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.

If manpower was short, survivors from

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

several hours, their turn finally came. Loading seventy tons of coal wasn't

loaded

truck meant they

there, night was falling

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

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

"The Cyclone

Rosie kept watch. "Seems like

outside world; she

were geared up in bulletproof vests, helmets, and even the truck windows were swapped for bullet-resistant glass. The only real

it came to defending themselves or escaping, they weren't

transporting coal or

back to the base, Stella

and as the military convoy split off, the

in the road, and

down for a break, munching on some granola

a tent. "Once we deliver the coal tomorrow, we can head back to base to

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

tent, and soon, a symphony of snores filled the air, human and canine alike, with Cooper's deep rumbling snore sounding as

leader approached the tent flap, but a faint noise

the pitch darkness, he saw nothing and dismissed

for the tent flap again, only to feel the cold touch of metal against the back

beside the tent, her expression chilling in the dark as she toyed with

tent, the snoring

then-it

was tough, so they'd brought extra men. Now, they were all caught,

and Jasper had

aimed, her