18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 74

It was only two miles to Redland Town, but the icy surface was slicker than a greased pig at a county fair. The so-called snow boots did no good. If anyone were to chase her, not only would she not be able to run fast, but she was likely to take a nasty spill.

Stella, under the guise of digging through her backpack, pulled out a pair of ice skates from Arcadia and strapped them on. The skates were a bit large, but with a few pairs of socks stuffed in, they fit just fine.

Stella had learned to skate, but like a hound dog on a slippery porch, she was all wobble and no grace. She clumsily glided toward the outskirts of the community.

Before she could even get out of the neighborhood, two men burst from building 7, wielding clubs and charging at her. It was her fault for standing out so much. The arctic survival suits were designed to be brightly colored for search and rescue purposes, even in the graying weather.

The two men were bundled up, wearing all their clothes regardless of the season; their greedy eyes were the only thing visible. Needless to say, they had their sights on Stella's suit.

Unfortunately for them, their shoes slipped on the ice, and they took a tumble before they could even reach Stella. By the time they managed to pick themselves up, she was long gone.

Once she was out of the community, she gradually found her balance and skated swiftly towards Redland Town.

She encountered a few survivors on the way, who watched with envious eyes as she shot past them on the snowy landscape. Damn, she was impressive! Here in the south, who else had such complete gear?

They envied how well she was living, and then grimaced at their own pitiful state.

The more she skated, the smoother she got, and she quickly arrived at Redland Town. Stella switched back into her snow boots, took Cooper out of her backpack, and headed towards the top floor of the commercial city.

In just a few months, the once bustling commercial city was desolate, with debris everywhere, and even splattered blood on the walls.

In this unfamiliar environment, Cooper was particularly vigilant, leading the way and ensuring that it was safe before allowing Stella to follow.

Only the top two floors of Redland Town were not flooded, and Stella found a secluded spot on the top floor that also offered a panoramic view of the surroundings. The roads and surrounding shops were all submerged underwater, and in the distance, the silhouette of a building could be vaguely seen.

She scanned the area with her binoculars but didn't spot any potential threats.

The outside was freezing, especially when sitting still. Each breath she took felt like it was numbing her heart. This damn weather must’ve been below -30 degrees, right?

Stella took out some foot warmers and stuck them on, then hugged a hot water bottle for warmth. She instructed Cooper to keep watch as she was going to rest.

It was still early, but she had come out early to see if the person threatening her had any accomplices keeping watch or lying in ambush.

Stella nestled in a wind-sheltered spot, tending to her crops in Arcadia in her mind. She was planning to plant some peanuts.

Cooper was a serious dog and kept a dutiful watch, ready to find and eliminate anyone who tried to steal his food.

When she was tired, Stella would rest with her eyes closed, or scan the surroundings with her binoculars.

At three in the afternoon, there was no sign of anyone suspicious, not even a ghost. Stella was patient, and it wasn't until almost four o'clock that Cooper gave a low warning.

When she looked through her binoculars, she saw a shadow slowly moving across the snow. The figure was completely wrapped up from head to toe, making it impossible to discern their shape, but based on the direction they came from, she could already guess who it was.

Stella checked her non-digital watch, then hid with Cooper. While hiding, she had Cooper kept an eye on the perimeter.

The shadow slowly climbed to the top floor, scanning the surroundings with vigilant eyes. Seeing that the place was empty, they seemed to be taken aback.

Stella, hiding in the shadows, couldn't help but laugh. It was as if she was the only one capable of standing someone up. She decided to let them wait a bit longer, to see who would grow impatient first.

In the icy landscape, the chilling air felt like invisible needles piercing her body. Sadie was so cold that she was on the verge of passing out, but she was too stubborn to leave. It wasn't possible. If Stella wasn't afraid of Arcadia being exposed, she wouldn't have left her home so early.