18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 429

Jasper might have been clueless before, but after nine years with Stella, he'd picked up on everything he needed to know. Stella didn't hold back. "Yeah, your sister's all grown up."

Jasper paused, feeling a mix of happiness and a touch of melancholy.

"What's wrong?" Stella teased, tapping his chin playfully. "Not thrilled that Rosie's growing up?"

"Of course I'm happy. It's just... time flies, you know?"

Stella chuckled, "Feeling like an old dad who's going to walk his daughter down the aisle soon?"

Jasper opened his mouth, struggled for words, and finally admitted, "Yeah, and you're turning into an old mom, too."

But growing up was something to be celebrated. If their parents could see them from the beyond, they'd surely be comforted.

Raising a child in a post-apocalyptic world was no small feat, especially with Rosie turning out so well-most of the credit went to Stella. He wrapped his arms around Stella and kissed her. "Stella, thank you for all these tough years."

Feeling playful, Stella flirted back, "So, how do you plan to thank me?"

As their kisses deepened, he murmured, "My life for you."

Stella laughed, "What good is your life to me?"

He whispered in her ear, "What about my body, does that work?"

Stella playfully kicked him, "Be serious."

She went to deliver sanitary pads to Rosie and then turned to Jasper with a knowing look. "What are you waiting for? Clean up."

After five days in the submarine, Rosie's period had ended.

Blue Blue's relentless scratching finally paid off, clearing its body of barnacles over the past couple of days, and it hadn't reappeared since.

The silence of the deep sea was eerie, and the initial wonder at observing the marine life had turned to ennui. Not even the prettiest jellyfish or the strangest creatures could stir much excitement in the trio and their dog. Meals were eaten in silence, punctuated only by the clink of cutlery, chewing of food, and the sound of breathing.

Even Cooper's snoring had lost its charm, becoming a source of oppressive irritation.

Stella recognized the signs: deep-sea cabin fever was setting in.

and cramped space could suffocate the spirit if endured for too

stress, they surfaced

view, and soothing

sat cracking sunflower seeds on the deck of the

such pastimes, took turns patrolling

and noticing Jasper's

stared out at the sea. "I've got this feeling we're

instinct, especially as someone who'd lived two lives,

the horizon with binoculars

reminded her, "Our binoculars aren't

mutated Iran, Stella shivered. "You mean someone might be watching us from afar,

resources, they couldn't ignore that others might have far superior gear. Ordinary folks might lack the

despite the catastrophic disasters, the will to

watch us?" Stella frowned slightly. "To see Rosie and me cracking

I'm

sorry, they took a deep breath and the

away from that area, with Rosie and Cooper

No disturbances, for now.

traveling a hundred nautical miles, they

and the bottom of the

focus on, Stella shared her worry, "Do you think it'll get harder

was referring to human-caused

the land submerged, even amidst severe human conflicts, most

mere "nations," if they faced survival threats and dropped their national façades, it could lead to even greater catastrophes.

you didn't provoke others, they might

future, Stella comforted herself, "There's always

thoughts lead

besieged, the submarine breached and flooding, water

under the hatch, struggling in vain

jerked awake in

arms enveloped her. "Bad

buried her face in

turned on a light, patted her back gently, and handed her a warm

the time, it was barely 1

drinking the

a pillow, and eventually, her breathing evened out to the rhythm of