18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 34

Stella squinted, finding her vision blurred. She took out her binoculars for a clearer look.

In the middle of the river were two rubber boats filled with men and women. They were armed with makeshift weapons, sticks and pitchforks, and they were attacking something on the window ledge of a fifth-floor apartment.

A drenched dog was on the ledge, baring its teeth and growling ferociously at the attackers.

"Come on, kill it! We'll have meat tonight," one of them yelled, prompting an excited cheer from the others. They swung their weapons at the dog, who jumped and dodged but refused to retreat.

Ever since the sudden disaster, food supplies had become scarce. Many people had starved to death. The sight of a dog, even one as skinny as this one, was enough to stir their hunger.

"It's meat! Who wouldn't want it?" their eyes glowed with anticipation. Stella watched them, feeling a pang of sympathy for the dog.

She was about to turn away when she recognized the dog. It was Cooper! She had named him Cooper after she had found him abandoned by his owners. He had been living on the streets near her university, scavenging from the trash bins outside the local fast-food restaurants.

Stella, who had been selling dog food at the time, had taken pity on him. She would often leave some food for him or toss him a hot dog.

The only difference between a dog abandoned by its owner and a baby abandoned by its parents is that humans have orphanages, but stray dogs are killed once caught.

At first, he was very cautious, resisting Stella's approach, only eating after she walked away.

familiar, even though he was still on guard, he would peek his

abandoning her job of selling

again, it was in the

didn't know how he survived. All his fur had fallen off, his skin was covered in

in this state, when she was harassed by a few thugs, he rushed up fearlessly, frantically biting at them. If he hadn't pounced, a

spot, yet

but he was killed, cooked, and then

she was reborn, she searched for him multiple times, but

Hector, but he watched idly as she was killed by the thugs. Yet, the stray dog she had

they meet again, tears streamed down Stella's face. Without a second thought, Stella started her speedboat and headed towards the dog,

looked in her direction. The momentary distraction allowed one of the

their companion's aid, raining down blows on the dog, but Cooper was quick and agile, and managed to dodge their attacks. The cudgel instead landed on the man being bitten, causing

towards them but couldn't be controlled due to the swift current. The two boats collided, causing two people to lose their balance and fall into the water, screaming "Help, save me..." Before they could regain their composure, Cooper leaped towards the oncoming

a few rounds, three people had fallen into the water, and two had been successfully

into their boat. Stella shouted Cooper's name again, and the dog, using his

sped away, Stella could hear the angry shouts and curses from the men. She looked down at Cooper

mouth and most of his fur had fallen off, leaving behind blotchy wounds. It seemed that

about stray dogs, before the storm, many people in her apartment complex kept pets, treating them even better than themselves. But where were they now? Stella didn't dare to think about

on, we'll live together and as

down its guard. Stella