18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 345

Acid rain usually had no scent, but this cataclysmic downpour was different. The acidity index was so high it was lethal, eroding materials and leaving a foul stench in the air.

Stella was busy disinfecting the house, then turned on the air purifier with a sigh of relief.

Confined indoors, she spent her time organizing the knowledge she had accumulated these past weeks, not forgetting to tutor the siblings in medical science.

Cooper didn’t understand a word, but he might as well have thought himself human the way he stubbornly sat by her side, fighting sleep and refusing to leave.

Next door, bored out of his mind, Austin would occasionally buzz over the walkie-talkie, "Hey, Stella, fancy a game of cards? We're one short."

Stella, ever the spirited one, replied with a grin, "Sure, if you can make it over here."

The acid rain had been relentless for days, showing no signs of a break in the clouds. To everyone's surprise, Austin actually made it, decked out in a protective suit that was the same brand as Stella's.

What a copycat.

It wasn’t just the neighbors; Bran showed up too, asking, "Stella, got anything to eat?"

He was something else. Not only did he have a top-notch protective suit, but his dog did too, obviously custom-made.

Buddy, clad in his own gear, walked awkwardly but was still eager to see Cooper despite the acidic downpour. The two dogs played around downstairs while Rosie and Dylan practiced boxing on the rooftop.

The card games were addictive, so much so that cooking was the last thing on anyone's mind.

Stella offered half-heartedly, "We've got some expired instant noodles, you want some?"

Bran, who had lost all his usual finickiness, replied, "As long as it doesn't kill me, I'm in."

"You'll find out if it's lethal once you've eaten it."

She wasn’t kidding; the noodles were indeed a year past their prime, taken from a stash in her Arcadia hideout.

Without using the seasoning packets, Stella improvised. She threw in some dried mushrooms, beef balls, and fried eggs, serving up heaping bowls for everyone.

Bran, who never touched what he considered low-end junk food, now found himself relishing every bite as if it were a gourmet meal, "Stella, sticking with you is the only way to get good eats."

Stella shot him a look, "Your family owns a farm. Making your own instant noodles and seasoning should be a breeze."

The Porras family did have a farm, and they tried to protect it with glass domes, but who could have predicted the acid rain would be so fierce? The soil was doomed to contamination.

As they ate, they discussed when the rain might end. Stella shook her head, "Who knows? It's as if it's got a mind of its own, deliberately tormenting us."

Living through disaster, a lack of reverence meant a swift demise.

If the rain had been acidic from the start, perhaps fewer lives would have been lost. Instead, it lulled everyone into a false sense of security before striking ruthlessly.

Bran didn’t waste a drop of his noodle soup, "Exactly. It's like it's playing a cruel joke on us."

They were about to resume their card game when suddenly, sunlight streamed through the windows. The acid rain had stopped, and the sun had broken through. The post-rain rainbow was exceptionally bright and beautiful, enchanting like something out of a fairy tale, tempting the mind and intoxicating the senses.

"The sun's out!" Cheering erupted from the rooftop as people rushed up, jumping around in jubilation.

Bran wasn't celebrating. He grabbed the walkie-talkie and cursed, "Have you all lost your damn minds? Didn't you learn anything from last time? Wanna bet the acid rain will come back and melt you all down to your bones?"

Ever since Bran had taken over as the head of the Homeowners Association, his temper had grown short, his insults coming quick and sharp. Those who had lost their senses to excitement might have resented his words, but no one dared to argue openly. Soon enough, they calmed down and meekly returned downstairs.