18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 205

After they had finished moving, night had already fallen. Jasper and Stella ventured out one more time to return the rental truck.

As the darkness set in, the temperature started to drop, offering a much-needed respite from the heat.

They had disassembled two fire exit doors and, working together, they installed them at the entrance of their unit, locking them with a sturdy chain.

Jasper installed an alarm system, designed to emit a piercing sound if anyone tried to tamper with the lock. The hallway was transformed into a makeshift garage, barely large enough to accommodate their Hummer.

They hadn't figured out the character of the residents of Eastwood Eden, and with the vigilant Mark present, it would be risky to take any chances before understanding the situation thoroughly. They didn't park the Hummer inside Arcadia, but they did drain the gas tank.

Jasper was a hard worker, and he spent the night installing a stainless-steel door on the staircase of the apartment. This door was also electrified, adding an extra level of security.

Despite it being at night, it was still hot. Cooper was sprawled on the ground, too exhausted to even lift his tongue. Rosie was no exception, sweating profusely even in front of the air fan. Out of necessity, they spent the night installing air conditioning to keep them cool.

They hadn't installed the stainless-steel railing on the balcony yet, and without it, the curtains would billow with the breeze from the air conditioning.

They resigned themselves to the task, spending several hours installing a stainless-steel railing and bulletproof glass, before finally installing the air conditioning unit.

By the time they finished, it was already past four in the morning. Before long, dawn would break.

After a shower and with the cool breeze of the air conditioner on her skin, Stella fell into an exhausted sleep. Jasper tucked her in with a thin blanket, turned off the light, and lay down. When they awoke, it was nearly noon. The three of them, along with Cooper, sat down in their modest dining area for a brunch.

the dishes and wiping the table

much left to do, thanks to Jasper's industriousness. He even fetched water from the well located near building number 2. The

Jasper's turn, perhaps due to his local celebrity status, the workers inadvertently filled his bucket more than usual, although it was still

is killing us, and the water level is dropping," complained one of the workers. He showed Jasper how to filter the water, using a Mason jar filled with

him a homemade filter, but Jasper politely declined, taking his bucket of water back

getting access to it was not

remaining water tanks were struggling to keep up, but the speed of drilling couldn't keep pace with the depletion of the fresh water

showed her how to survive in these tough

ensuring that Rosie would have the skills to survive, should

was not spoiled. She

use two empty rooms, one for storage and one as a library. She had collected a large number of books before and after the disaster, and had acquired two large bookcases from Bryce.

books, skill manuals, children's literature, classic novels, romance magazines, and some adult content that was not suitable for children. Bryce

had clashed over territory, resulting in mutual annihilation. The police had rescued 48 women and 9 children who had been subjected to abuse for a long time. The city council

seized over 60,000 pounds of food and other supplies

be able to identify criminal bases, and not to blindly

"Stella, they really were

saved," Stella reassured her, stroking her hair. "You played a big part in this, Rosie. You're a real

"You guys are

hadn't received any

Jasper, acknowledging the dog's contribution. "Not many dogs could

without Cooper and Rosie, it would have been much harder to bring down