We have polar cold-weather gear and mummy sleeping bags. Used together, they can definitely withstand the cold, but they are expensive and located out of state."

Online reviews seemed good, and the store could send them express, promising they'd arrive by tomorrow afternoon. Stella bought two sets of each, spending over six thousand dollars.

She spent another twelve grand at the outdoor supply store, hauling a truckload of goods, and secretly stowed them in her Arcadia when no one was looking.

The inflatable rafts needed diesel, but diesel wasn't sold to individuals. Stella went to the auto repair shop to buy an oil extractor and barrels, filled her car at several gas stations nearby, then drove to a secluded area without cameras to extract the fuel into the barrels. After several trips, she amassed 500L of gasoline.

The end of the world was chaotic, with all sorts of violent incidents, so she went to a gun store. The owner brought out his top-of-the-line products. Grabbing three sets of anti-stab suits, and two sets of bulletproof vests, Stella, without pausing for breath, drove to the largest clothing wholesale market on the outskirts.

Down jackets, military coats, cashmere sweaters, thermal underwear, scarves, gloves, socks, snow boots, lightweight sneakers, warm shoes, and slippers. She bought everything she could think of and might need, not caring about brands, just quality.

She splurged twelve thousand dollars at the clothing wholesale market, then rushed to the neighboring daily necessities wholesale store.

Air conditioning blankets, down quilts, especially cotton quilts, she ordered three of each, all packed in compression bags.

Shampoo, shower gel, laundry detergent, tampons, tissues, toothpaste and toothbrushes, thermos flasks, lighters, hot water bottles, and so on. She bought 20,000 hand warmers alone, life-savers in extreme cold.

She found some rare items online, glass kerosene lamps, and windproof waterproof lanterns, antiques from the 60s and 70s. She bought five of each, "Do you have kerosene?"