18 Floors Above the Apocalypse
Chapter 369

Hunter's eyes widened as realization hit him. Panic seized his voice as he blurted out, "Was it you who hit me last night?"

"Yep." Rosie's voice was soft, but there was a sharp edge to it. "I spared your life last night, but you just had to push your luck. It's really irritating."

"It wasn't on purpose, I swear! I didn't know it was you. Please, give me another chance."

Shaking her head, Rosie refused, "I already gave you a chance, but you blew it."

Despite Hunter's usual bravado, he knew when to grovel. He started sweet-talking urgently, "My dad's a big shot in Raven Port, and he's helped a lot of people during the disaster relief. You guys benefited from that help too. He's only got me as a son. Can't you spare me for his sake?" Rosie had her own principles. "Hmm, your dad's a good man, which is why I spared you. Last night, I didn't take your life, but you still had the nerve to try and take ours."

She smiled at him, her voice cold as ice, "Besides, your dad is your dad, and you are you. They're not the same."

Hunter felt a chill run down his spine. "I'm sorry, I really am. Rosie, please, have a heart and let me go."

"I don't like letting things go; they tend to leave a stench," Rosie replied, unimpressed.

Her eyes slowly filled with a deadly resolve, and Hunter knew she meant business. He scrambled desperately on the ground, crying out in despair, "Dad, save me, please save me!" But in the desolate miles around them, his screams were futile.

Rosie watched him crawl, waiting until despair consumed him completely before raising her gun...

It was her brother's lesson all over again a clean headshot.

Stella kept watch over the perimeter, not intervening. This was Rosie's battle, her need for catharsis. Stella approached and patted her on the shoulder, "Rosie, you did nothing wrong. Good job."

Rosie took a deep breath and hugged Stella, "Thanks, sis."

Not far from them was a river. They dragged the body there, disposing of it and erasing their tracks. For safety, they moved their hideout that night, settling into a reclusive life in the mountains.

Jasper was severely injured. Stella racked her brain for treatments-massaging his back, applying acupuncture, brewing medicinal pastes. She was grateful for the years of dedication and the skills she'd learned from Dr. Garcia and Collin. Otherwise, she'd be helpless in the face of Jasper's injuries.

But now, she had both courage and confidence. She was both terrified and incredibly lucky. One natural disaster after another struck without giving them a moment's respite. She hoped they could all survive.

Jasper was conscious but couldn't move. Stella turned him over every few hours, and he expressed his guilt, "Stella, I'm putting you through so much."

Caring for the sick is exhausting, especially a big guy like Jasper. But having survived life-and-death situations and still being able to care for the one she cherished was a luxury she was thankful for.

She relished the process, "Actually, you've been the one taking care of me for years-tolerating and indulging me. It's my turn now."

Jasper held her hand, "You're great. What tolerance are we talking about?"

"Really?" Stella knew her own temperament wasn't easy, and he had been very accommodating over the years. It was through this ordeal that she realized how essential Jasper was to her life. Living was important, but living with quality was paramount. She lay beside him, her heart brimming with contentment and anticipation, "When you get better, will you continue to care for, tolerate, and indulge me?"

"You're wonderful," Jasper kissed her forehead. "I'm the lucky one."

Stella smiled, and as they playfully bantered, she didn't forget to massage his back, "Feeling anything?"

He did, and it was intense. Recovery from bone and muscle injuries took time, but Cooper, their dog, was bouncing back quickly, while Jasper was still bedridden. Stella devoted herself to Jasper's care, while Rosie and Cooper handled patrols and security. Under her attentive care, Jasper's back was healing, and he could now bear the pain to take a few steps. Gazing out at the sunlight beyond the RV, he felt a sense of unreality, "Is this a dream, or have I really come back to life?"

"What are you thinking about?" Stella asked as she brought over a bowl of soybean and pigtail soup, "This is good for your recovery."

Jasper was honest, "I'm wondering if this is reality or a dream?"

During the days of unconsciousness, he had countless dreams, some as sweet as the present moment, but he would wake up in a dark cave. Stella understood his uncertainty. When she first came back to life, she was haunted by nightmares, constantly feeling like she was living a dream.

She leaned forward and bit his shoulder hard. Jasper yelped in pain. Satisfied, Stella smiled, "Still dreaming?"

Jasper sipped the warm soup, a slight smile on his lips, "Stella, you've changed."

Blinking, she asked, "Was I not good to you before?"

Jasper smiled, "You were, but now you're even more attentive."

Stella teased, "So you still think I'm not good enough."

Without arguing, Jasper pulled her into his embrace, looking out the window, "Look, Rosie and Cooper are having a blast."

Cooper's muscles might not have returned fully, but he was in good spirits. Jasper's recovery was slow, but he had begun simple rehabilitation exercises. If one ignored the apocalypse, it was an idyllic pastoral life.

The separation made Stella all the more reflective. Accidents and tomorrows are unpredictable; which would come first? She and Jasper had an advantage with their foresight, hoarding supplies, but they were still helpless in the face of disasters. A single sandstorm could separate life and death.

They had been lucky this time, but what about the next? Stella was anxious, while Jasper pondered the same issue. The apocalypse he had experienced had not included satellite crashes, volcanic eruptions, or sandstorms, but now they were happening one after another. Blind to future disasters, survival depended on luck. "When my injuries heal, let's visit the Kindle Society."

Since they couldn't see the future, they had to rely on the nation's eyes. The Kindle Society held the most advanced technology and defense capabilities. Perhaps they had methods to observe these unknown disasters.

Stella mulled over the situation, the wheels in her head spinning at a mile a minute. She was determined to be the first to get wind of any critical updates and be ready to act on a moment's notice. But that kind of intel was only accessible through military channels-and tapping into that was going to require some serious stealth. She couldn't afford to blip on their radar.

After a lot of back and forth in her mind, Stella finally bit the bullet and agreed to the risky plan. Chaos was the new normal, and with the ominous threat of a "Big Crunch" collision looming over everyone's heads, there was nothing else to do but play along with the national game plan.

But breaking into the inner circle wasn't a walk in the park. Stella knew she had to up her game. Time for some serious training.

Thanks to top-notch medical care and a diet that would put a health guru to shame, Jasper was on the mend. In just over two months, he was back to his old self-fit as a fiddle.

Stella had her reservations, but after sparring with him, she was utterly convinced of his recovery-hook, line, and sinker.

That evening, they celebrated with a lavish dinner, indulging in a spread that would make a king jealous. Unable to resist the temptation, they sneaked a couple of swigs of moonshine before collapsing into a deep, satisfied sleep. Under the cover of night, Jasper locked the door, leaving only the soft glow of the bedside lamp. They couldn't wait any longer, their lips replaceing each other in an eager kiss...