18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 72

Lukas, with his eavesdropping tendencies, commented, “Sounds like they're breaking down doors. Seems like there's quite a crowd.”

Stella's expression was stern. “The cold snap hit hard the night before last. I reckon a lot of folks didn't make it. They're probably breaking into the homes of the deceased.”

“That… that's pretty ruthless.”

Stella shrugged. “Can't help it. The dead must make way for the living.” If her guess was right, it was Drew, checking on survivors, and then organizing manpower to scavenge what they could from the homes of the deceased.

Lukas said in disbelief, “We've had floods for months, and not a grain of rice is left in anyone's pantry. Some folks have even boiled unimaginable things for food. All burnable furniture has been chopped up for heat. What do they hope to find by breaking down doors?”

“There's always something to salvage.”

Despite their discomfort, no one had words of criticism. They'd been lucky to have found supplies, but if they were in the same situation, they might’ve also resorted to looting the homes of the dead. As Stella said, the dead had to make way for the living.

Feeling depressed, they all waved goodbye and headed home to burrow under their blankets. Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

Venturing outside almost led to frostbite. On returning home, she was tempted to press their hands against the heaters.

Snowy was nursing her kittens, while Smoky was out hunting for food, twirling around Stella incessantly. Both rabbits were in good spirits. Their diet was now supplemented with some grass and feed.

The heavens had shown some mercy. Stella managed to till about 100 square feet of land, dug small holes to plant corn seeds, then covered them up with soil. The mental exertion left her feeling drained, as if her body was hollowed out.

Feeling hungry, she craved a Snickers bar!

Everyone in 1803 was enthusiastic, sweeping the rooftop of snow every day, even remembering to bring down Stella and Jasper's share.

No one spoke of it, but they knew their survival skills weren't as strong as Stella and Jasper's. They contributed more to finding supplies, which meant they had an advantage in distribution. Hence, they did what they could.

Despite Stella’s objections, the tenants of 1803 wouldn't listen.

The idea of taking turns to collect snow from the rooftop was considered, but every time Stella and Jasper opened the door, buckets filled with snow were already placed at the entrance.

Perhaps this made them feel better, and Stella didn't stop them anymore.

Water wasn't scarce in Arcadia. Stella would close the room door and pour the snow into the garden, serving as watering.

Stella was reluctant and feeling guilty for wasting her friends’ efforts, but who would refuse the the clean water in Arcadia?

The temperature dropped daily, sometimes noticeably, other times subtly. It had dipped to -26 degrees without them realizing.

Sounds of banging echoed from below and was continuing for several days before silence returned. Judging from the noise, it seemed like even the 17th floor had been broken into. Presumably, the

losses were substantial. After all, this was the south, neither the architectural design of the houses nor the cold-resistant clothing were as sturdy as those in colder regions.

One day, knocking was heard again from downstairs. This time it was Katie. With the harsh weather, it was clear she wasn't here for acupuncture.

Being old acquaintances, Katie didn't beat around the bush. “Stella, there's something we need to discuss with you.”

Noticing her worn-out appearance and worried expression, Stella furrowed her brows. “Go on.”

Katie broke down, clutching her hand. “Stella, you’re a lifesaver.”

If it wasn’t for Stella’s advice to sweat out her fever under a cotton blanket, she would have frozen to death on the night of the sudden temperature drop. Waking up in the cold, she ran to her son and daughter-in-law’s room, quickly bundling her grandson in thick clothes. The timely awakening saved them from a visit from the Grim Reaper.

The Moore family was fortunate, but others were not. Many lives had already been lost due to the floods and famine, with more succumbing to the cold.

She had lived her entire life without experiencing a winter in the south that dropped to -26 degrees.

The coastal region was already damp and cold. In addition to that, the flooding had reached the level of the sixth floor, so the entire city was like a giant freezer.

Their neighborhood was old; apart from the college students renting rooms, many of the residents were elderly or children. Compared to before the storm, she estimated only around 30 to 40 percent of the residents remained.

Storms, floods, extreme cold, what on earth was happening to the world?

Stella dismissed the praise. "I only provided advice based on your conditions. You were well- prepared because you followed the doctor's instructions."

Katie insisted, bringing a jar of fermented fish as a thank-you gift. "This is a specialty from my daughter-in-law's hometown. You should give it a try."

The jar weighed about three to four pounds. It was a generous portion.

Stella had saved many cans of fermented fish in Arcadia, but Katie was persistent in gifting her one. Eventually, Katie almost lost her temper, so Stella reluctantly accepted.

After her acceptance, Katie continued, "We were lucky. We all survived and didn't catch a chill. There were some deaths and frostbite cases in the neighborhood. That girl Sadie even had the nerve to come knocking for medicine. We don't have any medicine. She's been coming several times, making it sound like we're withholding it on purpose. Another person died yesterday, supposedly from a fever caused by frostbite."

Regardless of the sympathy they felt, why would the Moore family have to provide medicine? Even if they had some, they'd need to save it for their own survival. This weather was no joke; a simple cold could be fatal.

Stella frowned. With so many deaths, how was it that Sadie survived? She really was resilient!

Under normal circumstances, Katie wouldn't have visited. She took a deep sigh, her face filled with worry. "Stella, I have a bad feeling. There's trouble brewing in this building."

"How so?"

"Drew gathered the survivors to loot the homes of the deceased, taking food, clothes, bedding, and wooden furniture. That's not the problem, after all, everyone wants to survive."

But Drew was ruthless and was distributing supplies based on favoritism. Men received more, while women got half. If it wasn't for the Moore family surviving, they would have been taken advantage of too.

Though men put in more effort in breaking down doors, women were better at scavenging. Many supplies were hidden in unexpected places and unearthed by the women. But the women were powerless and dared not resist. Drew skimmed off supplies that were supposed to be shared equally. Most of it ended up in his possession, with the other men content with their meager shares.

This wasn't the worst of it. Not only was he in constant contact with other building managers, but he was also involved with local gangs.

"Yesterday, he took a few young girls out, asking for one pound of grain for an hour of sexual pleasure with the girls. They spent five hours together. They're nothing but beasts. When Amanda, that girl from the next door was returned, she was barely alive, and her pants were soaked in blood. She traded her body for five pounds of rice, half of which Drew took. The remaining two and a half pounds was shared among several people, so how much could she have eaten?"

Stella wasn't surprised. After all, in his past life, Hector had suggested she traded sexual favors for food. She had responded with a swift whack of a rolling pin, leaving him bloodied and never daring to bring it up again.

Yet, Amanda seemed to be irredeemably naive.

"Sadie hasn't been sent out?"

"Not yet, but her turn is surely coming."

Katie wasn't here to gossip, but to relay a troubling piece of news. "People from outside have been coming into blocks 18 and 19 to collect protection rations. Each household has to give something. If

they can't, they have to go out and find it, or else..."

Drew was in close contact with these people, and Stella feared he was up to no good.

Protection rations?