18 Floors Above the Apocalypse



Cooper sniffed Rosie's clothes and immediately backed away, shaking his head with a look of utter disdain.

"Ugh, no way I'm touching that!"

Rosie's heart shattered like a fragile glass ornament, her spirits plummeting to rock bottom.

Stella came over and tugged Cooper's ear, "Off you go, chill out elsewhere. Stop picking on Rosie."

After a brief scolding for Cooper, she turned to the sensitive Rosie, chuckling with a hint of exasperation, "There's no smell, neither your brother nor I can smell anything. Cooper's just yanking your chain."

Rosie took another sniff of her clothes, and her mood brightened like a sun piercing through storm clouds, "Cooper, you're such a mischief-maker." Cooper wagged his tail with a grin, playfully tugging at Rosie's pant leg.

"Come on, let's play!"

By noon, hunger struck like an unwelcome guest, demanding attention even when the appetite was half of its usual size.

Area B boasted a seawater filtration system, but fresh water was still a luxury, rationed to half a bucket per person per day, with strict timings for its availability.

For a shower, one had to hoard water, with communal baths and toilets on the first floor.

With water being such a precious commodity, using it for showers seemed wasteful. A quick wipe-down was a luxury, and any surplus could be bartered.

To save on Arcadia time, the trio and their dog had a pact - they'd digest their meal and then all head in together for a quick wash, wrapping up within thirty minutes, no exceptions.

Cooper didn't need a shower; he had The Garden upstairs and downstairs to run and catch the breeze to his heart's content.

If he got dirty, they'd wash him afterwards, dumping the dirty water back into Arcadia.

Towel-drying her hair, Jasper asked with concern, "Rosie, how's the job?"

Don't ask. Just the thought brings up a stench with every breath.

Fresh into the workforce, Rosie's worldview was crumbling, "Brother, some folks in the Maggot Crew are sneaking bites." "Sneaking bites?" Stella almost choked on her words.

"They wash the maggots clean and stuff them into their mouths when the boss isn't looking," Rosie recounted, feeling queasy at the memory. Jasper didn't judge, "What did you do when you caught them?"

Rosie hesitated, "I pretended I didn't see anything."

"Why?"

"It's wrong to steal food, but they're so thin. They must be starving every day." Rosie had her reasoning, "If they had a choice, if they weren't so hungry, they wouldn't do it."

Because, honestly, it's disgusting.This is property © of NôvelDrama.Org.

Rosie had known hunger, and that feeling was unforgettable.

Faced with a life-or-death situation, who cares about eating maggots when people feast on lambs?

And if she could catch them on her very first day, didn't it stand to reason the boss could too, if they really wanted to?

It was just a case of turning a blind eye because it wasn't too excessive.

She had no reason to expose them and bring trouble upon herself.

Jasper was pleased with Rosie's answer, "If these were peaceful times, their actions would be wrong. But in these hard times, they're fighting to survive.

Even if it's wrong, it's forgivable. As long as it doesn't affect you, sometimes it's okay to turn a blind eye and not make enemies."

Relieved by her brother's approval, Rosie finally breathed easier, "Yeah."

Stella was equally relieved. Right and wrong had lost their significance in the face of disaster. Survivors did whatever it took, and as long as it didn't threaten one's own survival, it was acceptable.

Jasper seized the moment, "Can you handle the work?"

Rosie thought for a moment, "Brother, I can do this."

Her brother beamed with pride, "Rosie, surviving is never easy. We enjoy our peace because others carry the burden. We have a base to live in, where we can defer rent or food payments, and receive fresh water daily, all because our country planned ahead. Have you seen survivors from other countries with these luxuries?

A country gives us a home, but we can't just lie back and wait for others to do the work. What if the country can't bear the weight one day?

We need to grow with our country. It's only through the hard work of every survivor that our nation can grow stronger."

Rosie nodded with resolve, "I understand."

"Of course, if work gets tough or you're feeling down, don't keep it to yourself.

We're family. Speak up, and your sister-in-law and I will help you find a solution."

After a heart-to-heart with her brother, Rosie felt even more determined, "Brother, I'll do a good job."

Raising kids is tough, and once the little ones were asleep, Jasper whispered to Stella, "I'll look for a job tomorrow. I need to set the right example for Rosie. Can't have her thinking it's okay to loaf around all day."

Stella rewarded his dedication with a kiss, "Yeah, Jasper, you're the best."

He'd work hard outside, and she'd definitely enjoy her relaxation.

The next day, Rosie still rose with the sun, and Jasper accompanied her, aiming to find a job with light duties and close to home.

The siblings set out together, with the doting brother continuing to mentor his sister.

Stella, meanwhile, indulged in a lazy morning, waking up at nine to freshen up, eat breakfast, and pass the time with medical texts.

When Rosie returned for lunch, her spirits were markedly improved, even cheerful, "Sister-in-law, I can take care of the maggots on my own now. I'm the fastest learner among the newbies."

Maggots? Stella mentally replaced them with the adorable image of Snowy.

In the afternoon, Jasper returned with good news. His striking looks landed him a job at Area A's administrative center, maintaining law and order as a team leader.

Put simply, he was the local sheriff.

The position was usually held by military personnel, but Jasper's tall frame and good looks signaled strength and endurance.

He secured 10 pounds of grain monthly, with a work schedule from eight to five and weekends off – a rarity.

Others worked longer hours and had only a single day off, leaving Stella to wonder how he managed such a deal.

Suspicion lingered that his looks had played a part.

Stella eyed his appealing features and physique, "Female boss?"

Jasper didn't deny it, "Yeah."

Stella smiled, "I'll walk you to work tomorrow."

Jasper returned the smile, "Sure."

True to her word, Stella rose early with the siblings, dressing carefully after breakfast.

Standing out too much wasn't wise, so Jasper picked an old patched shirt and let his beard grow for a rugged look. Stella applied makeup to mimic a malnourished look, escorting them to their jobs with a facade of weary resilience. Rosie only had a short walk to the plantation, but as fate would have it, they bumped into her new colleague. "Rosie, are your parents walking you to work?"

Rosie paused, "No, that's my brother and sister-in-law."

Coworkers couldn't help but steal glances at Stella and Jasper, their eyes filled with envy. They both had the kind of healthy glow that comes from not worrying about counting every calorie, the kind that draws the eye and doesn't let go.

Feeling like a deer caught in the headlights with the way a particular beanpole of a colleague was eyeing her, Stella didn't immediately pick up on the malice. She quickly

exchanged a few words of caution with Rosie before making a beeline out of there.

If they wanted to blend in at the base, they had to keep a low profile. The base's oil was not for sale to the outsiders, and using a gas-guzzling speedboat was practically taboo. So, the two of them waited at the dock for the ferry.

The morning rush was a sea of gaunt faces, each one pallid as if they'd never known the warmth of the sun.

But in that tide of humanity, there were two splashes of color that effortlessly captured everyone's attention.

When the ferry arrived, Jasper took Stella's hand with an easy confidence and found them seats, silently broadcasting to all the onlookers-these two

are taken.

In a world as vast and varied as a forest, all kinds of birds make their nests, and they were subjected to an array of complex gazes - some envious, some jealous, and some calculating.

Stella kept her smile, and then, casually, she reached into her pocket...