18 Floors Above the Apocalypse
Chapter 319

After years of sharing a bed, it was the first time Stella realized Jasper was having a nightmare, so she nudged him a few times to wake him up. Jasper's eyes shot open, and he gasped for air. His mind seemed foggy, and his expression looked lost and pained.

Stella waved a hand in front of his face. "Jasper?"

At that, Jasper seemed to snap back to reality, then suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace. "Stella, don't leave me." The usually composed and level-headed man was now a picture of panic and vulnerability. It seemed he also had his own demons from the past, and they had just never surfaced before.

Stella wiped the cold sweat from his brow. "Bad dream?"

It was probably the haunting memory of Molly's tragic childbirth that had triggered this nightmare. In his dream, he saw Rosie as nothing but a skeletal frame, and then he found love with Stella, but in this cruel fantasy, Stella died giving birth to his child. "It's just a dream, good for nothing but forgetting," Stella reassured him.

Stella wasn't one to recklessly risk her life, but life was unpredictable, and accidents could happen out of the blue. What if one day, despite all caution, she fell pregnant?

Molly's miscarriage was a shock Stella hadn't been present for, so it hadn't hit her as hard. But Molly's death had struck her to the core.

A constant sense of crisis reminded Stella that she had many weaknesses to address and knowledge to acquire. Otherwise, if the time came, she wouldn't even have the chance for a last-minute prayer.

After breakfast, the radio broadcasted the latest news-the night market was reopening. After two years of silence, the market was back in business. With perpetual darkness, the authorities had adapted, christening it the night market.

This was a surprise for Stella; she hadn't expected the officials to implement such a policy, encouraging survivors to venture out and barter for needed supplies, but advising them to travel in groups rather than solo.

The government's bold move indicated a significant improvement in public safety during the eternal night.

On her visit to the market, Stella noted the street lights were on, and there were no thugs to rob her. Clearly, treating criminals as walking bounties was a successful policy. Every system had its place, and over the past two years, bounty hunter groups had thrived, with the more capable among them even living comfortably.

Some savvy operators had even started companies to recruit like-minded hunters and conduct training in various skills, but this practice was eventually halted by the authorities. During these extraordinary times, no private armed groups were allowed-if anyone attempted to form one, they would be treated as walking bounties themselves!

The new policy sent ripples of excitement through the neighborhood, especially among the wealthy who had endured two years of hardship. Grown men wept like children in relief. "Ha ha, ha ha ha, I finally made it through!"

Stella had little interest in the night market, but she wanted to visit the Swan Hill Institute of Herbal Medicine to see if she could replace any obstetrics and gynecology materials.

She wasn't the only one with psychological scars; Jasper was also struggling. "I'll go with you," he said.

Despite the darkness, the authorities hadn't given up on infrastructure. The edges of Swan Hill and Griffith were now connected, with military police at the city limits for security. The safety was reassuring.

So, with the Humvee packed and ready, Stella and Jasper set off. Before leaving, Stella didn't forget to bring gifts-a car full of medicinal herbs, part of their cultivation contract due to the institute. Considering the liver and lung diseases that would follow in a year, she gave more than was required.

The dim street lights stretched down the road, offering courage and hope to those who traveled it.

Jasper drove while Stella kept watch. They encountered military patrols and even a few bandits, but they arrived safely at the Institute of Herbal Medicine.

Two years had passed, and now military guards stood at the entrance. Without official permission, nobody was allowed inside the research facility. Stella hadn't expected such tight security, but it made sense for a special unit like the Institute of Herbal Medicine to have strict management.

Fortunately, she was prepared. "We've come to deliver herbs as per our contract. Could you please contact Dr. Collin for us?" She opened the trunk to reveal the medicine.

After inspecting the contract and the herbs, the guards made an exception and contacted Dr. Collin with their walkie-talkie.

With proper registration procedures and about half an hour of waiting, Stella saw Dr. Collin rushed out in his military coat, greeting them warmly. "Stella?"

Their reunion was joyful, with a hearty embrace. The Institute had faced several attacks during the chaos of the eternal night, and the military presence was there to secure it.

Dr. Collin had been worried about Stella's safety, given her affluent background, which would make her a prime target for thugs. Thankfully, they were both safe and seemed to be doing well.

Stella felt nostalgic; two years had passed, and she wasn't sure if she had aged, but Dr. Collin certainly looked older and thinner. His temples were now touched with gray.

Upon learning her purpose, Dr. Collin was delighted. "We have books on obstetrics and gynecology that you can copy and study."

Additionally, the Institute had taken in a few doctors who had spent the last two years studying and compiling surgical knowledge.

No one knew when the natural disaster would end, but if the unfortunate day arrived, even if they couldn't make it to the end, they would leave behind a treasure trove of knowledge for future generations to rebuild civilization.

Knowing that Stella had some surgical knowledge and had likely continued her studies, Dr. Collin was eager to introduce her to his colleagues.

Stella was more than willing, and she didn't forget to present the medicinal herbs she had brought. "Dr. Collin, this is the share due to the Institute as per our contract."

The herbs were light, but the bags were packed tight, weighing at least a couple hundred pounds.

Dr. Collin inspected the delivery and was surprised to replace that her crops were even better than those grown by the Institute. It was clear she had tended them with great care, unlike other contractors whose products were subpar and adulterated.

With the coming of eternal night, many had cut ties altogether, but Stella persisted in fulfilling her contract. Time revealed all.

As Dr. Collin called his assistant to move the herbs, he led them into the Institute.

The Institute consisted of just one office building; the rest of the space was dedicated to growing medicinal herbs. In the darkness, glass greenhouses glowed with lights, revealing rows of various herbs. To maximize space, the greenhouses employed staggered, multi- level planting.

The trio of greenhouses, with their glistening panes, occupied less than an acre-a modest patch compared to Stella's sprawling Arcadia back home. Nurturing a variety of plants demanded a meticulous balance of temperature, as each herb thrived under its own climatic conditions.

It was, without a doubt, a financially draining endeavor, and it was a marvel they had managed to keep it afloat thus far. But giving up was not an option. The thought of how many lives would be at stake if they ceased their efforts was chilling.

Gazing out at the soft glow of the greenhouses in the twilight, a surge of admiration for Collin and the others filled Stella's heart. It was their relentless determination, their willingness to risk everything in search of cures, which had ultimately led to conquering the smog virus that once threatened to choke the life from their world.