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 door

She made

it weren't for their constantly pestering, it would've been better to let these two enjoy themselves in the post-apocalyptic world. Giving them a quick death

alarm for seven o'clock and slept soundly until morning. As Angela had instructed, Stella knocked on the door of

was ready, fashioned from aluminum pipes to

there were two vests, with thin steel plates sandwiched in

feel its weight, especially around the chest area, where additional plates were

there. Wear this when you go out. If you run into trouble, it might just

for Cooper too, but there wasn't

vest. The only problem was...

ask?" Stella was puzzled. "You

baffled. Anyone could see what was going on between

of room 1801 opened, and Rosie

have the time to ask further. She went back to her

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

so Stella felt obligated to take

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

didn't know how to rig a sled,

he managed to rig the sled onto Cooper. "The sled could use some modifications to make it more efficient and carry

back, try to

dog at home, but they could use a person instead. It was still better than carrying the wood on their

As soon as the ropes were tied, he bolted forward like a

quickly chased after him. "Cooper, wait

strange, and it felt like something was dragging

for carrying wood. He held back and decided not