18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

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. Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

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.

A message popped up on WhatsApp from Angela, [Stella, the water has flooded over half of the first floor. If it rises to the second, can Lukas and I stay with you?]

Angela was a physically strong woman, a national champion in university-level kickboxing, and she was Lukas' girlfriend.

Lukas, Cody, and Stella were all orphans and had grown up together. Despite Lukas being sickly and Cody frail, they used to gang up and pick on Stella until she put them in their place.

Cody was starved of affection and always sought out older women to date. Lukas craved security. With his delicate good looks, he had always been chased by girls, but he only had eyes for Angela, who was much more masculine. He said he felt safe sleeping in her arms. Angela adored him. She treated him like a treasure.

The four of them still met up occasionally and remained close.

In her last life, Stella's phone had died. In this life, she made sure to keep her internet connection active, waiting for Angela.

[Angela, the landlord's stuff is taking up a room and I can't fit you in. But 1803 is empty. You and Lukas can move there, but you should hurry. If the second floor gets flooded, I'm afraid someone else might snatch it up.]

After a while, Angela replied, [Okay, keep an eye out for me.]

With the storm and frequent thunderstorms, people would only take risks when they had no other choice. Angela was just asking in advance. She was naturally optimistic, and although the water had flooded halfway up the first floor, it wasn't certain it would reach the second.

In fact, it did flood more than the second floor, but Stella couldn’t reveal this. In any case, the room was available.

At mealtime, Jasper came to fetch Rosie. But Rosie was reluctant to leave. "No, your food makes my tummy upset."

Jasper looked awkward. "I made it following a recipe today."

"You said that yesterday too." Rosie had been traumatized. "Her food is yummy."

Even Stella felt awkward now. "My food is just plain boiled pasta. What's so good about that?"

Jasper didn't indulge her. "Rosie."

His features were cold and aloof, radiating an unapproachable chill. When he was serious, he seemed even more intimidating. Rosie instantly wilted and followed him out, head down.

As they reached the door, Jasper turned to Stella. "Stella, the trash in the hallway hasn't been collected. Should we discuss what to do?"

The trash had been piling up for days and, even with the lids on, it was starting to stink. Stella had been thinking about dealing with it, but Jasper beat her to it. In the common area, the two quickly agreed to tackle the garbage situation. From now on, each person would handle their own trash, no longer leaving it in the hallway.

With building management on a hiatus, residents from other floors began hurling their garbage down. Stella, unfazed, pinched her nose and dutifully tossed bag after bag of trash down.

There was a possibility that Angela might move in, and Stella mentioned this to Jasper.

He had no objections, but there were only two keys. None of these were issues. The key thing was that Angela could fight. During the apocalypse, she had saved Stella multiple times. Once, she even shared a couple of pounds of pasta. In such harsh conditions, she was willing to give away her life- saving food. Her character had withstood the test. Unfortunately, Stella hadn't seen her since. Whether she was dead or alive, nobody knew.

Even with plenty of food, survival in an apocalypse rampant with sin was a daydream for lone wolves. Especially for those solitary, seemingly fragile girls, they would be the first targets of the desperate and hungry. No matter how strong, it was impossible to guard against everything. If she had the chance, she wouldn't mind finding a partner.

Angela was the person Stella wanted to find and repay, but she would also remain on guard.

Returning home, she bathed and changed clothes. She had prepared a lot of hearty dishes these past few days, enough to last for four to five months. For the next few days, she could prepare lighter dishes. Then she would take a well-deserved break.

The hurricane continued, the torrential rain had lessened a bit, but the water level was still on the rise.