18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 15

Stella, in her pajamas, stepped onto the balcony. The hurricane was still fierce, but the wind was noticeably beginning to weaken, while the rain was intensifying. The second floor was entirely flooded, and water was creeping up to the third floor, causing a flurry of chaos in the building.

She had breakfast, a warm, crunchy sandwich from Arcadia, filled with fried eggs, ham, greens, and ketchup. The aroma unfurled delightfully on her taste buds. Stella had stockpiled over a hundred of these sandwiches in Arcadia, enough to last her a good while. Delicious as they were, they were a bit greasy. She made herself a cup of honey tea, sipping it as she flipped through her second-year pharmacology textbook.

At around ten o'clock, there was a knock at the door. She assumed it was Angela, but it turned out to be the resident from 1801, Jasper.

Stella was surprised. He was usually a loner, a man of few words. Even though Rosie often came to visit Stella, Stella had hardly spoken to Jasper. Suddenly, Stella was on her guard.

Jasper, with a stern face, looked anxious. "Rosie is ill. Can you help?"

Stella was shocked. "What kind of illness does she have?"

"She has a fever, she's throwing up, and has diarrhea. She's talking nonsense."

Sick people would usually go to the hospital, but with the hurricane going on, it was impossible to leave. Stella warned Jasper, "I can help, but I only have basic medical knowledge. Don't put all your hopes on me."

"Thank you."

Considering that he helped her before, Stella reluctantly agreed to visit Rosie. She returned to her room and tucked a folded fruit knife into her pocket.

for the first time, she noted the spacious three-bedroom layout with a good arrangement and good lighting. The living room was furnished with vintage pieces, all neat and organized, worlds apart from her own messy place. These days, men

windows on the balcony and the triple-layered stainless steel door. The entire apartment was fortified

had a rash. Her usually

body, Stella realized her medical skills were rudimentary, but they would have to suffice. Stella turned to Jasper. "Rosie is weak.

a stress response in her body, lowering her immunity and causing a cold, hence the vomiting, diarrhea, and rash. Jasper

face was filled with

pain when Jasper massaged her bruises. He handed Stella

children's medicines, too. Rosie's illness was fairly simple and treating the symptoms would suffice. Stella selected some medicines for the cold, and for the

back a bottle of balm. "Apply this four to five times a day and massage

have some medicinal herbs here. Could

He brought out

about a dozen types, all of which were used for promoting blood circulation and stopping blood stasis. "Put them in a glass jar, add a liter of vodka, seal it, and it should

body but also replenishes energy and blood. However, it is not suitable for children." Rosie fell asleep shortly after taking the medicine but kept talking

tears hanging on her eyelashes. Her pale little mouth kept murmuring,

comforting her with a guilty tone, "Don't be scared,

in Jasper's eyes and recognized that he cared for his sister, but his

Jasper stopped her and handed her a pack

these times, they could keep a person

advising others, but

and dried them on her