18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 158

Stella was a bit slow on the uptake, watching them clear out of the 18th floor and trudge down the staircase.

She hesitated for a moment but couldn't contain herself, racing to the stairwell to stop Cody and the others, "If things don't go well in Lincoln, remember, you can always come back." Lukas and Cody nodded, "Stella, no matter where we end up, you'll always be our friend."

She didn't say goodbye, instead, she watched them leave the 18th floor until their faint footsteps faded away.

Cooper was whimpering, rubbing against his owner now and then.

An hour later, Jasper returned. Seeing Stella lost in thought on the couch, he sat beside her, trying to comfort her, "Don't worry. They can take care of themselves. Plus, I've reminded them to be careful on the road." Both vehicles should keep a distance of about 50 yards, if the first one got into trouble, like a flat tire from a caltrop or a spike strip, at least the second vehicle could still be used, giving them a chance to escape or fight back. They were skilled with crossbows and had guns, and with their experience as security patrol officers, ordinary bandits wouldn't be able to touch them.

Stella leaned gently into Jasper, "I believe they'll do just fine."

"Stella, even though Cody and Lukas have left, you still have me, Cooper and Rosie. We aren't going anywhere."

In these apocalyptic times, saying goodbye was all too common, but that night, Stella suffered from insomnia, tossing and turning without a wink of sleep.

She was downcast for a few days, but then gradually returned to normal. However, she still felt strange. The 18th floor was too quiet, no longer filled with the laughter of those two, or the sound of Angela's boxing practice.

In the evening, Katie went to the rooftop to fetch water, "Stella, where have Lukas and the others been? Haven't seen them for a few days."

Stella didn't hide anything, "They've gone to Lincoln."

To the base? Katie was surprised, but also a little envious. Life at the base seemed good. Not only was there military protection, but there was also no shortage of water.

She wanted to go too, but each person needed to contribute 50 pounds of food to get in. Moreover, she heard that not everyone was allowed in the base; the screening process was very strict.

a lifetime of experiences, Katie had a hunch that the two bases

scholars, always busy with research. If they couldn't find suitable jobs at the base, they'd be

at least they were valued by

with owners were forcibly requisitioned. As for compensation, the ordinary folks had no way of knowing

to move so quickly. Were

but even farmlands, planning to build greenhouses to grow crops, and recruiting farmers and workers

up with hope. Although the intense heat was tough to endure,

but also knowing that having a job meant they wouldn't starve or die of thirst. They might not have enough to eat, but

like anyone who applied got in. Those without

farmland, the vacated factories were also used for indoor

two years of natural disasters? Even if there were leftovers, the coastal areas in the south, which were low-lying, were never in the

fending for itself. Who would willingly share their grain to protect people from

gave orders, the priority would be to transfer to major bases. The share

end, self-help was the only way out. They couldn't just sit

earthquake came, the outcome would be better than last time. Life went

Stella found a silver lining. At least she didn't have to

the water tower on the rooftop into Arcadia, planning to raise the rabbits in 1803 and incubate the fertilized eggs of the ducks and quails, striving to achieve a

"Do you have

was large, but with two people continuously filling it up, there

to go to Swan Hill

was puzzled,

worst. They had stockpiled a considerable amount of food, and with a few plots of land left in Arcadia for cultivation, they wouldn't starve. However, they were short on meat and

had a long growth cycle, so the city couldn't continuously provide survivors with food. They would have to turn to

a year of ice, coastal fishermen couldn't go out to sea to fish. Unsurprisingly, the