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.

felt like forever, both far

tightly, their breaths hitched in

the world fell silent, as

move. They stayed put in

was going berserk. Some said it was a satellite cluster falling, others claimed another

gonna blow up and take us

it's alien monsters attacking

chaos and fear, everyone was on

a silent

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

had a bad feeling.

"Mount Oak."

Stella's

erupted for millions of years. It had been a scenic area for as long as anyone could remember. Was it truly dead, or

could this intense collision awaken

hanging up,

concerned. "What's

used to gather herbs-it's an ancient dormant volcano. It

"You think the

I might be

breath to calm herself, remaining silent for several minutes before

trigger a tsunami, and even a ship wouldn't

moment's consideration, Jasper agreed. "Alright,

loved ones

keep secrets. She called Bran back. "I'm worried the satellite impact might cause an eruption. We're planning to leave Griffith. You decide for yourself, or listen to the officials." After all, it was just speculation; she couldn't

"I'm considering leaving. You make your own

left everyone

asked, "Stella, where will

just planning

Where to go on such short notice? He had plenty of supplies that might not all be