18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 18

However, the man's raft seemed to be packed with supplies. In these times, he who had more supplies was in danger. Taking advantage of the blurred visibility, she reached behind to grab two backpacks from Arcadia, and then paddled forward.

This man's stature and his height looked familiar. It had to be the man from 1801, Jasper. Even with a raincoat and mask on, she recognized him instantly. No wonder Rosie was so healthy. She was being fed by him, who scavenged everyday.

Birds of a feather had nothing to be embarrassed about.

Jasper also recognized the woman in the mask as Stella. He nodded a quick greeting in the pouring rain. After securing his kayak, he reached out to help. Stella was not one to put on airs and passed over the two waterproof backpacks, allowing him to assist her onto the dock before she carefully stowed the rubber boat.

Neither spoke a word as they carried the supplies up the stairs. Jasper had a lot of supplies. He would probably need to take several trips. Stella helped him carry a couple of bags.

Back on the 18th floor, they shared a quick glance before turning to unlock their respective doors.

Once inside, Stella drank a bowl of hot ginger tea sweetened with brown sugar, changed out of her wet clothes, and hurriedly showered and dried her hair. Outside, dawn was breaking and Jasper had already moved all his supplies. She wiped the water stains in the hallway and then knocked on Angela's door.

The couple, thinking they were being robbed, came out brandishing a knife.

Stella handed Angela $2000, speaking in a low voice, "The storm has passed. You should leave quietly as soon as possible. Try not to let anyone notice. The supermarket on University Hill has four floors. It sits on high ground, so it probably isn't completely flooded. I remember that the owner's family lives in the supermarket. They might open for business. Don't worry about the prices. Just buy food that will keep you full and last a while."

back, she had purposely detoured to check the supermarket. Its lights were on, and several

Both the supermarkets and wholesale markets were flooded, and it was quite possible that even the national grain reserves in the city had been flooded. Almost all the food

ensued as people fought

early for limited purchases. The citizens could buy items on a first-come-first-serve basis, cash only. In an era of electronic payments, who still used cash? And how many people had thought

violence. Policemen had

human, after all, and no one wanted to commit a crime. People's money was just numbers, either in the bank

supermarket with a plastic bucket. Everything had been looted, and

startled. "Will the supermarket really

urged, "You should go early. Once the

rushed back into her room with Lukas to

made an excuse. "Besides, if we all leave, what will happen if someone breaks in? You can spend all the money. If you manage to buy a lot, you can share some with me."

the money, so how could she ask Angela to go out? "Consider

self-defense, and be

downstairs. She had given

the solar energy storage box in Arcadia, and the other equipment was moved to a larger room of the house. She took out a pile of supplies from the supermarket, removed the excessive packaging that took up space, then sorted them into large plastic bags or sealed them in cardboard boxes. The important supplies were kept in Arcadia, while snacks and other non-essential items were kept in the house, clearing up

meters of precious supplies. She wasn't sure how long

a better life, with more abundance and pleasure?