18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 451

Chapter 451

Stella kept her plans under wraps, afraid that Monkey would flat-out refuse any form of repayment.

But Miranda? She'd accept it, whether it was for her family or her kids.

"Let's give them some food," Jasper suggested after a moment of thought. "Their bodies are too run-down; a few pills won't cut it, and even nutritional therapy might not do much. Arcadia has a bunch of herbal seeds. You could give them some, let them grow their own." Stella nodded, "Alright, I'll drop some off tomorrow."

The next morning, Rosie, eager to outshine her peers, picked her rattiest dress, rubbed it on the ground, and smeared it with dirt.

Stella laughed as she messed up Rosie's hair, turning it into a bird's nest. "You look every bit the country girl now."

But Rosie wasn't satisfied. "Sis, make me look older."

Ah, youth, Stella thought with a sigh. Kids want to look older, while she'd give anything to shave off a few years.

They dabbed Rosie's porcelain skin with splotches of yellow, and her shoes were so tattered her toes peeked through. "There, any more and you'll look like an old lady."

Rosie finally looked content and headed downstairs to the management office for her interview.

Kids grow up, form their own opinions, and take their own stands. Stella and Jasper didn't want to add to Rosie's nerves, so they didn't go with her.

Arcadia's output was steady; Rosie didn't need to earn her keep. But growing up meant facing life's challenges and transforming through them. In that moment, Stella felt a pang of motherly sorrow.

She sat on the couch, flipping through a medical book to pass the time.

Two hours later, Rosie came bounding up the stairs. "Brother, sis, I got the job! I start tomorrow!"

Stella beamed, "You did great, Rosie."

Noticing Jasper's silence, she nudged him with her foot.

hint, Jasper said,

radiant. "Dozens interviewed, only five

was huge, encased in glass, growing everything from potatoes and sweet potatoes to various greens and medicinal herbs. Rosie had grown up learning from

faded. "But they've put me in the maggot farming

of water, choked. "Maggot

"How does that

shoots and

maybe wait for another

upset but determined. "Others can do it, so I want to try. If

the interviewer

Jasper, insisted, "Sis,

argue; some lessons had to be

had a job

celebrate, they decided on

meals, Stella craved something spicy. Instead of heading to Arcadia, they went to the submarine. The SS Eden, an aquatic lifeline, was anchored in Area A, and Stella felt the need to check on

the three of them, along with Cooper, rowed out to Area

submarines had arrived signs of

in a hot pot feast: thinly sliced beef, lamb, duck intestines, tripe, chicken and duck

decided fish

of bland fare, the spicy meal was especially invigorating. Stella poured Rosie a modest glass of red wine, "Here's to

split pot, and Stella handed a steaming chicken leg to Cooper, "Here, boy, your

his tail

dog was overjoyed to be aboard

ate for nearly two hours before

with a coffee by the observation window, and Cooper practiced

stir-fry, ensuring they were

to grab some common herbal seeds. It was

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