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."

ran up to them, "We're going shopping,

ready, there was no

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

softly, "Do you want to stay home, or do

his head, then turned around and fetched

about carrying a dog that weighed

a small

Stella's hand, "Let's go

so, after notifying the Moore family, they left the building with Cooper

was decent. As the city constantly announced new job opportunities, those who lacked the skills or the will to

measures in place, killing was no longer an option unless absolutely necessary. With no security patrols around, Stella decided to take out her

the sudden turn of events, decided to

admired her, "You're so

in layers of clothing, ran up to them, "Do you have any of that

taken aback. They had already used over a thousand condoms? She firmly declined, "No

my life savior. Can you find a way

to suppress her fear that Monkey would blurt out something about

he quickly offered, "What do you

prices of rice, flour, and oil, Stella found them too expensive. She turned to Jasper, "What do you need?" Jasper thought for a

do

hardened, "Do you have them or

Monkey swallowed nervously, "I do, but the pots are

in Arcadia. However, Jasper probably wanted to plant a

potatoes were growing well, and they could stock up before the extreme heat arrived, for personal consumption or to trade for other goods. Monkey did a quick

loved that stuff. Monkey was thrilled, "But you're asking for a lot. I'll need 5 bottles of the liquor." Stella wasn't about to be taken advantage of,

not how

you clear your inventory. If we don't want this, who are you going to

"Don't worry. We'll come to you if we have any