18 Floors Above the Apocalypse
Chapter 295

"Don't patronize me." Bran sounded surprised as he heard her indifferent tone. "After ignoring all my calls, I thought you'd been taken by them." "Don't worry. They stand no chance against me."

"Just so you know," Bran boasted, "I shot six of them with a single bullet, scared the hell out of those bastards and they all ran off in their cars." Bran went on and on, waxing lyrical about his own bravery. "Stella, the neighborhood is safe now. You can take a stroll around if you like." Stella had had enough of his chatter and hung up.

It wasn't Bran's heroics that had secured their safety. The security team, except for those who resigned or refused to go along with the criminals, had only about twenty-something people in total. They had looted several homes, gaining a lot of supplies, so of course, they had to make a quick getaway. If they pushed the residents of the neighborhood to their limits, they wouldn't stand a chance.

After all, many homeowners had guns.

They had stolen a lot of supplies, yes, but they had also lost several of their own, thanks to the Porras family's guns. They had probably lost at least a third of their numbers.

If they didn't leave now, when would they? They couldn't risk the mob breaking in.

"We can't let our guard down," Jasper warned, his expression grave. "They know the neighborhood too well. Even if the mob doesn't break in, they might gather forces and come back."

Hopefield was a prime piece of real estate, dripping with wealth. It was inevitable that someone would want a piece of it. Stella felt the same way.

After breakfast, the two of them started training, working to keep their physical condition at its peak.

Rosie was busy pounding the couch with her fists, and Cooper was hanging out in the hallway.

Around noon, Cody got in touch again. "Stella, are you guys okay?"

"We're fine. How about you?"

"We're okay. Just a few minor injuries."

Cody's end was quiet, probably safe. Stella thought about Jasper's past life and couldn't help but ask, "How's the police station?"

"A few people got hurt, but overall, we're okay."

The police and the military had been prepared for this eternal night. The military base in Lincoln had started developing supplies two years ago, providing large shipments of ammunition, bulletproof vests, stab-proof clothing, and the latest night vision goggles to cities all over.

All four of them had been given equipment. The security patrollers didn't have guns, but they had high-voltage stun batons and stab-proof clothing.

The night vision goggles were a game-changer. They couldn't turn night into day, but they made it possible to see people clearly in the dark. The rioters had nowhere to hide. However, the rioters' momentum was too strong. If they surged forward like a massive wave, it was almost impossible to hold them back.

Stella was excited. These were things she hadn't had in her past life. With the support of the military base, the police and military in the major cities didn't have to fight hand-to-hand when they ran out of bullets, as they had in their past life. They didn't have to fall in a blaze of glory.

"You guys don't need to worry about it," Cody assured her. "The police have prepared a lot of equipment, like pepper spray and blinding flashlights. And I heard that reinforcements from the military are on their way."

After ending the call, Stella told Jasper the latest news. She rested her head lightly on his shoulder. "You don't need to feel guilty or anxious. Things are different this time."

The violence would continue, but it wouldn't be as horrific as in their past life.

Even though he never said so, Stella knew that things were different this time because of him.

Just as Jasper was about to speak, they heard a chilling sound in the distance. They went to the balcony and saw countless torches in the darkness, swarming into the neighborhood. They were here. The rioters were here!

Cooper sensed the change in the atmosphere. His fur stood on end and he let out a low growl.

The three of them, and the dog, quickly put on their bulletproof vests and headed to the rooftop.

Under the night vision goggles, groups of refugees surged into the neighborhood like a tide, wielding various weapons as they invaded the houses.

Hitting, smashing, kicking, ramming.

Screaming, crying, wailing.

A cacophony of sounds filled the air, making it feel like a living hell.

The first house they targeted was the mansion in the center of the neighbourhood.

The richest family in town, living in luxury, driving fancy cars, flying in private jets. It was time to take them down a notch.

The rioters tried to break down the door, only to be shocked by the electrical system. They tried to climb over the wall, but were shocked by the electric fence and fell down.

The three-meter fall left them incapacitated.

At the same time, gunshots rang out from inside the mansion. Unfortunately, the distance between the mansion and the gate was too great, and the high walls blocked their view, making it difficult to cause significant harm. But it was enough to intimidate the rioters. After four years of surviving in this post-apocalyptic world, the rioters were more cunning than ever. They swiftly changed their target, launching a ferocious attack on the other houses.

After observing the situation, Stella realized that the rioters were organized. Among them were several groups of people, quickly dividing up the neighborhood and setting boundaries for looting.

Jasper noticed it too. "There are various factions among these people. Some are from the same village, some are from the slums, and some turned to crime after being robbed themselves. Each house is like a team, with everything planned in advance."

There were only 50 houses in the neighborhood, and they were quickly claimed like pieces of meat at a butcher's shop. Over a hundred people rushed towards the house at the back.

Soon, a crowd had gathered in front of the Building 50. The smarter ones among them used wooden stakes to ram the door and threw stones at the windows. Fortunately, the windows were bulletproof, and they couldn't break them. "Arf!"

Cooper on the rooftop let out a furious bark.

"There's a dog! This house has a dog!"

The rioters below excitedly shouted. Any house that could afford to keep a dog was bound to be rich in supplies. Attack!

The continuous angry barking of the dog attracted more rioters. Some bastard had brought a ladder and tried to climb over the wall to disable the electric fence, which made the other rioters howl with excitement.

Building such a high wall meant they had a lot of precious supplies. They thought it was a waste of space, but this house turned out to be a gold mine.

Stella didn't turn on the lights. Instead, she quietly turned on the sprinkler system and pressed the start button. Gasoline sprayed out like a mist.

In the freezing cold, the rioters were bundled up in thick clothing, scarves, and masks. In their excited state, they didn't notice the gasoline being sprayed on them. By the time they smelled something strange, they were already drenched in gasoline. "Oh no, there's gasoline!"

As soon as the words were out, a torch lit up on the dark rooftop. The torch was thrown into the crowd.

In an instant, flames shot up in the darkness and spread rapidly. Screams filled the air as the rioters, now on fire, ran around wildly, quickly creating a sea of fire.

Gasoline alone wouldn't be enough to deter the rioters. Jasper held a bomb, lit it, and threw it into the crowd with all his might. With a deafening explosion, many people were blown away.

Jasper didn't stop. He immediately threw another one, this time a Molotov cocktail. The damage was even greater.

The burning rioters ran around in panic, setting more people on fire.

"Holy crap, that's awesome!"

Standing on the rooftop of the Porras family's mansion, Bran's eyes nearly popped out of his head as he clutched his binoculars.

He knew Building 50 was a force to be reckoned with, but he had no idea they were this formidable.

He thanked his lucky stars he had decided to address her properly in time, otherwise, he wouldn't even know what hit him.

She was monstrously powerful. All the bodyguards of the Porras family would be no matcg for her.