18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 335

The cries of the victim were futile in the affluent neighborhood plagued by a vicious virus. With everyone's strength sapped, no one had the energy or inclination to come to the aid of another.

Finders keepers was the unspoken rule, though some homeowners fought tooth and nail to protect their property, often paying with their lives or being spat upon with a virus-laden bloody cough.

The chaos in the villa district was different from the rioting in the streets. As long as no one broke the unspoken truce, a veneer of civility and composure remained intact.

Whispers and jealous rumors did circulate about the two families who had received more supplies, but the four individuals who managed to thrive in these apocalyptic times paid them no mind.

If no one knocked on their door, life went on as usual. If anyone dared to cause trouble, they'd pay a steep price.

Several had eyed the property at building 50, but any attempt to take it by force was thwarted by Angela and Kitty, who, despite being women, had a ferocity that men often lacked. After a few close calls that left would-be invaders clutching their sides, building 50 was left in peace.

Angela went through the supply list. "Stella, anything here you need?"

Stella had no want for extra supplies, but since Angela had asked, she played along. Stella pretended to give the list a thorough look before pushing it back. "We're good for now, but we'll let you know if that changes."

Up on the rooftop, the men worked to install solar panels while Angela and Kitty busied themselves in the kitchen. The illness had left everyone weakened, and it was vital to regain strength as soon as possible.

Nearly all of Kitty's carefully reared poultry had died, save for a lone hen and drake, plus a couple of quails. Kitty decided to cook the drake, tossing together dishes like crispy kale with scrambled eggs, and spicy pepper stewed with dried greens.

None of the dead animals were wasted; they were either cooked thoroughly or preserved for future use.

Knowing Jasper and Stella's standards, Kitty hesitated to serve them the preserved meat. The last thing she wanted was for anyone to fall ill because of her cooking.

Stella, helping with the installation, mentioned, "Experts say the volcanic ash might be acidic. If it doesn't clear up soon, it might contaminate the soil. And if it rains, aren't we looking at acid rain? You might want to cover those panels with something to protect them from erosion."

Cody nodded, already considering the same. "We've been thinking about building a glass enclosure. It's costly, and not easy to get, but we're trying to find a way."

Despite no longer being part of the security team, Cody's relations with his former colleagues and the police were still strong. He wondered if it might be worth asking for a favor from Evan, who had always been good to them. But with everyone so busy, it might be best to wait.

Stella agreed, "Yeah, pull some strings if you can."

The generator was a success, providing a modest power supply despite the heavy smog. It was enough to light their evenings.

Cody uncorked a bottle of moonshine at dinner. "Here's to you, Stella and Jasper. Thanks for looking out for us all these years. Without you, we'd be nothing but bones by now."

"Don't talk like that," Stella retorted sharply. "Friends look out for each other. Besides, if you hadn't taken that brick for me when we were kids, I'd be the one reduced to bones."

Cody drained his glass with a laugh. "Ah, I'm not good with words. The sentiment's in the drink."

The conversation flowed as easily as the food, and the mood was light.

Mid-meal, Lukas brought up a suggestion. "Stella, now that the Eternal Night is over, what are you planning to do with the property across from the precinct?"

Stella pondered. "I think I'll sell it. "