18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 390

Jasper double-checked, and sure enough, there were no hidden cameras on the submarine.

Just to be on the safe side, Stella decided to head into Arcadia.

Despite Mr. Cristian's warm and genuine demeanor, Stella and Jasper hadn't let their guard down over the past few days. They hadn't noticed any suspicious behavior from him either.

Even when the submarine, code-named 2688, slipped into the sea, they didn't spot anyone tailing them.

"Why do you think Mr. Daniel was talking in riddles?" Stella pondered.

His smile was disarming, and if it weren't for his authoritative presence and the fact that he was older, Stella might have suspected he had less-than-honorable intentions, like an old fox chasing young chickens.

She admitted her thoughts might be narrow-minded, but it all felt so bizarre.

Maybe harboring secrets made everyone seem like a wolf in sheep's clothing.

It was strange indeed, but Jasper couldn't figure it out either. "Let's just stay on high alert," he suggested.

Regardless, the submarine was now in their possession.

Next, they had to strategize how to handle the cataclysmic event they referred to as the "Great Collision." Without a plan, they would be flying blind when it hit.

Cars, yachts, cruise ships, planes, armored vehicles, submarines – Stella felt like she could summon a genie with all the modes of transport at their disposal. But facing a natural disaster of unprecedented scale, they needed a cunning plan. Losing meant certain death.

Survival was no place for arrogance or pride; they needed to stay humble to avoid a fate like the one in the old tale of the horse race.

Stella mused, "With all the people in the Kindle Society, if land, sea, and air routes are compromised on the day of the Great Collision, what do we do?"

Jasper thought it through. "The ocean covers 70% of the Earth, and it'll bear the brunt of the impact. The biggest danger is tsunamis, and once a person falls into the sea, their chances of survival are pretty much zero..."

The sea would bring tsunamis, while the land would be hit with earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, with dangers lurking everywhere.

Compared to these, the sky seemed a tad safer.

But that was only relative because tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions could all disrupt air currents severely.

In the worst-case scenario, that could lead to a plane crash.

Of all the evils, they had to choose the lesser, and Jasper suggested they take to the skies in a plane at the first sign of trouble.

Stella couldn't think of a better solution. "The helicopter is equipped with parachutes. We'll wear them in advance, so if a crash is imminent, we can bail out in time."

They'd use ropes to tie themselves together, take shelter in Arcadia during the quake's shockwave, and then parachute to safety afterward.

As for what came next, the land wouldn't sink instantly. The outer edges would shatter upon violent impact, while the interior would crack and gradually sink...

In other words, survivors would have a grace period.

Compared to the unknown risks of the sea, Stella maintained a healthy respect for the ocean's power. There would be time to retreat to the sea for survival when there was no turning back on land.

After finalizing their plan to take to the skies first and then seek refuge in Arcadia if needed, Jasper and Stella got some much-needed rest.

They practiced maneuvering the submarine in the ocean to ensure there were no issues before they approached the deserted coast.

They tossed the inflatable raft overboard, with Rosie and Cooper boarding first, and then Stella and Jasper dove into the sea, secured the submarine, and swam over to join them.

They were far from the Kindle Society, and it took nearly half an hour on the raft just to reach the shore.

Once on land, they switched to a car to return to the base.

The journey was over 300 kilometers on rough terrain, often requiring detours, and it took them a day and a half to arrive.

Upon entering the base, Stella was extra vigilant, but they were still quickly targeted.