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, "Well

only five got

and sweet potatoes to various greens and medicinal herbs. Rosie had grown up learning from Stella,

her smile quickly faded. "But they've put

water, choked.

"How

potato shoots and manure

grimaced. "Rosie, maybe

so I want

if we give the interviewer a little something to get you a better

insisted, "Sis, I want to earn

lessons had to be

Rosie had a job

they decided on

enough of bland 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

three of them, along with Cooper, rowed out to

signs of increasing survivors reaching

beef, lamb, duck intestines,

no, Stella decided fish was off

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

ate from a split pot, and Stella handed a steaming chicken leg

wagged his

was overjoyed to be aboard the submarine, running back and forth

ate for nearly two hours before Stella, slightly tipsy, lay down

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

round of spicy stir-fry, ensuring they were minty fresh and their clothes laundered before leaving, leaving the submarine

a fuel-saving move, and ground it into flour, not forgetting to grab some common herbal seeds. It

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