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.

room was furnished with vintage pieces, all neat and organized,

on the balcony and the triple-layered

a rash. Her

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

period of time had caused a stress response in her body, lowering her immunity and causing a cold, hence the vomiting, diarrhea, and rash. Jasper was known to be bad with

the cause of Rosie's illness, Jasper's face was filled with guilt. "It's my fault. I didn't take good care

handed Stella a medicine box filled with a variety of drugs, "Stella, which ones can we use?" If all else failed, they

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

and brought back a bottle of balm. "Apply

Stella, "Rosie tends to get bruised easily. I happen to have some medicinal herbs

he was well-prepared. He brought out two large bags of individually packaged

blood circulation and stopping blood stasis. "Put them in a glass jar, add a

it in cold weather not only warms the body but also replenishes energy and blood. However, it is not suitable for children." Rosie fell asleep shortly

on her eyelashes.

comforting her with a guilty tone,

eyes and recognized that he

about to leave, Jasper stopped her and handed her a pack of instant

were only a few cents before the disaster, but in these times, they could keep a person alive for several more days. Stella

returning home, she pulled out a glass jar to soak some sugar in vodka. "I'm always advising others, but always forget about myself." In the extreme cold, enjoying a cup of

pounds of grapes, washed and dried them on her balcony in Arcadia, ready to