18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 410

They had grand plans, but before they could even act, the staccato of gunfire shattered the silence...

Bullets sprayed back and forth, relentless.

Blind in the darkness, they stood no chance against Stella and her crew, who were armed with night vision goggles, taking them down with deadly precision. They didn't even have time to draw their weapons before they fell, one by one.

Stella pushed open the electronic gate, her samurai sword gleaming as she stepped out.

Several lay writhing, begging in horror, "Lady, I ain't ready to die, please spare me!"

Under the cloak of night, Stella stood amidst the swirling dust, her cold laughter echoing like a harvester of souls.

No loose ends; she made sure of that with her blade, leaving no room for future threats.

She didn't return to the RV; instead, she headed for the camp a mile away.

Jasper walked alongside her in the dark.

They weren't far off, and even with the howling wind, the sound of gunfire had reached them.

Panic ensued at the camp, voices of men and women frantically blaming each other, "What do we do now? What the hell do we do?"

Stella had given them a chance, considering the survivors who'd made it through the Plate Tectonic Collision and the efforts of the official bases over the years. But they hadn't cherished it.

Strike once and be done; there would be no third chances.

From behind a tent, Stella opened fire, then lobbed an incendiary grenade...

The gasoline burned long into the night before it finally died down.

Stella counted heads, making sure no one was missing before she left.

headed back to wash off the day's grit and fall

had already cleared the

highland climate was arid, day and night temperatures varied wildly, and the fierce winds meant there was no worry of plagues. To any future survivors, this would stand

did come by after, each filled with hope at the sight of the RV, only to be met by Stella's

but at the sight of the wind-dried skeletons,

highland was harsh; the sun's ultraviolet rays were intense, the air dry and thick with dust, necessitating the constant use of humidifiers and air purifiers. The land was sinking, wooden stakes

day brought a relentless dance of wind and sand, the basin stretching endlessly, its sinking land unmistakable. Sometimes, a jolt would awaken them in

premonitions grew darker, even Rosie sensed it, patrolling daily on her electric bike over the stony, arid terrain. Initially, the rough ride left her sore,

on a green sprout among

dry season, yet

the sprout and brought it

survival experience, examined the plant gravely, "Stella,

"We

high-altitude landscaping grass, combat desertification and conserve water and

the end of spring, when melting snow provides a rare

were, sprouting in the driest

had fallen, but the soil was damp enough

forming beneath, releasing a steady stream

the earth, finding the soil wet

noticed a

replaced by a chill tinged with the scent of

from her time living by the ocean in Swan Hill; it was unmistakable. Today,

the entire basin reeked of the

noting how its weight had

to one thing:

the RV into Arcadia and pulled out the escape pod, along with four life jackets that they wore at all times, never to be removed. Cooper's unique physique meant his life jacket needed

up a tent, taking turns keeping watch by

couldn't be soothed, even by his favorite treat. He was nudging the ground with his nose, huffing urgently. He even growled at