18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 310

"Dylan made some meatloaf for me." Rosie asked earnestly. "Uncle Austin's dough skills are a no-go, so I had to step in and help with the yeast. We've got the bacon-wrapped and the corned beef sauerkraut ones, but they just don't taste as good as the ones we make at home."

Human nature could be a murky abyss, and Stella had learned to navigate its depths with added caution. "Rosie, did they ask you anything about our home situation?"

"Nope," Rosie muttered, her mouth full of the savory pot roast she was nibbling on. A frown suddenly creased her forehead. "While I was on lookout duty for Jasper, some folks made small talk, trying to weasel out what supplies we had stashed at home."

A ten-year-old kid might not be streetwise in times of peace, but Rosie had seen enough under Stella and Jasper's relentless tutelage to know the score. She might not have had a lifetime of experiences under her belt, but she was savvy beyond her years.

She knew the score – who was a friend and who was foe.

Those snoopers hadn't managed to extract a single truth from her. Instead, Rosie had turned the tables on them, leaving no stone unturned.

Building 12, 19, and 23 – a trio of rotten apples. They'd do well to keep their distance from now on.

The little girl was sharp as a tack, her cherubic face belying the cunning within. Chances were, she'd be the one doing the conning in the future, which was oddly reassuring.

Jasper peeled a shrimp as a treat for Rosie, making her day.

"Woof!" came a demand from the side. Cooper wanted a double serving to be appeased.

Stella chuckled beside them. "Yeah, Cooper's the real MVP of this mission."

Cooper nudged his empty bowl forward with a look that said, “Feed me, human!”

After feasting to their hearts' content, it was lights out for a well-deserved rest.

Nestled in the cozy bedding, the temptation to laze the day away was strong, but Rosie was up with the lark, eager to let her brother and sister-in-law get some extra shut-eye by taking on the lookout duties herself.

Jasper agreed. The younger ones needed to learn independence if they were to survive in this harsh new world. He reminded his little sister to dress warmly and to be friendly but keep a wary distance from strangers.

"I got it," Rosie affirmed, keenly aware of the stakes.

After a good night's sleep, Jasper tended to the poultry in the backyard while Stella surveyed their herb garden in Arcadia. She harvested what was ripe and propagated what was needed.

Food for man and beast wasn't in short supply for now, so Stella focused on expanding their medicinal herb garden, particularly those beneficial for liver and lung health.

Jasper sent a letter, and the authorities would likely prepare accordingly. But disasters had a butterfly effect, and the more survivors there were, the scarcer the resources. Illnesses needed specific remedies, and without actual cases, doctors couldn't research in advance. All Stella could do was plant as wide a variety of medicinal herbs as possible.

Once the garden was tended to, they locked the door behind them and began to inventory their stockpile from the cave.

Five years had taken their toll – most of the supplies were past their prime, some even spoiled. But in desperate times, even spoiled food could be a feast for those starving. A can of aged bacon might’ve cleared the intestines or, in the worst case, prompt an appointment with the Reaper over afternoon tea.

Stella was meticulous, even offering medical advice on what could still be consumed, but whether Cody and the others would heed her advice was another matter entirely.

The last items they hauled were sacks of rice – about 1500 pounds worth – a literal life-and-death gamble. The rice was still good, and luckily, Stella had hoarded a small milling machine, perfect for communal use.

After three days of rest, Derick knocked, saying Shane had requested their presence.

Upon entering the Porras estate, they spotted several trucks in the front yard. Their beds were stacked with metal drums that Stella guessed were helicopter fuel.