18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 368

Stella pedaled her bike with a burst of energy, the wind playing with her hair as she shouted to Rosie, "I'm taking you somewhere special."

Rosie sighed with relief. Her sister-in-law had been gone for days, and she'd feared the worst.

"Sis, I wasn't really bullied," Rosie admitted now that they were alone. "Last night, I snuck up on that guy, threw a sack over his head, and gave him a good beating. Stayed clear of his face, though. He's pissed off so many people he wouldn't have a clue it was me." If it weren't for waiting for her brother and sister-in-law to return, that guy wouldn't have lived to see today.

"Good job," Stella said, finally relaxing. "You've grown up, Rosie. From now on, you can make your own decisions. Just make sure you stay safe."

Rosie beamed at the praise, wishing her brother could see her now.

After an hour of bone-rattling bike riding, they finally arrived.

Cooper, sensing their arrival, ran out to greet them.

Tears streamed down Rosie's cheeks as she saw Cooper and rushed into his embrace. "Cooper, are you okay?" she sobbed, her worry for him having been unbearable. "Woof!"

Rosie, still frantic, clung to the excited Cooper. "Where's my brother?"

at her pant leg, leading her to a

of gut-wrenching uncertainty, Rosie nearly collapsed

cautioned her,

sobbed uncontrollably, having feared

her brother Jasper, trying to ease her worries, smiled and said, "I'm okay. I'll be up and about in a few

unusual happened. While Rosie was distracted, Stella pulled out a sleek RV from her Arcadia. Together, the

and conspicuous, so Stella smeared mud all over it to make it blend in. If someone stumbled upon them, at least they'd have a

climbed the hill, scanning the surroundings with binoculars. When she returned, her face solemn,

hunters from the refugee

nodded, feeling guilty for the trouble she

shadows pacing in a nearby hollow. Wasn't that one of the hunters, standing there with a cigarette dangling from his lips? So, he thought he could handle them, even though he had to steal his daddy's gun and wanted to take on others? He was

were eight of

sniper rifles from her backpack, handing one to Rosie. They attached silencers and aimed with practiced ease, each

unaware, were about to make their move. The leader, Hunter, his arm bandaged from a bullet

the humiliation he'd suffered at the hands of

a shot rang out. Hunter's sidekick, the one with the fancy shirt, dropped dead with a bullet through his