18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 363

Seeing her stay silent, the young man grew even more arrogant. "Hey, sis, wanna hop on board for some fun? I've got food and drinks here," he boasted, shaking the beer can in his hand like it was a prize. Stella acted as if he were invisible and kept walking.

Irritated by her indifference, the young man bristled with indignation. Women always clamored for his attention, and now that he made the first move, she snubbed him.

"Sir, maybe this isn't a good idea?" his lackey interjected with a sigh. "We snuck out, and getting caught wouldn't end well. We've already had a tour; maybe we should head back?"

"Dock the boat-I'm going to set her straight today!" the young master barked.

Reluctantly, the lackey steered the boat closer to the shore.

"Right now, immediately!" the young master demanded.

With no other option, the lackey moved to the nearest landing spot.

As the young man prepared to disembark, the inflatable boat wobbled unexpectedly, punctured by something sharp hidden beneath the murky waters. He stumbled, nearly falling overboard. "Damn it, we're leaking air!" the lackey exclaimed.

The rapid escape of air from the compromised vessel was alarming, especially since the young man couldn't swim, and the water was filthy, strewn with debris-and worse.

Despite his usual bravado, he was quick-witted in a pinch. He grabbed a rope from the boat and threw it toward the shore, "Miss, do me a solid and pull me in, will you?" The rope landed near Stella's feet.

Without a word, Stella kicked the coarse hemp back into the river.

Desperate, the young man pleaded, "Look, I'm sorry for before. My dad's the head honcho at Raven Port, and I'm here on a relief mission. Please, help me out-the boat's supplies are yours if you want them." Stella didn't respond, just kept walking.

Even in a relief effort, his arrogance shone through. Why save someone who'd squander the resources? He'd probably revert to his old ways once out of danger.

The deflating boat spun helplessly, drifting farther and farther away.

The young man's pleas turned to anger, and then to a stream of expletives as despair set in.

Stella trekked through the rough terrain, encountering several stranded survivors.

To the kind-hearted, she gave directions to a nearby refugee camp.

harbored ill intentions and attempted to rob

a makeshift cave. Inside, a woman sat motionless, blood crusted at the corners of her mouth, beside a body with its thigh bone

on the corpse weren't Jasper's, but she couldn't

stranger. After a moment's thought, Stella released the crossbow

she just slumped to the

at the camp, and the possibility that Jasper might have been rescued, spurred

she found Rosie volunteering, helping to welcome

her eyes lit up, but dimmed again

a thermos of hot water. "Drink some of this; it'll warm

hold back her

"None," Rosie replied.

of seeking news about her brother and Cooper,

to add to Stella's sorrow, Rosie changed the subject. "Angela woke up around noon and went out to look for others. It's late, and she hasn't returned yet. Aki woke up this evening with a fever; I've

climbed up the hillside, a journey that took over an hour in the dark. Once assured of privacy, Stella took fireworks out of her

shot up, bursting into

second New Year's she'd known Jasper, bought from

a couple, celebrating with Rosie and Cooper, looking to bring some festivity to

had plenty left over,

see the fireworks, he might find his way back instead of

fireworks were too bright against the darkness, and Stella didn't dare continue. She threw the remaining

camp, everyone was talking about

fireworks, am I

set off fireworks

was that really fireworks?

had just reached her tent when Angela

knowing, bittersweet smile. Only those who've lost

been the one to administer the medicine. "Stella, you've saved

was debatable, but Stella was

had happened to Rosie, Jasper would never have overcome the

gratitude, "I'm no saint,

herself indebted once