18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 82

Cody and Lukas were immediately intrigued when they were told they were making a sled for the alpha dog. They hadn't seen a sled in person, but they'd seen pictures. They figured they could whip one up with a bit of tinkering. "Cooper, you are indeed a force to be reckoned with. You can even pull a sled."

Cooper looked utterly baffled, thinking, "What's a sled?"

No worries. If his master believed he could do it, then surely he could. "Woof!"

Seeing a pile of thin, cut steel plates on the table, Stella asked curiously, "What are you guys doing with these?"

Lukas teased, "Guess."

"I don't want to guess." Stella raised her fist. "Just tell me."

Cody explained with a smile, "You know there's a gang that's been terrorizing the neighborhood, demanding food for protection. They're armed, and we're just flesh and blood. So Lukas and I thought we'd make some bulletproof vests."

Stella was taken aback. She hadn't expected them to be so prepared. But steel plates couldn't stop bullets.

"They might not stop bullets but they could provide some cushioning. If we get shot, they might just save our lives."

"No, no, don't talk about such ill-fated things."

Stella felt a sense of relief seeing them trying so hard to survive. When she told them she was going with Jasper to cut some bamboo the next day, Cody and Lukas wanted to help. But the situation was getting more dangerous, and they needed to stay behind to guard their floor.

"Don't worry about us. Anyone who wants our supplies will have to step over our dead bodies."

Stella wanted to tell them not to be so dramatic, but she knew if their floor was breached, the invaders wouldn't spare their lives.

said, "Stella, remember to knock on our

returned home. Hector and Sadie were both gone. She made a hearty meal to celebrate and opened a can of pineapple

for their constantly pestering, it would've been better to let these two enjoy themselves in the post-apocalyptic world.

o'clock and slept soundly until morning. As Angela

was ready, fashioned from aluminum pipes to be light and reduce

Angela brought over a thermal vest. Actually, there were two vests, with thin steel plates sandwiched in between

feel its weight, especially around the chest area, where

you go

a vest for Cooper too, but there wasn't enough

a vest. The only problem was... they

I ask?" Stella was puzzled. "You

could see what was going on between them.

opened, and Rosie

time to ask further. She went back to her room to change and gathered some belts

behind, Cooper not only followed Stella with every step but also held the rope

was accompanied by Rosie, so Stella felt

were also heading to Griffith Mountain to cut wood, so they all left

me try." He didn't know how to rig a sled, but he had

"The sled could use some modifications to make it more efficient and carry more

pulling a sled, and got interested. "When we get back, try to

home, but they could use a person

German Shepherd, had excellent stamina and explosive power. As soon as

chased after him. "Cooper,

strange, and it felt like something was dragging behind him.

this was something his master had made for carrying