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.

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

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

their turn finally came. Loading seventy tons of coal wasn't a

sunset, they were loaded and

truck meant they

night was falling

crackled over the radio, "Sis,

and Jasper, leading the convoy, had spotted a shadowy figure on

"The

like it," Rosie kept watch. "Seems like some local

the outside world; she had no

helmets, and even the truck windows were swapped for bullet-resistant glass. The only real

came to defending

coal or had other plans, they kept their distance, stalking but

to the base,

quickly, and as the military convoy

over at a bend in the road, and Stella stepped out

down for a break,

deliver the coal tomorrow, we can head back to base

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

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

tent flap, but a faint

pitch darkness, he saw nothing

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

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

the tent, the snoring

realized then-it was

was tough, so they'd

Jasper had used

stepped forward, gun aimed, her voice icy: "Talk. Who