18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 137

Lukas didn't catch the hint in Stella's question, "No, I had a couple of drinks with Cody last night and didn't get much sleep."

"What's up this early in the morning?"

Lukas' smile was more like a grimace, "Stella, we're thinking of quitting our jobs."

As much as they didn't want to, their lives were more important.

Stella was undeniably resourceful. Whether it was storms, floods, or extreme cold, she was always better prepared than them, and even lent a hand when needed.

And then there was Jasper, as stoic as a rock in the face of catastrophe.

The Moore family had their sources within the system, always more informed than the average Joe.

Good advice is a feast.

They had made it through before, and they would do it again. With careful rationing, the food they had would last about four years, so they decided to follow the crowd. However, quitting their jobs would take time, so they had to move fast. All hands on deck at 1803, helping Jasper haul the horizontal water towers to the rooftop.

Including those they had brought back before, there were now 14 water towers, each capable of storing 2 tons of water. Two of them were for the Moore family, which meant that the 18th floor could store 24 tons of water. Even with careful rationing, 24 tons of water would only last three to four months at most. What then?

Stella tried to reassure them, "If it gets extremely hot, and even if the city's drainage system collapses, the floodwaters would evaporate in two to three months. The city council will come up with a solution then."

"Stella's right," Cody chimed in, "before we had running water, we used to drink well water."

Angela voiced her concern, "But what if the temperature gets too high and the water can't be stored for long? What if it spoils?"

"I've got the water filters, just throw them in the water towers when the time comes."

"Stella, you're amazing."

Stella shrugged off the compliment, "I don't actually know much. It was Jasper's idea." Lukas was quick to flatter, "Jasper's the real MVP here, a true survival expert." Caught in the spotlight, Jasper shrugged, "I just happen to know a bit."

they finished setting up the water towers, Katie came up to shovel

had brought back two large water barrels, Cody and Lukas offered to help her shovel snow and carry them

about Katie slipping and falling. They decided

done, there wasn't much clean

little worried, "What if it doesn't snow again, or if the temperature suddenly rises and we run

we'll be fine. You all should

planned on using snow water. Why not fill the

had more survival experience than people from 1803. It was better

when Cody suddenly yelled from the living room. Startled, Lukas rushed out with

station's

relayed the latest news: according to current temperature trends, a rapid rise in

are like prophets. Their prediction is spot-on, even more reliable

relief, they couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. The extreme cold was barely over,

was predicting a heatwave, making their decision to quit their jobs a

tough, but they had gotten used to it. If only it could stay this way. For Cody and Lukas, it wasn't just a job. It was a testament to their strength, a symbol of their masculinity. They had fought hard to get to where

took a couple of hard swigs

"We'll rise again."

let setbacks

few drinks, they fell into a deep

set to leave, Stella came over to remind them, "The weather's unpredictable. Even though the weather bureau predicts it'll be about half a month before

water, their faces paled and they immediately dug

Stella's advice and wrapped the

days after 1803 had left, the temperature suddenly soared to minus 10

the like had long since been frozen and rendered useless

them to melt snow for water, but what

busy bartering. Those who were out of supplies simply gave up, resigned to their fate. They were too tired to go on. After giving up for half a

the others had left, Stella began moving the water towers into Arcadia in the

also moved in and filled with fresh