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.

both far away and terrifyingly close, their hearts pounding in

breaths

fell silent, as

to move. They stayed put in the car for

said it was a satellite cluster falling, others claimed another earthquake had

it, what's next? Is the Earth gonna blow up and take

attacking us. We're doomed, totally

fear, everyone was

furrowed, a silent tension in

to life. Bran's voice came through, "Sis, it's the

his voice, Stella had a bad feeling. "Where did

"Mount Oak."

Oak? Stella's

volcano that hadn't erupted for millions of years. It had been a

dormant, could this intense collision awaken

hanging up,

looked concerned. "What's

herbs-it's an ancient dormant

"You think the

know. I might

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

a coastal city. It could trigger a tsunami, and even a ship wouldn't withstand it. Compared to the ocean, wasn't the land relatively safer? Even if the world changed dramatically, choosing the right place could offer a

consideration, Jasper agreed. "Alright, let's

where loved ones were,

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;

and Cody. "I'm considering leaving.

suddenness left

asked, "Stella, where

sure yet. I'm just

notice? He had plenty of