18 Floors Above the Apocalypse
Chapter 405

After dropping off the meds, Stella felt a weight lift off her shoulders. It was time to chill-either that or go over their escape plans one more time. They needed a place away from tectonic plate edges, at a high elevation, and well clear of fault lines. Together, they mapped

out Plans A, B, and C. But plans are just that plans. When the moment comes, you've got to roll with the punches.

Two months flew by. Stella didn't seek out Daniel, and Vanessa was nowhere to be seen. Life carried on as if nothing had happened. One groggy morning, a piercing air raid siren shattered the silence, cutting through to the bone. Stella had never experienced anything like it before; the sound left her momentarily stunned. But Jasper was up in a flash, "Quick, disaster's coming!"

They moved fast, throwing on clothes while Stella swept the room's contents into her Arcadia device. Jasper burst out of the room, "Rosie, pack up now!" Everyone had an earthquake survival kit. The living room was almost empty, just some worn tables and chairs that Stella didn't bother with. The trio and their dog dashed downstairs.

The relentless air raid siren blared through the entire Kindle Society. These alarms came in levels: general, severe, and critical. This was critical-the highest alert. Without a direct order from the top military brass, the base wouldn't issue such an alarm. A tectonic collision was imminent!

Just as they reached the ground floor, a loudspeaker announced that the base's high-precision space telescope had detected an asteroid hurtling toward Earth. Based on its current trajectory, it would strike in two hours, likely hitting the Western Hemisphere. The Western Hemisphere? That could be right. If the epicenter started there, the shockwaves would weaken by the time they reached the Eastern Hemisphere, which explained why it wasn't instantly obliterated in her previous life.

An asteroid's impact far outstrips any nuclear bomb, capable of wiping out a city in an instant. If it hit the West directly, the entire hemisphere would bear the brunt. Two hours were enough for Stella. But for the base, it was far from sufficient. With over two hundred thousand survivors to evacuate within a radius of fifteen to twenty miles by land, sea, and air, two hours was nowhere near enough.

Thankfully, the base was prepared for such emergencies, drilling the survivors who kept their bug-out bags close. Even though Stella felt she was quick, as she and Cooper burst out of the yard, others were already in lightning mode. The residential area was cramped, a maze of houses with no room for helicopters. Just as Stella thought about driving out, the neighbor's gate swung open, and a whole family emerged, "Hurry, hurry, we've got to catch the bus."

Delay could mean losing a spot. The neighborhood erupted, everyone carrying and dragging belongings as they rushed to the gathering site. Some couldn't stop in time, crashing into one another. In mere minutes, the usually quiet lane was teeming with chaos and panic, like ants scalded by boiling water, desperately fighting to escape. If Area B was this chaotic, the rest of the base was undoubtedly worse.

At this moment, cars were useless compared to the efficiency of public transport. Jasper locked eyes with Stella, and they ran. Fearing they'd get separated in the melee, Jasper scooped Cooper into his arms while Stella grabbed Rosie, and they bolted toward the base's perimeter. Nobody wanted to die; everyone was desperate to live!

In survival mode, people unleashed their full potential, rivaling the frenzied rush of seniors storming a supermarket for eggs their speed was astonishing. The crowd thickened on the streets, bumping, shoving, chaotic... A fierce shove nearly separated them, but Stella clung to Jasper's arm. They finally left Area B behind, but the roads ahead were even more congested.

Compared to communal dorms and apartments, standalone houses were farther out. In other words, the houses were far from the base's main gate, while the evacuation points were inside the military zone. As survivors flooded toward the assembly points like a tide, Stella's aim was the base's outer limits. This was against the flow, facing a relentless human tide.

Chaos, noise, congestion, collisions, crushing, crying, screaming... The three humans and a dog were jostled and squeezed until they could hardly breathe. Going against the flow was risky, inviting the threat of a stampede, a true human tragedy in the making. Stella pushed with all her might, trying to move to the edge of the swarm, but progress was glacial. At this rate, they'd be scattered.

Determined, Stella took Cooper into her arms, while Jasper shielded her and Rosie with his body, muscling their way to the edge of the base. After twenty minutes of struggling, they finally broke free from the throng, gasping for air, their faces flushed from exertion. The walkie-talkie crackled to life, Daniel's urgent voice calling, "Stella, are you there?"

Stella paused, pulling out the walkie-talkie from her emergency pack, "I'm here."

"Where are you? I'll send someone to pick you up," Daniel was frantic. "You'll evacuate with me."

"No need, I can take care of myself."

"Stella, this isn't the time to be stubborn. Don't be mad at me."

Stella wasn't being stubborn; she had nine years of preparation, "You've already given me the best, I'll try my best to survive. Just take care of yourself."

She hesitated, then couldn't help but add, "Stay alive."

Daniel fell silent for a moment, "Alright, take care of yourself." He chose to respect her decision, despite a thousand worries gnawing at him. Though reluctant to let go, he truly had no time left. The most critical moment had arrived, and he had duties to fulfill.

With the walkie-talkie off, Stella felt a sting in her eyes. So this was what it felt like to be cared for at the brink of life and death. Was this what they called kinship? Stella sniffled, regaining her composure, and the group resumed their run toward the base's exterior. The crowd was still thick, but the earlier crush had eased. Driving was still impossible, they continued their desperate sprint toward the gate several kilometers away...