18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 464

As the group was getting ready to head to the hospital, Justice came rushing in with a crew in tow.

He quickly assigned a task to Jasper. "Hey Jasper, a boat docked after the staff clocked out, carrying over a hundred survivors. We were gonna let them stay on the boat overnight and process them in the morning. But the weather turned nasty, and their boat can't handle the storm. If it capsizes, we're in big trouble. I've got the okay from the higher-ups - we're bringing them ashore to take shelter and putting them up in the community center for now."

Most of the staff and security team didn't live in Area A, so it was tough to round up people on short notice. Justice, always the friendly face, smiled at Stella and the others. "Looks like this crappy weather's just getting started. Can you guys lend a hand getting these folks off the boat and into the shelter?"

Since Justice was her husband's boss and had always been supportive, Stella couldn't say no. And Bran, being military, definitely couldn't refuse. Monkey was up for it, but he didn't want his wife and kid to go through any hardship. Stella told Rosie to pack up her backpack, take Miranda and the kids, and head back to the hospital - they'd join them once they were done.

So they followed Justice to the docks to help the survivors ashore. The survivors were on a fishing boat, its hull rusted and battered, clearly showing its many encounters with danger at sea. There were over a hundred survivors, including some mixed-heritage teenagers who were born and raised in the country.

been drifting at sea for seven or eight months. They stumbled upon a submarine and found their new coordinates by chance. Shanghai is a melting pot, with people from all over

some even cracking their foreheads open. The survivors, panicked and agitated,

this, treating us like this?" The waves grew higher, the wind cut like a knife, chilling the survivors to the bone. It

but you need to follow the base's rules and register and undergo checks tomorrow." That seemed to calm the survivors somewhat, and they began to disembark, braving the stormy sea with their belongings. The boat rocked violently, and several almost fell into the sea. Stella, wearing leather gloves, was quick to catch them. After several saves, she felt ominous eyes on her. Looking up, she saw nothing. But her brow furrowed deeper. Jasper was nearby, and she tugged on his sleeve. They stepped aside, and Stella whispered, "Something's not right." Jasper felt it too. "Their possessions are too scant." In his time working there, he'd seen many survivors, most skin and bones, but always with bags in tow. There were a few who traveled light, but they were the exception. In a bid to survive, who wouldn't carry their life's possessions - clothes, blankets, food? And many would loot the belongings of

Re

had decent food on board, but their bags looked empty. Of course, they could have left things on the boat. But with the sea so rough weren't they afraid of the waves soaking their things, or the ship capsizing? They communicated silently with their eyes, then a survivor stumbled and fell. Jasper swiftly helped him up. A man in his forties. He quickly thanked Jasper. Once the man left, Jasper's expression darkened. While helping him up, he had squeezed the man's bundle it was light, except for one hard object that felt

their suspicions. It was just a hunch, and they had already probed a little. As for the machete in the bag, which surviver didn't carry weapons protect themselves? As for their leanness, maybe they just happened to have more supplies? Besides a few mixed-race individuals, the rest were all clear-cut Australians, some speaking standard English, others with regional accents. The storm came out of nowhere, making it hard to judge. But Justice, cunning as he was, took precaution and ordered some

ashore and were quickly led to the indoor activity area. One with a bloody forehead approached, "Excuse me, where's the hospital? I've

mention the on-site medic but then gestured urgently towards Stella, "Stella, your husband works at the hospital, right? I recall you live in the hospital's quarters. Why don't you accompany this gentleman to get his wound treated? We can't have any serious injuries on our hands." Hearing they could go to the hospital, others with injuries came forward - some with head bumps, some with twisted ankles from the rocking, and some feeling

were eight of them.

agreement, "Sure, I'm heading back to the hospital anyway, I'll take you with me."