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.

to knock on our

gone. She made a hearty meal

let these two enjoy themselves in the post-apocalyptic world. Giving

and slept soundly until morning. As Angela had instructed, Stella knocked on the door of

ready, fashioned from aluminum pipes to be light

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

it in her hand and could feel its weight, especially around the chest area, where additional plates were added to enhance

it's too dangerous out there. Wear this when you go out. If

had wanted to make a vest for Cooper too, but there wasn't enough

only problem was... they didn't know Jasper's size, and Angela was

Stella was puzzled. "You can just ask

see what was going on between them.

room 1801 opened, and Rosie

didn't have the time to ask further. She went back to her room to change and gathered some belts

held the rope in his mouth, thinking, "Come on, human,

Stella felt obligated to take Cooper with

the 17th floor, she saw the father and son of the Moore family coming out, each wielding a machete. They were also heading to Griffith Mountain to cut wood, so they all left together. Stella didn't want to waste Cooper's talents, so she tried to tie the sled to him when they

didn't know how to rig a sled, but he

use some modifications to make it more

a sled, and got interested. "When we get back, try to make one. It will be easier

they could use a person instead. It was still better than carrying the

As soon as the ropes were tied, he bolted

was stunned and quickly chased after him.

sled a bit strange, and it felt like something was dragging behind him. He turned

for carrying wood. He held back and decided not