18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 333

After hanging up the phone, Stella resumed her search for Lukas, her heart pounding with the hope that they were all still there. When she heard her voice, Lukas stayed silent for a long time.

Stella was taken aback; she thought she heard a choke in his voice.

"Stella, where did you go?"

After so many years of natural disasters, Lukas had forgotten what it was like to cry, but now, he couldn't hold back, "We thought... you and Jasper were gone."

There was a long silence on Stella's end, "We got infected. We took a chance and headed to Swan Hill, not knowing if we'd find any medicine. We didn't want to worry you, so we didn't say anything."

Stella had access to the research institute not only because she had some medical knowledge but also thanks to Collin's special care.

Collin let Jasper, Rosie and Cooper in, for the sake of the debt of a life once saved.

Outside, the institute was besieged by people seeking treatment—hundreds couldn't get in, and even those admitted were selectively chosen by the researchers. She was there on someone else's goodwill. How could she take care of others?

After much thought, she decided not to reveal the full truth and simply said they had to leave for a few days.

By fortune, Cody and Lukas had better physical constitutions than most, and their daily regimen of herbal infusions meant their symptoms were much lighter.

Stella breathed a sigh of relief; to return from the brink and find those she cared about still alive was a beautiful feeling.

She didn't seek out Bran, confident that with the Porras family's influence, they were already pulling strings to secure medicine.

The Porras family itself was a large clan, and deciding who got the medicine was a delicate matter, so she put her worries aside.

The medicine was to cure, but whom to give it to was critical. Stella left that choice to Jasper. Who could Jasper choose? Cody, Lukas, and their close circle were sure to get it. As for the others... Start with Austin and his son. If they were willing to try, they could go first. Once their treatment showed effects, they could consider the next steps.

If they gave out the medicine too freely, what about those who didn't get any? This had to be kept a secret.

The treatment wasn't a hundred percent safe, and everyone's tolerance varied. If it not only failed to work but also caused harm, what then?

Stella agreed and left the decision to Austin, "The medicine is from the institute, but it's not guaranteed to work for everyone. If you want to try, go ahead, but we take no responsibility for any consequences. You must consider this carefully."

Even a vaccine could cause allergic reactions in the unlucky few.

Austin trusted their judgment and decided to test the medicine on himself first. If he made it through, then he would let his son try.

Over the high walls, the medicine bottle was tossed to him.

Austin handed over all the keys to his son, including those to the storerooms and the food in the basement. "Dylan, you're 13 now, grown up. If something happens to me, you have to survive, do better than I did, hold out till the end!" He swallowed the medicine after his speech.

Stella repeated similar advice to Lukas.

Without hesitation, Lukas said, "Stella, if anything happens, we'll take responsibility for our own lives. We won't blame you or Jasper."

He came to get the medicine, looking emaciated through the haze, almost mistaken for a zombie. Afraid of infecting Stella, he covered his nose with layers of fabric and kept his distance.

"Survive the first course, and remember to build your strength for the second," Stella advised.

She too was weakened and, after distributing the medicine, went home to rest in the darkened house.

In the morning, the news came: Austin, Lukas, Cody, and everyone else had made it through, though utterly exhausted.

Austin's spirits were high, "Thanks to you, my son cooked chicken soup for us today."

Cody and Lukas were fine, and Angela and Kitty had also pulled through.

With medicine still in hand, as Stella considered giving some to Bran, he came over, all excited, "Stella, you're back?" Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

He sounded healthy, which surprised Stella, "You didn't get sick?"

Bran's fragile ego shattered, "Do you actually wish I was dead?"

"No, I admire your robustness, truly impervious to all ills."

"I did get sick," Bran admitted, feeling sorrowful, "I got sick, yeah."

Stella was speechless, "And you're happy about that?"

"But I got better too." Bran came back from Swan Hill cured and in high spirits, "I’m alright now!"

True to the Porras family's reputation, they would never lack for medicine.

Bran lounged on his expensive mattress, "You got better too, right?"

Stella, tired of the banter, was ready to hang up, "I'm hanging up if there's nothing else."

"Wait," Bran pleaded, "Stella, have you seen my dog?"

"You remember you have a dog?" Stella looked out the window, spotting a shadow moving below, "Someone probably turned it into dog stew by now."

Family ties varied in strength. The Porras family couldn't even ensure their own survival, let alone a dog's. No wonder Buddy didn't want to return.

Stella quickly prepared a plate of chicken breast and took it to the backyard for Smoky and Snowy, "Here, this is to make up for everything."

The opportunistic rabbits hopped over, eager for the meat.

When Austin and his son showed improvement, Stella tossed another bottle over, "This is for the others. Don't mention it's from me, and make sure they keep it a secret."

Austin was puzzled, "Why not let them owe you one? Isn't that good?"

Stella smiled, "No need." She wanted to trade for supplies, but they had nothing she needed. With extra medicine on hand, it felt right to help those she knew well—who might someday return the favor.

Beyond gratitude, Austin respected her generosity, "Consider me in your debt. If you ever need anything, just ask."

Relieved to have survived the viral haze, Stella laughed, "Well, if you come across something good someday, feel free to repay the favor."

Beneath the amber glow of the streetlight, she leaned gently against Jasper's shoulder, while his arm wrapped comfortably around her waist. It was their shared strength that had seen them through these trials.

"Stella, thank you for being by my side," Jasper murmured.

Stella's lips curled into a smile. "I should be the one saying that."

Meeting him, experiencing his understanding, she had begun to like the person she was becoming. Whether reassessing herself or reflecting on past hardships, her heart found more room for compassion and peace.

She felt like an artichoke that had shed its prickly outer leaves.

...

The haze lingered, and with it, the temperature climbed. Considering the volcanic ash's corrosive nature, Stella and Jasper decided to take down the electric fence that lined their property. Such a thing was hard to come by these days, and they might need it again in the future.

Buddy, who had become a regular for handouts, approached wagging its tail cautiously, as if fearing Stella might turn it away. Its clumsy demeanor was both touching and amusing.

Stella swung open the gate, allowing the creature to choose its own path.