18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 46

Stella stepped into the kitchen and grabbed some freshly boiled eggs. She made a batch of pickling liquid and pour it over the eggs. "It's done." she stated.

...

Just as she was about to take a nap, there came a knock at the door.

The residents of 1801 and 1803 were heading out, even Rosie was donning her raincoat. Jasper wanted to take these two out for some real-world experience. With Cooper's unbridled enthusiasm, Stella thought about it and didn't refuse, "Wait here."

She went back to retrieve her makeup box, selecting a dark color and began to apply it on Rosie's face. It wasn't wrong to let Rosie see the harsh reality of the post-apocalyptic world early on. Still, she was simply too rosy-skinned, making her an easy target if she ventured outside.

After some retouching, Stella finally finished applying the makeup to Rosie's face making her look more weathered and rugged. The dog nudged over as well; he wanted to be painted too.

Stella scoffed at the idea. The dog's face was ugly enough as it was. Cooper, whose confidence was severely dented, huffed and without looking back, left with Jasper.

When Stella woke up from her nap, she began preparing to perform acupuncture on Katie.

Katie took out a cloth-wrapped baked potato from her pocket, "Stella, my back is feeling much better. Thank you."

The potato was still warm, but Stella refused, "I have charged for my services. You keep it."

She wouldn't take anyone's survival chances away. Food was life.

Katie, however, insisted on giving Stella the potato. Suddenly, there was another knocking sound from downstairs.

"I appreciate your kindness," Stella told her, "but if you insist on giving it to me, you can use the potato to pay for your future treatments."

The knocking continued. After a while, someone started shouting, "Hey, girl from the 18th floor, I'm here for treatment. Open up!"

by the robust voice, what illness

noise, Stella went downstairs

her, quickly putting on a smile, "You're

not a doctor, just a medical

a fever. Could you please take a

for my

smile froze, "What? It's just a headache and a fever. Just give me some

retorted, "Are you a shoplifter or something? I don't

medication? Can you at least

of food

acupuncture. Why do I have to give you five pounds of food?" The woman was furious, "You can't just take advantage of people like this. We are all neighbors. We should help each

took a step forward, brandishing her knife, "Say

"What are you doing? Are you trying to kill me? I have connections

fed up with the noise,

18th floor!

screams echoed through the building. Stella coldly retorted, "Keep shouting. Look at you, all plump from overeating. Come here to

love to take advantage. She would go through the trash cans in every building to pick up things, even asking for beverage bottles that others hadn't finished drinking. The woman's face turned pale, and her voice significantly weakened, "I... we have no food at home.

food stored at home. When the storm first hit, she went knocking on doors to borrow food from

the 18th floor and wanted to get some. She had

food. If we had any, we would have given it to you

her, "If you dare to mess with me again, I won't hesitate to

woman, terrified by Stella's menacing glare, quickly retreated

upstairs, Stella resumed her

Katie advised, "She's a real piece of work, always trying to take advantage of others. Even her kids are spoilt, always grabbing things that aren't theirs. We stopped letting them into our house a long time ago. Oh, and be careful with the girl next door. She's been

cut off?" She

trying to

to Sadie's intentions, "I told her you didn't have any, but she didn't believe me. She's even managed to turn some of the others against