18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 350

Suspicion was a given between Jasper and Stella; they were both as sharp as a tack. The only question was which way their doubts would take them. Jasper figured they were just trying to piece together what might happen next. Sure, Block 50 had always left some breadcrumbs before, but now? Nothing. Stella nestled into his arms. "What do you think's gonna happen next?"

"No idea." He kissed her forehead. "As long as we're together, we can handle any disaster."

The satellite kept plummeting, like a wild child with no sense, swinging a bat here, slinging a mallet there, crashing down wherever it felt like.

Their neighborhood had been lucky so far, dodging another hit, but the official landfill power plant wasn't so fortunate it got smacked, setting off a fire that roared for two days and nights. The streetlights were out now.

And who knew if they'd ever light up again?

On the rooftop, the trio and their dog sat grilling burgers, soaking in the starlit sky.

Rosie bit into her hot dog, her eyes going wide. "Bro, a meteor shower!"

Jasper looked up, his pupils dilating. "Run!"

Stella instinctively followed his gaze and saw a crimson meteor shower slicing through the night sky, getting bigger and closer...

Red as blood, burning fiercely, almost close enough to graze their faces, the heat nearly tangible.

Growing, expanding, seemingly about to crash right into them.

Yet, in the blink of an eye, it seemed miles away again.

They all sprang up, abandoning their barbecue and beers, tables and chairs forgotten, and bolted downstairs to their car, moving with swift precision. "Seatbelts," Stella reminded them.

The seats were blast-proof, designed to withstand impact.

Worried about Cooper getting hurt, Jasper bundled the dog in his arms, strapping them together.

The violent impact, the continuous shaking of the earth-it didn't matter that their vehicle, the Predator, weighed 15 tons; it was still trembling.

forever, both far away and

tightly, their breaths

world fell silent, as if

They stayed put in

it was a satellite

Earth gonna blow up and take

alien monsters attacking us. We're

the chaos and fear, everyone was on

brow furrowed, a silent

hour later, the walkie-talkie crackled to life. Bran's voice came

voice, Stella had a bad

"Mount Oak."

Stella's heart

that hadn't erupted for millions of years. It had been a scenic area for as long as anyone could remember. Was

it was merely dormant, could

hanging up, Stella's

concerned. "What's

ancient dormant volcano. It just got hit

frowned. "You think the impact might

I might be worrying

to calm herself, remaining silent for several minutes before speaking up. "Maybe we should

massive tectonic collision. Perhaps it wouldn't make a difference where they were, but Griffith was a coastal city. It could trigger a tsunami, and even a ship wouldn't withstand it. Compared to the

moment's consideration, Jasper

loved ones were,

impact might cause an eruption. We're planning to leave Griffith. You decide

"I'm considering leaving. You make

left everyone

"Stella, where will

just

Where to go on such short notice? He