18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 81

In the good old days, Hector was cocksure. Stella was a girl from an orphanage and was easy to manipulate. She knew how to survive and make a living but was insecure and love-deprived. Her sensitive nature made her easy prey.

With his good looks, a simple wink was enough to have her at his feet. She'd shower him with gifts and even offer herself without hesitation.

But something was different with Stella. She used to give without asking, even moved out of her house to chase after him, and spent a fortune on getting him Air Jordans without batting an eye.

This love-struck woman was acting out of character as if she was a different person.

Wait a minute, Hector suddenly remembered Sadie's cryptic words, hinting that Stella wasn't herself. Could someone have replaced Stella else? With an apocalypse in progress, nothing seemed impossible!

Lost in thought, Hector didn't notice the odd behavior of the man behind. Stella's secret was all he could think about.

If he was right, he'd have a powerful ace up his sleeve. Who could resist the good life then?

There was something wet on his neck. Wait, why did it smell like blood?

He reached up to touch his neck and his hand came back bloody. "Ah!" Hector let out a screech, backing away in horror.

A body collapsed, revealing a woman in a red parka. Her cold eyes were the only part of her face not covered by the parka.

Despite her disguise, Hector recognized Stella. She was holding a blood-stained samurai sword, a weapon unique to her.

"Stella, have you lost your mind?" Hector was angry, then embarrassed. He was so mortified he wished he could crawl into a hole and hide.

Stella sneered, "You're quick on the uptake."

Before Hector could react, Cooper, a snarling beast, lunged at him, tearing at his face. 'This was the man that told his owner to sell him to a dog meat market!’

Hector's face was a bloody mess. He screamed. "Stella, get this beast off me!"

"Beast?" Stella stared at the wretched man. "He's more human than you, and he doesn't mooch off others."

Stella didn't need to say anything more, as Cooper continued his attack. True to his word, every time Cooper saw Hector, he would attack him.

Hector fought back desperately. "You, you killed Sadie."

"Yes, I did. So what?" Stella called off Cooper. "Don't act as if you haven't killed anyone. Didn't you stab Amanda to death?"

Desperate to survive, Hector trembled. "You, you're not Stella."

"How so?"

"You're a soul possessing Stella's body."

"You've been reading too many novels."

"You can't fool me. I know you're not her." Hector was confident. "I know Stella. You're an impostor."

"You're something else." Stella didn't deny it, "That's right. The real Stella is long dead. I am not her."

With that, she calmly smiled at him.

Hector’s face was covered in blood, and he couldn't see her expression clearly. He was even pleased with himself for getting confirmation. "I can keep your secret."

"What's the catch?"

"I want to move into the 18th floor and stay with you."

Cooper brought the items to Stella. ‘Here, human, I have submitted my loot again!’

Stella threw the items into Arcadia. She didn't bother cleaning up the scene and left with Cooper. People were dying every day; bodies were everywhere. Who would care about another homicide?

The sky was darkening, night was falling, and it was becoming more dangerous outside. Returning to the main road, she surprisingly found Jasper still waiting, holding Rosie's hand in the cold wind. He looked at her with deep eyes, a hint of a smile on his stern face.

"Stella." Rosie waved excitedly, "Cooper."

The dog ran over to her and nuzzled her.

Stella ran over and asked, "Didn't I tell you to go ahead?"

"There's nothing to do back home. So I’m taking a walk."

A walk? The freezing wind could kill.

Stella rubbed her hands together, "Let's go. It's getting dark."

They slowly walked towards the apartment complex.

Back on the 18th floor, Stella knocked on the door of apartment 1803, hoping to ask Cody and Lukas to make a sled. She didn't want to run outside every day for firewood. She'd rather stay at home and laze around. So, tomorrow she needed to bring back bamboo and find a way to get some firewood.

"A sled?" Lukas was surprised, "For Cooper?"

Well, why not? The dog couldn't just eat and not work. After all, it was the apocalypse, and she didn't want to be accused of favoritism.

It was all about democracy, right? Equality for all, even dogs!