18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 502

After a while, faint sounds began trickling from inside the house.

"Rosie, Cooper?" Jasper and Stella called out frantically, their voices echoing in the cold air.

Snowflake, their loyal dog, was just as anxious, whimpering pitifully.

The door creaked open, revealing a pale-faced Rosie clutching a gun. Her eyes lit up at the sight of her brother and sister-in-law. "Bro, Sis?"

The tension in her body melted away, and she crumpled to the floor. Jasper's quick reflexes caught her just in time. "Rosie, what's going on? Are you okay?"

Rosie was a mess of injuries, her clothes stained with blood. She forced a weak smile. "Bro, I kept the house safe. You finally made it back."

Fear had gnawed at her, worried they wouldn't return in time.

Too exhausted to keep talking, her heavy eyelids fluttered shut.

"Rosie," Jasper's voice cracked, his face ashen. "Rosie, stay with me. Don't sleep. I'm here now."

Stella, panicked, urged, "Let's get her inside. Quickly."

Jasper, hands shaking, felt for her breath and nearly collapsed in relief when he found it.

Inside, Stella wasted no time checking Rosie's wounds.

Rosie had taken bullets to her thigh and arm, and her body bore numerous other wounds, evidence of a brutal battle.

Though none of the injuries were fatal, the bleeding hadn't been stopped in time.

Exhausted from the fight, Stella couldn't rest yet. She prepped for surgery to remove the bullets.

It took over an hour to extract the bullets, disinfect, and bandage the wounds.

After giving Rosie antibiotics and anti-inflammatory meds, Stella turned her attention to Cooper.

The dog had also been injured, with a deep wound exposing bone. But Rosie had managed a makeshift bandage.

Cooper was a trooper, enduring the stitches with stoic patience while exchanging playful banter and tender moments with Snowflake.

Caring and scolding all at once.

it should work," he insisted. Stella shook her head. "Her blood loss isn't critical enough for that. Let's monitor her first. Transfusions between relatives can cause

reassured him before heading

bruises and swallowing more meds, she returned to

stable now. Go clean up and get some rest,"

returning

her eyes open, muttered, "Cooper and Snowflake are on guard.

too long,

moved Rosie to a room warmed by a crackling fire,

his arms around Stella, and they both

still unconscious but stable. Despite her own exhaustion, Stella forced herself up to clean the

guilt and heartache, but this was the

now, but not forever. Rosie had to toughen

area was clear, Stella moved the frozen

up the bloodstains, erasing the evidence

the time they finished, Rosie

Stella didn't press her for details. Instead, she

eating, Rosie drifted back

harsh world was tough, and everyone bore their

rewarded herself with a hearty dinner and a good night's

somewhat rejuvenated, she and Jasper helped

was improving but had to stick to light

no need to rehash the

not only lured them into a trap but also tried to take Rosie

losses, they waited until dark

was off during the day and planted bombs

the openings in the shipping

had been scared before it happened. But once the

but

After that night, Rosieered

gaze steely

grown up. don'Dneed to worry about me

In

joining Stella in Arcadia to dispose

the bodies.

corpses had been in