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!"

voice, what illness could they possibly

the noise, Stella went downstairs and asked

quickly putting on a smile,

doctor, just

Stella, I have a headache and a fever. Could you please

charge for my

smile froze, "What? It's just a headache

shoplifter or something? I don't have any medication here,

you at least give me

five pounds of

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

a step forward, brandishing her

to kill me? I have connections in the

noise, swung her knife towards the

the 18th floor!

at you,

who came from out of town with her grandson, selfish and love to take advantage. She would go through the trash cans in every building to pick up things, even asking

good amount of food stored at home. When the storm first hit, she went knocking on doors to borrow food from neighbors, and she managed to acquire quite

to get some. She had no idea this

have any extra food. If

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

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

Stella resumed her

get to you." 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

hair was cut off?" She was referring to

trying to find out if you have

not oblivious 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