18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 238

Stella returned to Apartment 5 early after a day's work, drawn to the verdant landscape that stretched before her.

The folks of Eastwood Eden were hard at work, tilling and sowing the land tirelessly for the past fortnight.

Corn was sprouting. Lush green vegetables promised a bountiful harvest in a week's time, but they were too precious to be consumed. Instead, the seedlings were carefully re-planted, nurtured to grow, and then sun-dried. The dried veggies could be consumed or traded for points.

The strength of the human spirit was evident in their toil. Not only did they cultivate the barren land within the neighbourhood, but they also ventured beyond its borders.

Patrol duties increased, but no one complained.

After two days of rest, Stella decided to gather firewood from the forest. The nearby woods had been stripped bare, forcing her to venture deeper into the wilderness. A round trip was no simple task.

They had to spend the night in the forest, returning only when she had gathered enough wood.

This time, she not only took the dog but also the rabbits.

She took only the first and second generations and the yet-to-grow babies. The fully grown rabbits that had reached a certain weight were slaughtered and stored in Arcadia.

She made sure not to do this in front of Snowy and Smoky. The deed was done in the next room.

Snowy and Smoky couldn't speak, otherwise, they would have protested against Stella. Damn it, they thought. They were always the ones to get the short end of the stick, while the dog was pampered and taken care of. She stored the important stuff in Arcadia, put the rabbits in the trunk, and drove the Hummer to gather wood.

After much consideration, she decided to go to Ivywood Estates at the city's edge. The forests along the way were bare. Ivywood Estates had been destroyed in an earthquake.

at the ruined villas. During the initial flood period, her team from the 18th floor often came here to gather resources.

or eight mountains with the

at the peak, she could see the vast dead forest in the distance. The outskirts were not safe, forcing her to venture deeper into the forest. After almost a day of trekking, she finally reached

area and started working with her tools. Stella

with the chopping, was sent to keep watch from a high ground

before they finished working. They had originally planned to bring the trailer, but what if

they lit oil lamp and laid out a hearty meal

with fresh hay and a bowl of

dinner, they sat in

ears stayed alert to the sounds outside. Jasper had set up a tripwire outside the tent, with bells attached to it. If someone intruded at night, they would trip the wire

cold. Jasper covered her with a thin blanket, and then went to the next room

early the next day, had breakfast, and continued with the previous day's work. They didn't

done with one

eyes were drawn

Jasper asked, "What's up?"

"It's honeysuckle."

the medicinal herb book, she wouldn't have recognized it. Finding a honeysuckle seedling was a stroke of luck. She

with green buds sprouting

identifying the plants, hoping to find more medicinal herbs to plant in

Rosie, unfamiliar with herbs, continued

medicinal herbs. They weren't rare or widely

At noon, she found a cool spot and called Jasper,

covered in dirt, and he was holding a piece of grass with a smile