18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

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,

only five got picked,

potatoes and sweet potatoes to various greens and medicinal herbs.

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

water,

"How does

potato shoots and

"Rosie, maybe wait for another

was upset but determined. "Others can do it, so

Stella suggested, "What if we give the interviewer a little something to get you

Rosie, stubborn like Jasper, insisted, "Sis, I want

didn't argue; some lessons

Rosie had a job

celebrate, they decided on a feast: hot

the submarine. The SS Eden, an

the three of them, along with Cooper, rowed

of increasing survivors reaching Hope

they indulged in a hot pot feast: thinly sliced beef, lamb, duck intestines, tripe, chicken and duck feet, shrimp paste, various

head... no, Stella decided fish was off the menu

days of bland fare, the spicy meal was especially invigorating. Stella poured Rosie a modest glass of red wine, "Here's to your successful interview and a bright future at work."

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

wagged his tail

dog was overjoyed to be aboard the submarine,

for nearly two hours before Stella,

settled with a coffee by the observation window, and Cooper practiced

tackled another round of spicy stir-fry, ensuring they were

move, and ground it into flour, not forgetting to grab some common herbal seeds. It was a fair exchange for the goods Monkey had provided the