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.

coal miners, they were offenders not bad enough to be executed but still required to pay their debt through 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 were only provided with food and

from the center, and the coal yard staff quickly arranged for the pickup. Machinery was scarce;

turn finally came. Loading seventy

loaded and ready

a fully-loaded truck meant

there, night was falling

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

had spotted a shadowy figure on a nearby path in

"The Cyclone

kept watch. "Seems like some

barely interacted with the outside world; she had

in bulletproof vests, helmets, and even the truck windows were swapped for bullet-resistant glass.

came to defending

thugs were wary of the nearby military trucks also transporting coal or had other plans, they kept their distance,

the base,

quickly, and as the military convoy split off,

bend in the road, and Stella

of them, along with Cooper, sat down for a break, munching

eating, Stella pitched a tent. "Once we deliver the coal tomorrow, we can

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

and canine alike, with Cooper's deep rumbling snore sounding as if not even thunder could

the tent flap, but a faint noise made him look

the pitch darkness, he saw nothing

again, only to feel the

standing beside the tent, her expression chilling in the dark as she toyed with a weapon. And pressing against his head was a gun. Beside her

tent,

realized then-it was

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

and Jasper had

gun aimed, her voice icy: "Talk. Who