18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 529

It was like a kid’s first adventure, a rite of passage into the wild world of the Griffith compound. The crack of a gunshot was a harsh wake-up call that could send the sentries into a frenzy. Despite their grumbling, no one dared to make a move.

The Griffith base was infamous for its heavy-handed justice. Even on the outskirts, any misstep could lead to banishment or worse—a noose. At first, many scoffed at the warnings, only to end up horrified as the bodies piled up.

The irony was that you had to play by their rules without question, even though you weren’t in their home. It was like being a guest forced to follow house rules without ever having been invited.

Still, the promise of safety drew many, especially those who were alone and vulnerable. As long as Griffith's troops were in charge, there was at least a semblance of security.

Despite the distance, Jasper had a gut feeling. “We’re being watched.”

Stella felt it too. “Must be the patrol from the lookout tower.”

They acted as if nothing was wrong, continuing their trek towards the gates of Griffith.

At the entrance stood a massive rock, carved with the word “Griffith” in bold, sweeping strokes that danced like dragons and snakes—a testament to the artisan’s skill.

Stella stood before the stone, her eyes welling up with tears. It reminded her of a similar stone that once marked the entrance to Griffith Park in her beloved city, which had succumbed to disaster. In a moment of nostalgia, it felt as though her city had risen from the ashes.

Memories flooded her mind as she stood there for several minutes, trying to compose herself.

As twilight fell, she surveyed the city before her. It rose from the wasteland, its gates built of stone and fortified with an electric fence, all held together by earthen walls.

Judging by its construction, it couldn’t have been more than half a year old.

A faint light glowed to the right of the gate, barely illuminating a sign that read “Australia Survivor Reception.”

The three of them walked towards it, embraced by the night.

Inside, a uniformed officer greeted them, “Welcome to Griffith.”

Stella got straight to the point. “Hello, we’ve come from afar and would like to enter Griffith. What are the requirements?”

“Are you looking to stay temporarily or to become residents?”

Stella pondered briefly. “What’s the difference?”

“Different screening criteria,” the officer explained. “Temporary residents need to provide half a pound of provisions per person per day and can’t stay longer than five days. No dangerous weapons are allowed within the city walls.

Residents, on the other hand, just need to pass an interview. They don’t need to give up any provisions and will be allotted land, but any dangerous weapons must be surrendered.”

Stella still had a sour taste from the thorough checks back at South Base, where they didn’t even leave you with your underwear. She disliked the feeling of being so oppressed.

After a moment’s thought, she decided, “Let’s start with temporary residence. If we want to stay, can we switch to permanent residency later?”

“Yes, but you’ll need to go through the interview process again.”

Satisfied with the process, Stella signed up for the interview.

The interview room was just a left turn from reception. The officer kindly advised, “Remember, you need to answer truthfully. If we find any major discrepancies, you’ll be permanently barred from entering.”

This sounded more like an interrogation than an interview.

Stella frowned but thanked him nonetheless.

There was only one interview room, and they had to wait their turn.

Stella went first, knocking politely before entering.

The interviewer was a middle-aged man in military garb, but his demeanor was more scholarly and approachable than stern or intimidating.

His first question came with a smile. “What’s your name?”

After years of disaster, who carried identification anymore? Stella was tempted to make something up, but his easygoing nature reminded her of Mark.

She guessed he was a military psychologist, trained to be sharper and more perceptive. His friendliness was a facade to put you at ease while he picked up on any useful information from your behavior.

No wonder so many Australian survivors were turned away.

Stella replied truthfully, “Stella.”