18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 334

Buddy chose to stay.

Stella didn't mind one bit. She figured he'd leave when he got bored, saving her the hassle of dealing with him thinking her place was some sort of paradise, showing up whenever he felt like it. After Austin and the others took their second dose of the treatment, the government finally announced a breakthrough: a medicine to combat the toxic smog had been developed.

Looks like Mark really pushed for it because Griffith got a bigger share of the meds than other towns, probably thanks to some strings he pulled.

Since the drugs were delivered in batches, they couldn't cover all the survivors at once. So, they had to resort to a lottery system, with one representative from each household coming to draw.

Stella, out of curiosity, tuned into the Swan Hill channel and found out that the officials there hadn't shared the news with the lower-class citizens. Not surprising, considering Swan Hill was a provincial capital with more government and corporate employees, so there was even less to go around for the common folk there.

The success of the antiviral drugs breathed some life back into the ghost town that the villa neighborhood had become.

Homeowners started venturing out, hoping to get lucky in the draw. Before leaving, they'd wash their hands religiously and mutter a little prayer for good luck.

Only then Stella realized that nearly half of the residents had succumbed to the virus. She didn't even want to think about the slums or other areas.

"Hey Stella, where's my dog?"

Through the haze, Bran approached, wearing a breathing helmet that looked like a motorcycle helmet, complete with its own oxygen supply. The rich really did live differently.

Like owner, like dog. The cured Buddy didn't even look back as he followed Bran. Stella wasn't upset. She couldn't very well hold a grudge against a dog, right?

way in. He was back, dragging his own doghouse, along with two bags of premium dog food and toys. Buddy, looking pitiful as ever, dragged

to laugh, "Do you think he thinks he's

agreement, "I

like I'm mistreating him

she gave Buddy the first floor, but

teeth. Only the 'big brother' was worthy of the second

the weather turned scorching hot, with no breeze and temperatures nearing 45°C, the air grew stifling. Stella gave up on the

with the rising temperatures as it could potentially inhibit the spread of the virus. The suspended ash particles could heat up under

heat, the survivors, having been tested by extreme conditions, had grown more

tried to restart their gardens, but no matter how carefully they tended to them, the seeds either failed to sprout or

in among

planting. This led to a soil hoarding craze. People went out with

their rooftops envied the last two villas more than

copycats, had to admire Villa 50. Those residents must have had some serious clout to have predicted the disaster so accurately. He quickly summoned his crew, "Think hard about what Stella might have hoarded from

a pointed look, "Especially you. She always

pitiful, "Boss, that was years ago.

shiny gold boots, "Need me to

think hard. Just got over the sickness, still feeling the effects. Give me a

to the head and he'd be a goner. He hurriedly polished the boots, "Boss, let's talk. My memory's fine, just give

around for?" Austin eased up and put his boots back on. "Don't you

She'd already stockpiled nutrient-rich soil at Eastwood Eden, ready