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.

of experiences, Katie had a hunch that

couldn't find suitable jobs

and her children weren't exactly built for hard labor. After much thought, she 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,

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

She hadn't expected the city to move so quickly. Were they preparing for a future

and factories but even farmlands, planning to build greenhouses

the intense heat was tough to endure, they believed their home

their hopes for the future but also knowing that having a job meant they wouldn't

was almost like anyone who applied got in. Those without

factories were

everything possible to stockpile food. Rumors had it that the national grain reserves were rich, but who knew how much was left after two years of natural disasters? Even if there were leftovers, the coastal areas in the south, which were low-lying, were never in the country's plans for large grain silos. The supplies would have to be

the face of global disasters, every place was fending for itself. Who would willingly share their grain

the priority would be to transfer to major bases. The share for each city would be

only way out. They couldn't

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

Cody and the others gone, Stella found a silver lining. At least she didn't have to

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

you have a new

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

to go to Swan Hill

puzzled,

the worst. They had stockpiled a considerable amount of food, and with a few plots of land left in Arcadia for cultivation, they

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

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