18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 9

The water in Arcadia hadn't stopped, and Stella was topping off her supply.

The three households on the first floor had taken over the corridors of the second, third and fourth floors, making the original residents feel suffocated. Considering everyone's predicament, they kept their complaints to themselves.

But it didn't take long before tensions began to rise. Trash was scattered everywhere, and people were knocking on doors asking to use the bathroom. With no water to flush the toilets, the residents had to find ways to collect water from their balconies. They certainly weren’t keen on letting strangers in, so the frustrated residents on the first floor started using the hallway, moving up a floor when the stench became unbearable.

It was a clear case of "if we're not comfortable, neither should anyone else." Arguments soon broke out, and the sound of quarrels often drifted from the stairwells. The community chat group was also in an uproar, filled with complaints and violent words, a far cry from the harmonious atmosphere before the storm.

Stella's phone kept ringing, with the relentless Hector constantly sending friend requests. When she blocked him on her phone, he’d start texting. Even Sadie joined the frenzy.

The latest message read, [Stella, let me explain, Sadie and I are just friends.]

Judging by their persistence, Stella guessed that Hector and Sadie's food supply on the twelfth floor was running low. It seems that he was certain that she had enough food supplies. If it wasn't for the door installed on the stairs, he probably would have rushed up already.

Stella was scrolling through the group messages when she saw a post from the girl on the twelfth floor asking for help, willing to barter or pay for supplies.

With no water, electricity, or gas, and no sign of rescue, things were getting dire. The weather department predicted that the storm would pass in four to five days, but by the fifth day, the storm had only worsened.

The neighborhood had more broken windows and the place was in chaos. An old man had fallen and suffered a heart attack. Trapped by floodwater and unable to reach emergency services, frantic family members were pleading for help in the group chat, "Does anyone have medication for heart disease? We've run out. Even nitroglycerin tablets would help. Please, save my dad!!" The desperation and helplessness were palpable.

Stella had some nitroglycerin tablets, but the patient was several hundred meters away in a different building, and the message had been sent an hour ago.

Standing on the balcony, Stella could vaguely see something floating in the water. Using binoculars to take a closer look, she realized it was a body. It was reported in the group chat that the person was from building three. After being hungry for two days, he had tried to swim out of the complex to find food, but was struck by lightning and killed.

Stella wasn't sure if this had happened in her previous life. Back then, her phone had died and she was surviving on rainwater.

Looking out at the unfamiliar world, Stella felt suffocated. But when she turned around and saw green sprouts poking out of the planters, her spirits lifted. The seeds she had planted had sprouted, showing tiny yellow-green shoots. The emergence of new life unexpectedly lifted Stella's mood. She crouched down to pet the rabbit she was raising for food, and noticed that the mother rabbit had gained weight.

Feeling her stomach, it was hard and swollen. She was pregnant. She must have been pregnant when Stella bought her. Rabbit gestation lasts about 30 days, so by the looks of things, the rabbit was due to give birth around the same time the storm was forecasted to end.

This made Stella happy. She couldn’t help but reward the rabbits with two carrots.

For lunch, she had some chicken and chased it down with pineapple beer while watching a TV show, tuning out the world outside. It was a rare moment of relaxation.

After doing the dishes and preparing for a nap, Rosie came knocking—three long knocks, followed by one short one. The little girl's cold had improved and she looked a lot better. Her hair was tied up in a messy bun, clearly the handiwork of Jasper from 1801.

Rosie handed over a shiny red apple with an innocent smile. "Ma’am, for you."

"Thank you," Stella didn't take it, gently explaining, "Rosie, keep the good things for yourself. Don’t let others see, or they might take it away." Such an innocent child would be a target in a few years when resources became scarce.

"No give to others, only you," Rosie was resolute, holding up the apple. "We have lots at home."

Stella was taken aback. She didn't know how Jasper managed to grow apples in such conditions.

"Won’t tell others," Rosie promised, her hand over her mouth. "Only tell you."

Amused and helpless, Stella accepted the apple and gave Rosie two candies in return.