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.

grew familiar, even though he was still on guard, he

abandoning her job of selling dog food

was in the

know how he survived. All his fur had fallen off, his skin was covered in

a few thugs, he rushed up fearlessly, frantically biting at

the spot, yet hr never let go

but he was killed, cooked, and

was reborn, she searched for him multiple times, but she couldn't find any traces

was ridiculous to think that she had given her all to Hector, but he watched idly as she was killed by the thugs. Yet, the stray dog she had

Without a second thought, Stella started her speedboat and headed towards the

The momentary distraction allowed one of the men

other men rushed to their companion's aid, raining down blows on the dog, but

boats collided, causing two people to lose their balance and fall into the water, screaming "Help, save me..." Before they could regain

down the person on it. In just a few rounds, three

as Stella's speedboat rammed into their boat. Stella shouted Cooper's

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

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

apartment complex kept pets, treating them

tried to soothe it, "From now on, we'll live together and as long as I

letting down its guard. Stella didn't even have the chance