18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 345

Acid rain usually had no scent, but this cataclysmic downpour was different. The acidity index was so high it was lethal, eroding materials and leaving a foul stench in the air. Stella was busy disinfecting the house, then turned on the air purifier with a sigh of relief.

Confined indoors, she spent her time organizing the knowledge she had accumulated these past weeks, not forgetting to tutor the siblings in medical science.

Cooper didn't understand a word, but he might as well have thought himself human the way he stubbornly sat by her side, fighting sleep and refusing to leave.

Next door, bored out of his mind, Austin would occasionally buzz over the walkie-talkie, "Hey, Stella, fancy a game of cards? We're one short."

Stella, ever the spirited one, replied with a grin, "Sure, if you can make it over here."

The acid rain had been relentless for days, showing no signs of a break in the clouds. To everyone's surprise, Austin actually made it, decked out in a protective suit that was the same brand as Stella's. What a copycat.

It wasn't just the neighbors; Bran showed up too, asking, "Stella, got anything to eat?"

He was something else. Not only did he have a top-notch protective suit, but his dog did too, obviously custom-made.

Buddy, clad in his own gear, walked awkwardly but was still eager to see Cooper despite the acidic downpour. The two dogs played around downstairs while Rosie and Dylan practiced boxing on the rooftop. The card games were addictive, so much so that cooking was the last thing on anyone's mind.

Stella offered half-heartedly, "We've got some expired instant noodles, you want some?"

Bran, who had lost all his usual finickiness, replied, "As long as it doesn't kill me, I'm in."

"You'll find out if it's lethal once you've eaten it."

She wasn't kidding; the noodles were indeed a year past their prime, taken from a stash in her Arcadia hideout.

threw in some dried mushrooms, beef balls, and fried eggs, serving up heaping

he considered low-end junk food, now found himself relishing every bite as if it were a gourmet meal, "Stella, sticking with you is the only way

a look, "Your family owns a farm. Making your own instant noodles and seasoning should be

and they tried to protect it with glass domes, but who could have predicted the acid rain would be so fierce? The

"Who knows? It's as if it's got a mind of

lack of reverence meant

perhaps fewer lives would have been lost. Instead, it

drop of his noodle soup, "Exactly. It's like it's playing a cruel joke

rain had stopped, and the sun had broken through. The post-rain rainbow was exceptionally bright and beautiful, enchanting like something out of

erupted from the rooftop as people rushed up, jumping around

and cursed, "Have you all lost your damn minds? Didn't you learn anything from last time? Wanna bet the acid rain will

of the Homeowners Association, his temper had grown short, his insults coming quick and sharp. Those who had lost their senses to excitement might have resented his

half an hour later, the acid rain returned in

had matured. Had he not stopped them, the acid rain would have claimed more

was spared, but as for the outside world... no words

and that even when the skies cleared, people should not rush outside but wait for the official all-clear. Yet

rain continued on and off,

most frugal use wasn't enough. The community's water supply was dwindling fast, and even if it didn't run out, it would spoil. Boiled or not, the water was undrinkable, and everyone's digestive systems were painfully aware.

to part with it, not even if they had some to spare. In times of

and the shameless ones had nothing to do but call out names one by

Eventually, everyone played dead.

Stella did the same.

solution: starting in two days, water would be available at the town square for residents to collect. Everyone cheered at the news, but the joy quickly turned to worry. How would they transport the