18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 470

Quiet as a mouse, but don't rattle the cage.

Stella returned to the hospital, faking a migraine to score a half-day off. She took the ferry back to Area B and tidied up her apartment, while Jasper headed to the agricultural sector to find his sister.

Rosie was just clocking out when she saw her brother, and her face lit up. "Bro, my transfer came through! I start in Area A next week. We can apply for a shared apartment, and you and Stella won't have to commute anymore."

Jasper pulled his sister aside under the clear blue sky – a stark contrast to the grave news he was about to share. Rosie's smile froze, and she stood there, stunned, like a deer in headlights.

It took her a moment to gather herself. "Brother, we're really leaving?"

"You don't want to go?"

"No, it's not that. I'll go ask for time off right now."

She loved her job and the life she had there, but she couldn't bear the thought of being away from her brother and sister-in-law.

Rosie's good standing and imminent transfer made it easy for her to get the leave approved.

When the siblings returned home, Stella had already packed up everything that shouldn't be there into Arcadia, leaving behind only the items they had bartered from Monkey. Not wanting to arouse suspicion, they carried light luggage.

The walls were thin, and they kept the conversation to a minimum, gripping their belongings as they descended the stairs. Outside, Rosie couldn't help but look up at their third-floor apartment, feeling a heavy weight in her heart.

Everything had happened so suddenly; she barely had time to react. There was so much she was reluctant to leave behind, but Rosie didn't let it show. She was fortunate to have grown up under Stella's wing, and life had been good here, but that paled in comparison to her brother and sister-in-law's safety.

Stella felt a pang of loss too. She had become part of the community, with friends, colleagues, and her 'little brothers' around her. Now, she was about to leave everything behind and return to a nomadic life without direction. It felt disorienting.

It was like living in darkness and suddenly seeing a ray of light, only to have it snatched away just as you reach for it. Losing something after you've had it is far worse than never having it at all.

Jasper took her cold hand in his. "Tomorrow will be a better day," he said, reassuringly.

Stella snapped back to the present and didn't look back again. They had arrived in Area B by assault boat, and now they were leaving the same way. The engine roared as they cut through the waves, and the cold spray of the sea churned around them.

Upon reaching the submarine zone, they saw Cole returning from a mission. Stella greeted him with a smile, "Mr. Cristian."

Cole waved back, "Hey, you three off for a spin?"

"Yeah," she replied, "just needed to get out of the base for a bit, to clear our heads."

Cole offered a friendly reminder, "Just remember to stay within the base perimeter. There are more survivors from other nations out there, and without an escort, you could get robbed."

The nation had made over a hundred contingency plans for disasters, working in silence for ten years to achieve what they had today. But internal fortification wasn't enough; they also needed to defend against foreign threats. Humans were a peculiar species, adept at fighting disasters, yet even better at outwitting their own kind.

Ocean Point Naval Station was thriving, surrounded by envious outsiders.

Stella thanked him for his advice, "We'll just stick close by, not planning to venture too far."

Cole waved goodbye, "I'm on leave for a few days; come over for dinner if you have time."

"Will do, definitely," she promised, wondering if they would ever have that chance.

Once they were aboard the submarine, Jasper released Cooper. If anyone was truly happy to be inside the base, it was Cooper. Usually confined to their home, the dog couldn't bark or move freely, but here, he was unleashed.