18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 6

Stella couldn't believe it. Not only had apartment 1801 acquired a new tenant, he was also the same young man who had lent a helping hand at the courier service station.

The man was tall and lean, with a handsome, cool demeanor. His clothes hinted at a muscular physique that suggested explosive power.

After a brief nod of surprise, he continued his work and Stella quickly retreated back to her room.

This time it was different. Not only had the hurricane arrived early, but she also had a new neighbor. Who in their right mind would install three steel doors? She didn't want trouble, but she maintained a level of caution. He was indeed brave enough to help her, but after all, it was before the natural disaster, and with the decline of morality in the end of the world, who could guarantee that he would remain kind?

Now, she found herself in her apartment, brushing her teeth and grabbing some breakfast. The weather was still dreary, and she could hear the howling winds of the hurricane against her windows. In just one night, the streets were flooded and many cars were submerged. The lower-lying areas were completely swept away by the floodwaters.

The rain obstructed the view, and in the distance, everything appeared hazy and ominous. The sky grew darker, as if two invisible hands of darkness were compressing the entire city in their grasp, crushing it with relentless force.

She stood on her balcony with her binoculars, watching as a tornado formed, quickly sucking up everything in its path. Were there tornadoes in her previous life? She couldn't remember. She had a feeling that things were getting worse. Her phone kept buzzing with messages. She switched off her network, annoyed by the constant notifications.

busied herself in the kitchen, cleaning and chopping, preparing a meal. When she turned off the kitchen fan, she could faintly hear a child crying. She didn't pay it

she knew enough to recognize that the child's crying sounded off. After a moment of hesitation, she knocked on the door

Just as she was about to leave, she heard the door unlatch. The door opened to reveal a child with tear-streaked cheeks, her face abnormally flushed. "Rosie, why are you crying?" Stella touched her forehead, which was burning hot. The child was

is gone." The child's voice was hoarse from crying, "My brother doesn't want Rosie

seemed she had been abandoned

comforted her, assuring her that her brother would be back soon,

was frightened by the unfamiliarity, but she remembered the young lady,

Rosie back to her apartment, gave her some children's cold medicine, and left a note on the door of apartment 1801 for Rosie's

become curious about the

accompanied by thunder and lightning, and the television had lost signal. Upon seeing Rosie, who was curled up on the sofa appearing extremely terrified and anxious, Stella's mind drifted back to her childhood. She thought about how she

tablet and play downloaded cartoons for Rosie to watch. The animations certainly did the trick as they seemed to

to check her phone, she noticed a message from Hector. [Stella, I was rude yesterday, don't be upset. I

a wimp. He couldn't even hold on for

house who hadn't left. Parties were all about snacks, beer and cake. They didn't know how to cook, so