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.

into apartment 1801 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 who could keep houses well organized were a rare

the new double-glazed windows on the balcony and the triple-layered stainless

but also had a rash. Her usually bright

and pulse, and examining her bruised body, Stella realized her medical skills were rudimentary, but they would have to suffice. Stella turned to

short period of time had caused a stress response in her body, lowering her immunity and causing a cold, hence the

face was filled with guilt. "It's my fault.

and even laughed off the pain when Jasper massaged her bruises. He handed Stella a medicine box filled

medicines, 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, she put a patch on Rosie's belly. "Once Rosie gets better,

bruises, Stella went home and brought back a bottle of balm. "Apply this four to five times a day and massage it in for

thanked Stella, "Rosie tends to get bruised easily. I happen to have some medicinal herbs here. Could you help me

of childcare skills, he was well-prepared. He brought out two large

blood stasis. "Put them in a glass jar, add a liter of

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

tears hanging on her eyelashes. Her pale

wiping away Rosie's tears, and comforting her with

and recognized that he cared for his sister,

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

they could keep a person alive for several more days. Stella didn't refuse and accepted it

always advising others, but always forget about myself." In the extreme cold,

dried them on her balcony in Arcadia, ready