18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 417

The screams grew louder and more frequent, a chorus of horror as one person had their arm torn off, their bodies dragged mercilessly down into the abyss. The moon hung in the sky, dull and lifeless, its light doing nothing to illuminate the sea creatures that darted below, their teeth tearing into flesh. Blood spread rapidly through the water. Some had their hands bitten, others their legs mangled, and some were pulled under, never to resurface.

In the frantic struggle for life, someone's hand struck something hard and round. A flicker of light from a flashlight revealed a large spherical object. A lifeboat! Hope surged within them as they pounded on the lifeboat's hull, “Help! Help!”

Stella felt the vibrations, but the rocking was subtle. The glass curtains were drawn, obscuring the view from both inside and outside. The drop from cruise ship to lifeboat was drastic.

Thankfully, the trio and their dog were pros at adapting. While others fought desperately in the ocean, risking death at any moment, they enjoyed warm meals and the luxury of a hot shower—a stark contrast to the chaos outside. Rosie smiled, sneaking a rib to Cooper.

The next morning, they woke up to the comfort of soft beds and the distant calls of seagulls. Sunlight streamed through the window, tender and bright, like a warm hand caressing Rosie’s face. She got dressed and hurried to cook breakfast. Opening the door, she startled a seagull perched on the deck, which took flight against the blue sky.

Rosie rarely saw birds other than crows. Now, seeing seagulls at sea, her sister-in-law had warned her to keep her distance. Mutated by the fish they consumed, these birds could pose a threat.

Stella woke up feeling sore and lethargic. Jasper, without a thought, wrapped an arm around her waist and nuzzled her neck, “Sleep some more. Rosie and Cooper will handle breakfast.” They’d been up late, and the tiredness weighed heavily on them. They managed to sleep until past nine when Cooper came knocking, “Woof!”

No guessing needed—Rosie had breakfast ready. After washing up and eating, Stella returned to her research, but soon dozed off. Only Jasper persevered, taking diligent notes for Stella to review later. In the evening, Cooper came with an urgent bark, “Woof, woof!”

Jasper had trained him well. Two short barks meant a discovery! It was Rosie’s doing, sending Cooper with news of a submarine sighting. “Is it from South Base?” Rosie asked, full of hope. Far off, only a periscope was visible above the water, impossible to identify. But one thing was clear: the presence of the submarine indicated deep waters, a playground for her little sub. Yet, for all the appeal of the cramped submarine, Rosie preferred the luxury of the massive cruise liner—if she had to choose.

Suddenly, as if snatched by a giant dog, the sunset was gone, and dark clouds amassed in the distance. Stella was reading in her room when she fell asleep. Rosie, ever vigilant, didn’t disturb her brother unless necessary. Wearing her apron, Rosie was cooking while Cooper lounged on the deck. When Cooper sensed danger, it was already too late. He barked sharply, “Woof, woof, woof!”

The kitchen lights dimmed. Rosie looked up, alert, but saw nothing amiss. Yet when she looked further out, she nearly dropped the spatula in shock. She thought her eyes deceived her, but blinking did not change the sight. Startled by Cooper’s yelps, Stella woke from her dream, leaping up instinctively. She and Jasper rushed outside, arriving on deck to see a monstrous wave rolling toward them. At the horizon, a wall of water, dozens of meters high, crashed forward with unstoppable force. But around Stella, the sea remained eerily calm.

A storm at sea! The sky turned inky black, as if splashed with thick ink, and purple lightning tore through the clouds, striking the ocean with ferocious intensity. The electrical storm dazzled more brilliantly than any fireworks display, with flashes of green, blue, and purple lighting up the sky, as if determined to rip the heavens apart. The wave advanced rapidly, growing ever larger. Like the pages of a book flipped violently, the wave rose sharply, then curled ominously towards them.

The ship in the distance was tossed high by the wave, and as the sea rolled, it capsized, swallowed by the churning water. Against the storm’s wrath, the sizable vessel was as insignificant as a child’s paper boat. Onboard were survivors, clinging to life with all the protective measures they could muster. Yet, they were as ants before the tempest, swallowed by the furious sea without a chance to struggle.

Stella’s heart clenched, her body rigid with fear. “Brother,” Rosie called out, racing from the kitchen with her spatula, “the storm is coming!” In mere moments, the storm seemed to teleport closer, its monstrous maw snapping at them. The sea roiled violently from its depths, waves rising without warning, nearly tossing the trio and their dog overboard. “Careful,” Jasper said, holding his sister close.

In the blink of an eye, Stella enveloped them and the ship within Arcadia. No sooner had the cruise liner disappeared than the storm struck. The tempest, a hundred meters tall, unleashed its fury, sweeping relentlessly forward. Thunder boomed, and a deluge fell from the skies as the sea raged like a madman with a knife—wild and unyielding.

They retreated into Arcadia, and Stella brought out the lifeboat. Jasper, quick to act, ushered his sister in, “Don’t be afraid; I’m with you.” All three, plus Cooper, squeezed into the lifeboat, Stella being the last one in, pulling the door and curtains shut behind them.

Rosie had never seen anything so terrifying. For a moment, she was paralyzed with fear until Jasper wrapped his arms around her, comforting, “It’s alright. It looks close but it’s far away. The storm will pass us by.” Stella nearly burst into laughter. She had become complacent at sea, relying too much on Arcadia. She resolved to be more vigilant, not to take her safety for granted.

Rosie sipped warm water, her nerves settling slowly, “Brother, has the storm passed us by?” Jasper, with a flair for the dramatic, sauntered over to the window and drew the curtain back with exaggerated care. He peered outside, as if surveying an ever-changing landscape, and then announced with mock gravity, “Hmm, we’ve taken a turn.”