18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 13

Knowing that the tenant of 1801, Jasper, was aloof was one thing, but she didn't know he was prone to violence, especially towards children. Seeing Rosie's demeanor, it seemed like she had grown accustomed to the beatings. No wonder she was always running to Stella's apartment. Was she hiding from her abusive brother? "Why does he hit you?"

Even though it was someone else's family matter, child abuse was too much. Stella didn't ask Rosie about her past, but from her observations of Rosie's skittish gaze and her somewhat sycophantic personality, she couldn't help but recall her own unpleasant childhood memories, "Rosie, is he your real brother?"

That was why she didn't turn Rosie away.

"He teaches me to box." Rosie rubbed her bruised arm and gave Stella a sweet smile, "I got hit because I didn't dodge in time, and I fell a few times too."

Only then did Stella understand that Rosie had been practicing boxing for the past few days, for as much as five hours a day.

"Ma'am, let me show you my boxing."

Without waiting for Stella's response, she walked into a spacious area and assumed a stance. Rosie, who was usually a timid and shy little girl, suddenly became fierce when she started to box. Her posture was as if she had transformed into a completely different person. Her boxing style was military, her movements were standard and powerful, and her posture was particularly sharp, her eyes fierce and full of spirit.

Stella was dumbfounded. Rosie was even better than her. Stella complimented her, which made Rosie blush, "You're so nice." Her brother never praised her, no matter how well she did.

The number of bruises on Rosie's body indicated that she had been trained harshly. It was a hurricane day, and this high-intensity training for a four- or five-year-old child was alarming.

It seemed Jasper was preparing Rosie for something horrifying, for her to have self-defense abilities in the future?

Rosie's movements were precise, something that couldn't be learned from videos alone.

Stella didn't ask any further. She then applied some herbal wine on Rosie's bruises, "Soak it in hot water tonight."

kissed her pet bunny and

each other at the drop of a hat. The terrible weather and

original residents of the 9th floor and the inhabitants of the 2nd floor who were squeezed in the corridor argued for half a day and almost resorted to knives. When the residents of the 9th floor woke up early in the morning,

of the 2nd floor were huddled at their doorstep. If a thief had really entered, it was impossible

causing a ruckus. The thefts weren't just limited to the 9th floor. Other floors also had their share of burglaries.

or two, but a group committing robbery. Even though there were people living in the corridor, they didn't dare to move in face of the shiny knife, their eyes complex and dark, even gleaming with a light of schadenfreude. The victims deserved it; they should starve

who heard the cries for help didn't dare to help, instead they barricaded their rooms with refrigerators or sofas, praying that

got dark, setting an alarm for midnight and then getting up to

outside. She pressed herself against the

groups knocking on the door during the day, asking if

have stored food? Even if there were some, giving to this family but not to that one could potentially incite those starving to the point of desperation to swarm up and tear you apart. From Arcadia, she took out a butcher's knife, put on her

lock was caught off guard. The man with the hook was

stabbed him a few times, pushed him aside

over, and seeing the bloody knife in her hand, the man was shocked and instinctively tried to run, but

even a chance to fall to the ground, his body was thrown out of the window. Stella looked up, a tall figure was efficiently killing and disposing of bodies. To her surprise, the knife brutally slit the second

that such a beautiful young

even if given a second chance, he would choose to do evil. Stella sneered, and without hesitation, stabbed the man in the heart. She stood up, knife in hand, and warily watched the man not

stopped breathing to the window,

expression tense and solemn, he said softly, "You did

he trying to

and disposing of bodies calmly,