18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 392

After Cody and his crew left, Stella sank into the couch, leaning quietly against Jasper's shoulder.

Jasper wrapped an arm around her. "What's up?"

"I'm just really happy, content," Stella said, hugging his neck. "Jasper, thank you."

He chuckled. "Thank me for what?"

"For everything." Stella smiled at him. "For meeting, getting to know each other, falling in love, being understanding, forgiving..."

Everything felt so perfect. She wanted it to last forever, to grow old together without parting.

Jasper held her close, his heart filled with contentment.

In the kitchen, Rosie pretended not to notice her brother and sister-in-law's intimacy as she washed the dishes. She saw nothing, knew nothing.

But Cooper, the rascal, was sneakily peeping from the doorway. Rosie dragged him back by his ear, "Not allowed."

The next day, waking up naturally, Stella savored Rosie's homemade oatmeal and chatted with Jasper. "We don't have much on today. How about we haul the coal back?"

The base was about fifty kilometers from the coal yard, and with many places needing coal, trucks made the trip regularly, which was relatively safe.

Jasper had no objections; it was better to bring it back early and store it in Arcadia to avoid any potential issues.

After their home had been tampered with, they couldn't take any chances. Anything of value needed to be secured.

Jasper plucked a few hairs and stuck them in the door jamb as they left.

The road to the coal yard was clear, but the muddy track was so rutted and bumpy from repeated use that it nearly shook their guts out.

Armed soldiers guarded the coal yard, which was operated by the Kindle Society, and all the office staff were military dependents.

labor. If manpower was short, survivors from the base would also be drafted to work. The difference lay in the workload: offenders had heavier duties and

the work order from the center, and the coal yard staff quickly arranged for the pickup. Machinery was scarce; they had to wait in line for

came. Loading seventy tons of coal wasn't a

were loaded and ready to

truck meant they couldn't

there, night was falling

crackled over the radio, "Sis, we're being

Jasper, leading the convoy, had spotted a shadowy figure on a nearby path in the dim light and quickly alerted the

"The

kept

outside world; she had no time to

the truck windows were swapped for bullet-resistant

approaching, and whether it came to defending themselves or escaping,

coal or had other plans, they kept their distance, stalking but not

back to the base,

military convoy split off,

over at a bend in the

sat down for a break, munching on some

"Once we deliver the coal tomorrow,

be safe. Let's call it a day; we've

retired to the tent, and soon, a symphony of snores filled the air, human and canine alike, with Cooper's deep rumbling snore sounding as if not even thunder could wake him. Silent figures crept

leader approached the tent flap, but a faint noise made him look

saw nothing and dismissed

feel the cold touch of

dark as she toyed with a weapon. And pressing against his head was a gun. Beside her stood a muscular dog,

the tent,

realized then-it was

so they'd brought extra men. Now,

Jasper had

her