18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 405

After dropping off the meds, Stella felt a weight lift off her shoulders. It was time to chill—either that or go over their escape plans one more time. They needed a place away from tectonic plate edges, at a high elevation, and well clear of fault lines. Together, they mapped out Plans A, B, and C. But plans are just that—plans. When the moment comes, you’ve got to roll with the punches.

Two months flew by. Stella didn't seek out Daniel, and Vanessa was nowhere to be seen. Life carried on as if nothing had happened. One groggy morning, a piercing air raid siren shattered the silence, cutting through to the bone. Stella had never experienced anything like it before; the sound left her momentarily stunned. But Jasper was up in a flash, "Quick, disaster's coming!"

They moved fast, throwing on clothes while Stella swept the room's contents into her Arcadia device. Jasper burst out of the room, "Rosie, pack up now!" Everyone had an earthquake survival kit. The living room was almost empty, just some worn tables and chairs that Stella didn't bother with. The trio and their dog dashed downstairs.

The relentless air raid siren blared through the entire Kindle Society. These alarms came in levels: general, severe, and critical. This was critical—the highest alert. Without a direct order from the top military brass, the base wouldn't issue such an alarm. A tectonic collision was imminent!

Just as they reached the ground floor, a loudspeaker announced that the base's high-precision space telescope had detected an asteroid hurtling toward Earth. Based on its current trajectory, it would strike in two hours, likely hitting the Western Hemisphere. The Western Hemisphere? That could be right. If the epicenter started there, the shockwaves would weaken by the time they reached the Eastern Hemisphere, which explained why it wasn't instantly obliterated in her previous life.

An asteroid's impact far outstrips any nuclear bomb, capable of wiping out a city in an instant. If it hit the West directly, the entire hemisphere would bear the brunt. Two hours were enough for Stella. But for the base, it was far from sufficient. With over two hundred thousand survivors to evacuate within a radius of fifteen to twenty miles by land, sea, and air, two hours was nowhere near enough.

Thankfully, the base was prepared for such emergencies, drilling the survivors who kept their bug-out bags close. Even though Stella felt she was quick, as she and Cooper burst out of the yard, others were already in lightning mode. The residential area was cramped, a maze of houses with no room for helicopters. Just as Stella thought about driving out, the neighbor's gate swung open, and a whole family emerged, "Hurry, hurry, we've got to catch the bus."

Delay could mean losing a spot. The neighborhood erupted, everyone carrying and dragging belongings as they rushed to the gathering site. Some couldn't stop in time, crashing into one another. In mere minutes, the usually quiet lane was teeming with chaos and panic, like ants scalded by boiling water, desperately fighting to escape. If Area B was this chaotic, the rest of the base was undoubtedly worse.

At this moment, cars were useless compared to the efficiency of public transport. Jasper locked eyes with Stella, and they ran. Fearing they'd get separated in the melee, Jasper scooped Cooper into his arms while Stella grabbed Rosie, and they bolted toward the base's perimeter. Nobody wanted to die; everyone was desperate to live!

In survival mode, people unleashed their full potential, rivaling the frenzied rush of seniors storming a supermarket for eggs—their speed was astonishing. The crowd thickened on the streets, bumping, shoving, chaotic... A fierce shove nearly separated them, but Stella clung to Jasper's arm. They finally left Area B behind, but the roads ahead were even more congested.