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 hunch that the

with research. If they couldn't find suitable jobs at the base, they'd be stuck doing manual

decided to stay in Griffith. Her sons might be buried in their research day and night, but at least they were valued by the authorities and were decently compensated. Besides, according to the latest news, the city was taking over the

owners were forcibly requisitioned. As for compensation, the ordinary

city to move so quickly. Were they preparing

were not only requisitioning building-related materials and factories but even farmlands, planning to build greenhouses to grow crops, and recruiting

intense heat was tough to

a job meant they wouldn't

positions was far beyond imagination. It was almost like anyone who applied got in. Those without experience could be trained

up farmland, the vacated factories were also used

years of natural disasters? Even if there were leftovers, the

every place was fending for itself. Who would willingly share their grain

would be to transfer to major bases. The

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

that even if an earthquake came, the outcome would be better than last time. Life went on, day by

silver lining. At least she didn't have to hide

to raise the rabbits in 1803 and incubate the fertilized eggs of the ducks and quails, striving to achieve a self-sufficient poultry and meat supply. Jasper interrupted her plans,

was confused, "Do you have

was large, but with two people continuously filling it up, there wasn't

want to go to Swan Hill or Mount

puzzled, "What

food, and with a few plots of land left in Arcadia for cultivation, they wouldn't starve. However, they were short on meat and needed to prepare in advance. "Inland cities live off the land, and coastal cities

so the city couldn't continuously provide

disasters, especially a year of ice, coastal fishermen couldn't go out to sea to fish. Unsurprisingly, the marine fish population would be