18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 314

When the Porras clan weighed in, no one dared to object. They were the backbone of the neighborhood watch, the unofficial sheriffs of the block. Plus, the proposal promised revenue and reduced patrol shifts a no-brainer. And if the new tenants stirred up trouble, wasn't there a guarantor to fall back on?

So, the decision was unanimous.

Stella gave him a thumbs-up, and Bran's heart swelled with a sweetness that rivaled the richest honey.

Heeding Jasper's advice, Stella took a detour and didn't go directly to Cody and Lukas but sought out Austin instead.

Austin was a sharp one; he caught on immediately. "Ha, your influence is something else, Stella." he laughed. "I tried talking to Bran before, but he shot me down without a second thought. Looks like you're the only one who can sway him."

Soon after, Lukas' walkie-talkie crackled to life. "Stella, Cody and I are looking for a bigger place. Austin mentioned you might have something suitable. What's the deal?" They were hoping for something roomy, but Austin went above and beyond, offering them a villa. "It's a nice place, though someone died there," Stella said with a smile. "If that doesn't bother you, feel free to come and take a look."

"We've quit our jobs; we'll be there soon." The rent wouldn't be cheap, but seeing the place first was sensible.

In half an hour, four of them arrived at the gated community, and Stella showed them the vacant villas.

The place was a mess, left as-is after the body was removed and the crime scene cleared. Bloodstains still darkened the floor. In the days before the calamity, no amount of money could make someone stay in a house with such a dark past. But times had changed. Living threats were far more concerning than the dead.

After touring all the available houses, they didn't pick the largest one. The rent was steep, and a larger space was harder to defend.

They settled on Villa 42, which was similar in layout to Villa 50 but with a half-built wall that could be finished once the everlasting night ended.

When it came to discussing the rent, Stella stayed out of it, but Austin volunteered to negotiate.

Bran didn't mince words. "A hundred pounds of rice or flour."

friends of Stella. You've got to

a guard for twenty pounds of grain. Now we're renting out

they can provide a patrol from each family. Don't talk to me about the

thought, Bran relented. "Fifty

rarely asks for a favor. You're slashing fifty pounds just

"What's your offer?"

per month during the eternal night, and if it works out, they can buy the place later?" "Deal. For the sake of Stella. Remember to have her treat me to dinner." He

feeling the urge to knock some sense

a favor. Why not maximize the benefits? Your friends moving in means

food being so precious, she suggested using tea, tobacco, and liquor as

remained. All it needed was a clean up, and it would be move-in ready. Compared to cramped quarters elsewhere, this villa was a slice of paradise even in the shroud of eternal night. The four

cushy beds were more than they had dared hope for. They flopped onto the beds just to feel

the ground floor,

peanuts to plant, all they needed was a light source to grow

to this spacious villa,

low rent was a favor for Stella and Jasper's sake. In gratitude, they decided to share their emergency rations with

and I take one

supplies; a symbolic gesture was enough to keep

the wealthier residents with a knack for survival. Facing cold

inwardly shrewd, they covertly claimed unattended generators-diesel and solar alike for trading or personal use. By the time Bran caught on, they

were once notable figures and didn't bother with such petty thefts. The

the lighting issue became urgent. They couldn't grow food or navigate their new homes in the dark. Solar panels were useless in the eternal night, and diesel

were familiar with government tech from their office jobs and knew these generators converted mechanical energy into electricity. It's not high-tech by any means. They had used a similar setup with bicycles for power when living on the 18th floor. Now improved, the simple generators were easier to pedal and more efficient. They were costly, yes, but that was the