18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 114

Thinking it over, Jasper said, "I grew up with loving parents, got a good education and landed a steady job. Nothing extraordinary."

Yeah right, Jasper was playing coy. He obviously had a story to tell.

Nobody believed his brief summary, not even the dog, who barked as if in disbelief. But with his strong presence and Stella's silence, no one dared to probe further.

"Eat up," Stella urged. "The food's going to get cold."

Taking the hint, Cody quickly added, "Yeah, let's dig in."

They all tucked into the juicy, succulent pot roast, feeling like it had somehow elevated their spirits in these end times.

Lukas, lost in the delicious flavors, asked, "Stella, Christmas is coming up, how are we planning to celebrate?"

Stella didn't mind. They could celebrate however they wanted.

Angela suggested, "How about we all gather and light a fire? It'll be more festive."

Angela, unlike the others, had a home to miss. Even if she couldn't return, she longed to celebrate Christmas in her own way.

Lukas felt a pang of sadness. His wife had promised to take him to meet her parents during the holidays, but then disaster struck. Thinking of his wife's feelings, he quickly agreed, "We've had enough hardships. Let's celebrate together. Who knows, maybe things will be back to normal next year."

Stella preferred quiet, as any commotion could attract danger in these times. But she had spent so much time cooped up in the apartment. Even though she practiced with Jasper every day, he was a man of few words. Besides providing professional training guidance, he didn't say much.

was notoriously bad at cooking, had no objections either. Rosie clapped her hands in excitement, "Great! I finally get to spend Christmas with

hair, "Yes, this year I won't be working, so I can spend Christmas with

more to come. After finishing their roast and filling up on pasta and sweet potatoes, everyone sat back,

need Stella's cooking skills to enjoy such

it," Stella

without your cooking skills, it would be

modestly replied, "Jasper cooked the pot roast; it had nothing to do

complaining that Stella didn't teach him, said, "One day you have to teach me how to cook

thought, "I'm

a refreshing shower, Stella settled down with a book and a box of chocolates

noticed that the box was heart-shaped. Probably just a marketing trick,

But the nearby Griffith Mountain had been stripped clean of trees. The

freeze," Stella

sentiments, "Rosie and I

firewood, Katie suggested, "Wood

know how to

explained how to make

But Cody, who was quick to understand, thanked Katie

not practical to travel back and forth daily. Room 1803 residents took a snow shovel and a tent, vowing not to return without several hundred pounds of charcoal. "Stella, Jack, I entrust the 18th floor to you. We'll be back victorious." Going out to chop wood was dangerous, but they couldn't survive without firewood for

safe and don't sleep too soundly

guns with them, capable of taking down anyone. Besides, they had Angela, the seasoned boxer, which gave Cody and

The dog wanted to go out and have some fun, but in the end, it resisted the