18 Floors Above the Apocalypse
Chapter 122

Lukas, who earned his own keep, was incredibly tough and resilient. "Sure, next time we get the day shift and it's not too far from the apartment. We can reassess the situation after the shift."

Angela was worried sick at the thought of Lukas getting hurt, "If things get too dangerous, we'll just quit. For now, it's best to keep earning."

The trio did a quick inventory. Their stash, including the rationed food from their workplace, added up to almost fifty pounds. That included canned goods and frozen potatoes.

They handed all the remaining goods to Stella for safekeeping, hoping to barter them for food when the opportunity arose.

Cody tucked away the cigarettes gratefully. Those would come in handy for socializing at work, breaking the ice with colleagues or buttering up the bosses. He might even score some easier duties with these. Stella left with her things, not wanting to disturb their rest.

The usually quiet hallway became lively again in the afternoon. For some reason, Stella felt a strange sense of peace.

The weather was getting colder and colder. If it wasn't for their thermal clothing, Stella feared that even breathing in the cold outside air could choke her.

Angela knocked on the door, holding two pounds of rice, which she offered Stella as a token for guarding their place.

Stella refused, "Even when you guys aren't around, I still need to live here right? The reputation of the 18th floor precedes it. As long as there's no trouble, I don't need your protection rations."

She didn't take it, and neither did Jasper.

Finally, Angela proposed, "Come over for dinner today, our treat."

That was a tempting offer.

Stella was starting to feel the silence of the 18th floor unnerving. Jasper, although a living, breathing human, was not much of a talker. Occasionally, he would strike up a conversation with her, but it was always a bit awkward. She felt awkward, and Jasper did too.

Their daily interactions were limited to a few words, making the atmosphere uncomfortable. Perhaps it was the aftermath of the bikini party and her previously brash words that made things weird between them.

Regardless, the return of the people in apartment 1803 was a welcome change for Stella.

She brought over a frozen fish, but Angela insisted she didn't need to contribute anything. "Just come over, and if you like, you can help with the cooking."

Honestly, they were tired of eating the same old stew.

Stella had no objections since she wasn't going to be the one cooking. The next generation of cooks was already being groomed.

Jasper cooked two dishes: bacon stewed with pickled greens and lean meat stir-fried with dehydrated cabbage.

The pickled greens and dehydrated cabbage were all scavenged by Stella from the trading market. "I traded several pounds of them. If you like them, you can have some."

Though she said she scavenged them, they were actually from Arcadia.

She had dried greens and stuffed them into a plastic bottle tightly. After sealing it for three months, they tasted just like pickles.

The cabbage was sun-dried since she didn't have freeze-drying technology. It tasted pretty good stir-fried with a bit of oil after being rehydrated. Although it couldn't compare to fresh vegetables, having something to eat in this freezing weather was already a luxury. Angela was delighted, "We'll take as much as you can give."

The struggle of not having any vegetables was something the restroom visitors would understand.

Cody was excited too, "Stella, how much can you give us?"

Stella thought for a moment, "Three or four pounds?"

"Sounds good," he nodded in satisfaction, "In the future, if you have more, bring it back for us."

They could trade any unwanted items for it. If that wasn't enough, they could use food or dog food to barter.

Stella knew what to do. She turned to Jasper and asked, "Do you want some?"

Jasper stared at her for a moment before saying, "Sure."

After dinner, Stella gave 5 pounds of pickled greens, cabbage, and frozen potatoes to the 1803 crew. In return, she received a gold chain, two packs of cigarettes, and a box of insulin from them.

In reality, these things hardly had any impact on Arcadia, but she needed a source for the supplies. It not only ensured they ate with a clear conscience but also helped Stella keep her secrets guarded.

All three of them were pleased with the trade, "Stella, you really know how to barter."

Stella replied modestly and proudly, "That's because we have good stuff to trade, which just happens to be what they need. Otherwise, it wouldn't be easy."

Indeed, if they hadn't found pharmaceuticals and other valuable items early on, they might have run out of resources by now.

"It's all my fault." Angela regretted missing out on the opportunity to hoard resources when the apocalypse came, "If we knew it was the end of the world, we should have grabbed everything we could. Now others are benefiting from our mistake." Lukas quickly consoled her, "Don't beat yourself up, honey. No one could have predicted the apocalypse. Compared to most people, we're doing quite well."

Stella felt a bit guilty and quickly changed the subject, "What do you think about me becoming a second-hand dealer?" Otherwise, she wouldn't have a good reason to barter things for them.

Being a second-hand dealer could be profitable if you had a good eye for valuable goods and sources. However, the risk was high. Not only were there dangerous robbers and thieves, but the authorities also cracked down heavily on it. Speculating and manipulating the market, once caught, can lead to severe consequences, with serious offenders facing death penalties, while others may be sent to work in coal mines.

Cody didn't approve, "I don't think that's a good idea, just barter enough for us to live on."

Lukas shared the same concern, "Didn't we plant potatoes? We won't starve. If necessary, we can trade the alcohol and meds."

The three of them were working now and contributed nothing to the 18th floor, so they had no intention of sharing the cold-resistant potatoes.

"Ok, I'll listen to you guys." Stella agreed readily, "Let me know if you need anything else, and I'll try to barter it for you if I can."

They had enough clothing and bedding, and couldn't think of anything specific they needed, "Just do what you can. Get more dried veggies or something. If you can replace meat, that's even better."

After delivering the goods to apartment 1803, Stella went to deliver to 1801, giving them 2 pounds each of pickled greens, cabbage, and frozen potatoes.

After thanking her, Jasper asked, "What do you want in return?"

Stella hadn't really thought about it, "You decide."

Back at home, she crawled into bed to read.

Before long, Cooper came back holding a box in his mouth.

Jasper had actually traded her chocolates, and they were from the same expensive brand as before - the heart-shaped luxury chocolates.

Well, might as well eat them. They tasted great, and they were a brand she couldn't afford before the disaster. Now, they had lost much of their value.

The people in apartment 1803 only had two days off. On the night before their departure, Stella went over to help them pack and prepared a first aid kit for them. She also taught them some emergency wound care techniques. Rosie brought over a drawing, "Cody, I finished the drawing." She had drawn the family of 1803 on a single sheet of paper.

Cody looked at the drawing and teased her, "Why are there only three people?"

Rosie was confused, "But there are only three people in your family."

"What about Stella?"

"Stella is at my place."

Cody, being the little prankster he was, retorted, "No, Stella is part of our family. Your old drawing was incorrect."

"No." Rosie was getting a bit flustered. "Stella always plays with me. She is part of our family."