18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 124

For a six-year-old, the kid was doing pretty darn well. Jasper's parenting was a success. However, in this situation, it seemed inappropriate to have outsiders involved.

Stella patted her belly, "I can't eat anymore. I am so full I could sleep. I gotta go lie down. See ya tonight." She grabbed her dog and made a hasty exit.

Rosie clung to her brother's arm, "I'm sorry, Jasper."

He comforted her, "You didn't do anything wrong. But things are different now. People are hungry out there. If they knew we had good stuff, they'd come to steal it with knives. We'd lose not just our goods, but your brother or Stella could get hurt. You wouldn't want that, would you?"

Rosie was frightened and buried herself into her brother's chest, "I don't want you to die. I miss mom and dad."

"Don't worry. Even if mom and dad aren't here, I'll protect you."

Sometimes, pain was the best teacher.

Jasper quietly comforted her, all while teaching her a valuable lesson.

"I won't tell anyone about it, not even Cooper," Rosie promised.

As the temperature continued to drop, their routines consisted of staying warm and practicing survival skills. The potatoes that Stella had planted didn't require her constant attention; Jasper took good care of them.

Even if her secret base, Arcadia, was exposed, Stella had to keep up appearances. Jasper didn't know exactly what she had, after all. So about once a week, she would venture out, "Need anything?" "No, thanks."

Each time, she would return with her bag full of supplies and her dog in tow.

Just as she was about to head out this time, Jasper suddenly spoke up, "Let's go together."

Caught off guard, Stella tried to protest, "Shouldn't someone stay at the 18th floor? How about we take turns?"

"No need," Jasper dismissed her concern, "The Moore family is off today. We can just tell them."

up to them, "We're going shopping,

their gear ready, there

of the 18th floor missing, they couldn't afford to

softly, "Do you want to stay home, or

turned

Stella sighed. She wasn't thrilled about carrying a dog

backpack, leaving a small opening

Stella's hand, "Let's go

notifying the Moore family, they left the

decent. As the city constantly announced new job opportunities, those who lacked the skills

longer an option unless absolutely necessary. With no security patrols around, Stella decided to take

group, confused by the sudden turn of events, decided to

her, "You're

the department store, Monkey, wrapped up in layers of clothing, ran up to them, "Do you have any of that stuff from last

They had already used over a

"You're my life savior. Can you find a way to

suppress her fear that Monkey would blurt out something

do you need? I have all sorts of

them too expensive. She turned to Jasper, "What do you need?" Jasper thought for a moment, then asked

was surprised, "What do you

you have

Monkey swallowed nervously, "I do, but the pots are plastic. They won't last long in this weather."

still had several large planting pots in Arcadia. However, Jasper probably wanted to

extreme heat arrived, for personal consumption or to trade for other goods. Monkey did a quick calculation, "I have about 30 pots, 30*80 in size, and 200 pounds of mixed fertilizer. What will you trade for them?" "Liquor, the kind that

that stuff. Monkey was thrilled, "But you're asking for a lot. I'll need 5 bottles

"That's not how

inventory. If we don't want

frustrated, but Stella comforted him, "Don't worry. We'll come to