18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 309

Stella waved Kitty and the others back, raising her arm and firing off a quick burst of shots. They thought they could fool her? Not a chance!

They were smart enough to have dressed up in the wealthy boys' clothes as a disguise, but in their haste, they had forgotten to change their pants and shoes. Property © NôvelDrama.Org.

Screams erupted as three assailants flipped over and aimed their guns to fire – but Jasper was quicker, shattering their arms with precise shots.

The assailants’ weapons clattered to the ground.

Recalling the words of those kidnappers who had gone to collect the ransom, Stella knew they had dealings with these thugs. So, she pulled out a handkerchief soaked in chloroform and clamped it over their noses, swiftly knocking them out cold. They wouldn't be waking up for at least 12 hours.

She tied them up tight, so no matter what tricks they tried, there was no escaping. Not just them – the rich kids got the same treatment to prevent any more surprises.

The room holding the captive women was quickly found; indeed, there were thirty of them. But instead of freeing them, Stella added two more locks to the iron bars. There was no rush – the goods could be moved first.

Kitty and the others were after the supplies. After sweeping the cave and ensuring the dead were truly dead, they swiftly gathered the weapons.

They hoisted the valuable items – spices, wine, medicine, and grains that could last 3-7 years well- preserved, whereas items like sealed flour and rice were likely spoiled.

Unable to carry much on their shoulders, they used ropes and poles to fashion makeshift carriers, heaping on the valuables.

Only four of them carried the load while Jasper shouldered the unconscious Bran. He meant one helicopter, which was the goal of this trip.

Stella just stuffed her backpack, leading the way and keeping watch. Cooper stood guard, his senses on high alert. The ransom collectors had likely run into trouble; they hadn't returned.

With their goods shouldered and carried, the group loaded up the vehicle and hid it in a secluded spot near the cave's entrance.

Stella was left to watch the car while Jasper, Cooper, and Cody went back to move more supplies. After only a few trips, the rumble of approaching vehicles could be heard in the distance.

Stella, on high alert, scoped the area with binoculars. Expecting the kidnappers, she was surprised to see the military convoy rolling in. It was another case of someone swooping in for the spoils.

Not daring to confront the military, Stella stayed hidden. With her skills, she could likely avoid detection.

After about half an hour, the group returned with grains.

Cody and Lukas were clearly frustrated, their loot had been intercepted for the first time. There was still plenty left in the cave, and they had moved less than a third of it before the military arrived.

If they had managed to move all the goods and rescue the wealthy captives, they could have even claimed a hefty ransom. Now, it was as if they were setting the table for the officials.

Stella spoke in a low voice, comforting them, "We did well. We've got enough supplies to last us years. Let's go before we're discovered and lose everything to confiscation!"

Reluctantly, they retreated.

The city was unsafe that night, and with all their goods in tow, where would they hide them? Not in their cramped apartments – even carrying a tattered bag home would draw too much attention.

Not in the mansions either. Before the eternal night, it might have been fine, but now, even the wealthy were starving and willing to do anything for survival.

"Don't worry. We'll find a place for the goods for now. Once it's safe, we'll distribute them," Stella assured them.

Trust wasn't an issue, as they had risked their lives together. And since Stella's truck had remained hidden for so long, it had to be a secret spot.

So, the two vehicles slipped back into the city under the cover of night, splitting up at the junction.

Once they were in a deserted area, Stella parked the car in Arcadia, and walked back to where the others waited with the Hummer.

The city was in turmoil, but thankfully, there were no casualties.

The Hummer pulled up across from the police station, and Stella fiddled with another set of keys in her pocket, hesitating before deciding not to use them.

She watched the others enter the building, shaking her head at the sight of the rich kid still out cold in the back seat. Shane must have been some galactic supervillain in a past life to have such a son causing a citywide commotion.

When driving back to the gated community, the Porras mansion was ablaze with lights. Upon seeing the Hummer, the gates were hurriedly opened.

Shane, anxious and angry, demanded, "Did you get him out?"

Stella opened the car door, gesturing for Shane to see for himself.

Tina saw Stella’s serious expression and hurried over. Upon seeing Bran's disfigured face, she wailed for her son then fainted on the spot.

Shane's cane clattered to the ground as he nearly collapsed.

Stella was stunned – it was not like Bran was dead! Could it have been an overdose of chloroform? If he was gone, so was her chance of having a helicopter!

Panicked, she quickly checked for his breath. "He's alive; he’s still breathing," Stella exclaimed with relief.

Shane came over for a closer look and, after a while, recognized his son despite the bruises. With the helicopter still in play, Stella tried to put in a good word. "Bran is one of the Porras. He refused to let his dignity be trampled by those villains and fought back hard. That's why he's hurt."

Shane felt somewhat reassured, at least his son had shown some backbone.

The servants and butler rushed to carry the unconscious heir inside, calling for the doctor.

Shane was relieved to have his son back, though the looks from the rest of the family were... intriguing. Stella took it all in, pretending not to notice. She understood the family dynamics; if she were from the senior branch, she'd feel uneasy, too.

With his son beaten and colorful, Shane wasn't in the mood about other matters. "Don't worry, Stella. I'll keep my promise. Just give me a couple of days."

Stella understood. The Porras had nowhere to run anyway.

Stella and Jasper drove back home together. As soon as they parked, the neighbors' door swung open, and Rosie ran out, throwing herself into their arms, "Are you okay?"

Stella ruffled her hair, "We're fine."

After hugging them both, Rosie turned to Cooper, hugging the excited dog. "Cooper, I was so worried!"

"Woof!" Cooper affectionately nuzzled her.

Austin came out with his son, and the two families exchanged warm greetings. Everyone was happy to be home safely.

Rosie waved a cheerful goodbye. "Catch you later, Dylan. I'm heading home." She stepped into the yard and closed the gate behind her.

Feeling exhausted, Stella pulled out hot spring water from Arcadia and filled her tub with hot water, ready to soak away the day's fatigue. After a rejuvenating soak in the bath, she felt her spirits lift significantly.

Slipping into some fresh clothes, she decided to treat herself to a feast.

Seared steak, lamb stew, braised pork belly, salt and pepper shrimp, pork soup, and a side of fresh greens. All of it had been prepped in advance and stored in Arcadia and was ready for Jasper to bring out from the kitchen.

Rosie and Cooper drooled in anticipation, their eyes shining with hunger.

As they ate and chatted, Stella noticed Rosie's eyes glinting with desire for the food and couldn't help but ask, "So, how are things going for you Austin’s place?"