18 Floors Above the Apocalypse
Chapter 314

When the Porras clan weighed in, no one dared to object. They were the backbone of the neighborhood watch, the unofficial sheriffs of the block. Plus, the proposal promised revenue and reduced patrol shifts a no-brainer. And if the new tenants stirred up trouble, wasn't there a guarantor to fall back on?

So, the decision was unanimous.

Stella gave him a thumbs-up, and Bran's heart swelled with a sweetness that rivaled the richest honey.

Heeding Jasper's advice, Stella took a detour and didn't go directly to Cody and Lukas but sought out Austin instead.

Austin was a sharp one; he caught on immediately. "Ha, your influence is something else, Stella." he laughed. "I tried talking to Bran before, but he shot me down without a second thought. Looks like you're the only one who can sway him."

Soon after, Lukas' walkie-talkie crackled to life. "Stella, Cody and I are looking for a bigger place. Austin mentioned you might have something suitable. What's the deal?" They were hoping for something roomy, but Austin went above and beyond, offering them a villa. "It's a nice place, though someone died there," Stella said with a smile. "If that doesn't bother you, feel free to come and take a look."

"We've quit our jobs; we'll be there soon." The rent wouldn't be cheap, but seeing the place first was sensible.

In half an hour, four of them arrived at the gated community, and Stella showed them the vacant villas.

The place was a mess, left as-is after the body was removed and the crime scene cleared. Bloodstains still darkened the floor. In the days before the calamity, no amount of money could make someone stay in a house with such a dark past. But times had changed. Living threats were far more concerning than the dead.

After touring all the available houses, they didn't pick the largest one. The rent was steep, and a larger space was harder to defend.

They settled on Villa 42, which was similar in layout to Villa 50 but with a half-built wall that could be finished once the everlasting night ended.

When it came to discussing the rent, Stella stayed out of it, but Austin volunteered to negotiate.

Bran didn't mince words. "A hundred pounds of rice or flour."

Austin pulled him aside and whispered, "Come on, Bran. They're friends of Stella. You've got to show some courtesy for her sake."

Bran rolled his eyes. "We used to feed a guard for twenty pounds of grain. Now we're renting out a villa, and a hundred pounds is already a favor to you."

"It's eternal night now, and they can provide a patrol from each family. Don't talk to me about the rules before the eternal night."

After some thought, Bran relented. "Fifty pounds?"

Austin was quick-witted. "Stella rarely asks for a favor. You're slashing fifty pounds just like that?"

"What's your offer?"

Austin considered for a moment. "How about twenty pounds of grain per month during the eternal night, and if it works out, they can buy the place later?" "Deal. For the sake of Stella. Remember to have her treat me to dinner." He didn't really care about the grain; he just wanted to owe Stella a favor. They drafted a makeshift contract on the spot and signed their names. Once the deal was sealed, Bran teased, "Don't forget about that dinner."

Stella was taken aback by the revelation, feeling the urge to knock some sense into Austin.

But Austin defended his actions boldly. "Stella, by asking, you owed Bran a favor. Why not maximize the benefits? Your friends moving in means extra security for us. It's a win-win."

Stella found herself speechless. With food being so precious, she suggested using tea, tobacco, and liquor as rent payment. They settled on three pounds of tea leaves for a month's rent.

The villa was ransacked, but furniture, kitchenware, and even the previous owner's clothes remained. All it needed was a clean up, and it would be move-in ready. Compared to cramped quarters elsewhere, this villa was a slice of paradise even in the shroud of eternal night. The four new tenants embraced and cheered; they finally had a place to call their own.

Their belongings were few and easily moved in one trip. The sprawling garden, spacious rooms, and cushy beds were more than they had dared hope for. They flopped onto the beds just to feel the luxury.

After some discussion, Lukas and Angela took the ground floor, while Cody and Kitty claimed the upper level.

With vegetables, corn, and peanuts to plant, all they needed was a light source to grow their own food or produce oil.

Having moved from a cramped apartment to this spacious villa, their stress and frustrations dissipated.

Austin kept quiet, but they all knew the low rent was a favor for Stella and Jasper's sake. In gratitude, they decided to share their emergency rations with the pair.

Stella, realizing her ruse was obvious, offered a compromise. "How about Jasper and I take one share, and the extra can be your housewarming gift?"

She didn't need the supplies; a symbolic gesture was enough to keep things square.

Six villas stood empty in the community, tempting the wealthier residents with a knack for survival. Facing cold and hunger, they were as cunning as foxes.

Outwardly polished, inwardly shrewd, they covertly claimed unattended generators-diesel and solar alike for trading or personal use. By the time Bran caught on, they were long gone.

The Porras clan were once notable figures and didn't bother with such petty thefts. The matter was quietly dropped.

So, for Lukas and his friends, solving the lighting issue became urgent. They couldn't grow food or navigate their new homes in the dark. Solar panels were useless in the eternal night, and diesel generators cost a fortune. Even if they invested heavily, fuel was a problem. The government had anticipated the endless night and released a series of countermeasures, including simple generators.

The four friends were familiar with government tech from their office jobs and knew these generators converted mechanical energy into electricity. It's not high-tech by any means. They had used a similar setup with bicycles for power when living on the 18th floor. Now improved, the simple generators were easier to pedal and more efficient. They were costly, yes, but that was the only downside.

They weighed their resources and grimly decided to invest in one. After years of drifting and countless brushes with death, they were tired. They wanted to settle in the villa, plan their future, and live.

They were unaware of Stella's plans.

Everyone had their own life. Stella could help with the big picture, but the details were theirs to manage. In this world of disaster, resources were life itself.

Stella, following the latest game plan, teamed up with Jasper to divvy up the supplies, making six shares in total, including the cache of weapons they had seized from the cavern.

The two of them loaded up the truck and delivered supplies to the four members of their group. "I've got some chicks and a few packets of seeds back at my place. If you guys ever need anything, just swing by for a trade. As for the rice allotted for you, I ran a hundred pounds through the mill-kept the bran to feed the chickens."

Angela offered her gratitude as she hoisted two bags of milled rice out, along with the keys to the rental space. "Stella, here's the rent and the keys. If it weren't for you and Jasper looking out for us, who knows, we might have ended up homeless by now."

Stella didn't haggle over the slightly generous rent. She took it without fuss. Life was a personal journey, and friends could only offer a helping hand or a cherry on top. She didn't want to meddle too much in the affairs between the two households. Once the supplies were handed over, she headed home to curl up under her blankets.

As the two families sorted through the supplies, Kitty suddenly remarked, "Stella's really got your backs."

Cody, busy organizing their new goods, agreed. "You're telling me. Don't let her cool exterior fool you; she's got a warm heart. Ever since we were kids, she's looked out for me and Lukas. Especially after the disaster hit-whether it was back in that high-rise or here and now-if it wasn't for her help, we might've been goners."

Kitty sighed, "You're lucky to have a friend like her."

Cody knew Kitty's history-she was betrayed by comrades more than once, and a shadow hung over her heart. That was probably why she opted to go lone wolf. But people were different, and Stella was someone you could trust without a doubt.

It wasn't that she'd never change, but Stella had this strength about her and a vibe that she'd never let herself get cornered.

Cody was no stranger to the darker side of human nature, but he knew that unless pushed to the absolute brink, Stella wouldn't turn on her friends.