18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 543

Approaching the cockpit, the unmistakable sound of several voices mingling together reached their ears.

Stealthily moving closer, they discovered the door to the cockpit was ajar. Inside, about a dozen people sat or stood, covered in bloodstains, looking like they'd stepped right out of a horror movie.

Even the most charming guys, it seemed, weren’t immune to becoming butchers in this apocalyptic world. Judging by their blood-stained attire, they could barely be recognized as crew members. In other words, the crew had turned against the pirates.

The conversation was unintelligible, but they seemed deeply engrossed.

Stella pushed the door open with a grenade in her left hand and a submachine gun in her right. Leaning casually against the doorframe, she said in English with a smirk, “Excuse the intrusion.”

The crew was startled, some wielding cleavers, others guns. But then a man appeared behind the unexpected woman, brandishing a flamethrower. One wrong move would turn them into a deliciously roasted squab.

The grenades seemed real enough, and who knows if they’d set off a spectacular display? The clear superiority in firepower made the crew hesitate to act. But Stella wasn’t one for playing fair. She shot a crew member in the hand, causing him to drop his barely functional gun.

Smiling, Stella said, “If it’s out of bullets, why show it off? Drop all your weapons, or else I won’t be so polite!”

The captain spoke English. He feigned composure, masking his panic, “What do you want?”

“Don’t worry, we’re not after your lives,” Stella replied, still polite and cordial. “Just need you to change course and take us somewhere.”

“Where to?”

“You’ll know when we get there. But for now, you’ll need to do us a little favor.” Stella tossed a pile of ropes to them, “Tie each other up.”

Battling the pirates had drained them, and several were injured. The captain, seeking to negotiate, said, “We can take you, but we can’t be tied up. And you have to ensure our safety.”

Stella raised an eyebrow and aimed her gun higher, at his head, “You’re trying to bargain with me?”

Reluctantly, the captain complied, instructing the crew to bind each other back to back with secure knots. Jasper stepped forward to check the knots and frisk each crew member.

Stella’s guess was right; the battered guns were out of bullets, meant only to intimidate. All knives, clubs, and other weapons were confiscated. But Stella had another trick up her sleeve, using ether to knock out all the crew members.

“I’ve done as you asked,” the captain said angrily, shocked by her audacious move. “What exactly do you want?”

Stella shook the gun in her hand slightly and smiled, “Don’t rush. I just want to know why you’ve become what you are today?”

After ensuring there were no hidden dangers, they returned to the cockpit and released the crew. Reviving the unconscious men, Stella pressed the cold barrel of the gun to the captain’s forehead and recited coordinates, “Head to this location. No funny business. Get us there safely, and you’ll have your lives.”

The crew, affected by the ether, suffered splitting headaches, groggy and dazed. Stella wasn’t unkind; she gave them two hours to rest. The weather was clear, and standing in the cockpit, they faced the sunrise, the sea glittering as far as the eye could see. The crew was not restrained; whether they needed the restroom or to cook a meal, their requests were nearly always met. The ship sailed steadily, and Stella seemed in no rush.

After two days of travel, Jasper pulled out his high-powered binoculars, “We’re almost there.”

Throughout the journey, Stella and Jasper took turns resting, always leaving one to supervise the cockpit. The crew, initially wary and fearful, gradually let down their guard, seeing that the two captors never interfered. The captain and helmsman were skilled; they even steered the ship smoothly through a moderate storm.

While appearing to supervise, Stella was also learning to pilot the ship from the captain. He hesitated, “This is a cargo ship; it requires a crew to operate.”

Stella was patient, “No problem, I can learn every position.”

The captain wondered how they had boarded without knowing how to sail. Despite his internal doubts, he feared these two were from a ghost ship. Captain believed in God, and had even surreptitiously tested the two with a crucifix, to no effect whatsoever. So, the legend of the ghost ship was debunked—it was just an encounter with high-level pirates who used shock tactics to dominate. They executed their ambush in utter silence, instilling a psychological terror in their victims before effortlessly reaping the spoils.

As for how the ghost ship vanished, he had no scientific explanation yet. Two people taking down an entire crew—if they were dragged into the pirates’ lair, would they stand a chance of survival? The crew was on edge, but they could only feign nonchalance. As the two strangers peered into the distance, the crew members exchanged silent glances.

Jasper, with his keen eyes, noticed something. “Looks like there’s someone up ahead.”