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."

"Come on, Bran. They're friends of Stella. You've got

used to feed a guard for twenty pounds of grain. Now we're renting

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

thought, Bran relented.

was quick-witted. "Stella rarely asks for a favor. You're

"What's your offer?"

me to dinner." He didn't really care about the grain; he just wanted to owe Stella a favor. They drafted a makeshift contract on the spot and signed

by the revelation, feeling the urge

actions boldly. "Stella, by asking, you owed Bran a favor. Why not maximize

herself speechless. With food being so precious, she suggested using tea, tobacco, and liquor as rent payment. They settled on three pounds of tea leaves

would be move-in ready. Compared to cramped quarters elsewhere, this

garden, spacious rooms, and cushy beds were more than they had dared hope for. They flopped

ground floor,

vegetables, corn, and peanuts to plant, all they needed was a light source to grow their own food or produce

cramped apartment to this spacious villa, their

kept quiet, but they all knew the low rent was a favor for Stella and Jasper's sake. In gratitude, they decided to share their emergency rations

a compromise. "How about Jasper and I take one share, and the extra

need the supplies; a symbolic gesture

tempting the wealthier residents with a knack for survival. Facing cold

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

notable figures and didn't bother with

or navigate their new homes in the dark. Solar panels were useless in the eternal night, and diesel generators cost a fortune.

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