Chapter 10
Two days later, the first floor was completely flooded. Stella stood on the balcony, and saw quite a few people daringly swimming out of the neighborhood.
Here, the terrain was higher, and the water wasn’t rushing too much, but outside was a different story. Whether those who swam out could swim back depended on luck.
Angela sent a message, saying she decided to move over immediately. She and Lukas. lived in Unit 3. just about 50 yards away from Stella’s building.
Feeling a bit worried, Stella fetched her binoculars and kept an eye out. About half an hour later, an inflatable rubber boat appeared in the water. There was stuff on the boat, Lukas sat on it, wearing a disposable raincoat, paddling with an oar, while Angela was in the water, pulling the boat with all her strength.
Stella went downstairs with her trash, planning to meet them on the second floor. She ran into Sadie coming out of 1202 on the 12th floor. Sadie was wearing a polka–dot dress that didn’t quite fit her. Her eyes lit up when she saw Stella, “Stella.”
Only five days had passed, but she had already lost her initial dazzling aura. She was not only thinner but also looked pale and haggard. Stella ignored her and continued downstairs with her trash.
*Stella, are you mad at me?” Sadie followed, her voice sweet and weak, “If I did something. wrong, you can point it out.”
Stella warned her with a stern face, “Stay away from me.”
However, Sadie seemed to ignore her, and continued to follow, “Stella, actually, me and Hector are not what you think. We’re just good friends. I feel quite connected with you.”
Stella stopped in her tracks, threw the trash in her hand at Sadie, “Can’t you hear what I’m saying, or is there something wrong with your brain?”
Caught off guard, Sadie was hit straight on. Her gentle demeanor instantly disappeared, and she angrily yelled, “What the hell?”
“Sadie, I don’t care if you freeload off others, but don’t think about using me.”
This statement made the face of the girl living in 1202 turn sour. She looked at Stella, her emotions resembled a roller coaster ride.
What are you talking about?” Sadie, even with her good temper, couldn’t stand it anymore, “We go to the same school. I was just saying hi
“Why are you following me around like a puppy? You’re messaging me all the time. Do you think I’m stupid?”
You
Sadie’s face turned red, and she began to yell, “Your house is overflowing with
Chapter 10
food, while others are starving. Why don’t you share your food with those in need?”
Stella took out the kitchen knife hidden in her clothes, swung it at Sadie’s face, “When did you see my house overflowing with food? You’re like a leech, sucking the life out of one household and onto the next. Who isn’t starving? Why should I give you the food that’s keeping me alive, because you have no shame and sell your body to live?”
Even in the extreme cold, she had hooked up with several men, using the stolen Arcadia to store the supplies that she took from them, to keep herself looking bright and shiny in the filthy and grim apocalypse.
Whether it was her choice, or Hector’s, was not known. In the chaos of the apocalypse, trading your body for food was not a rare occurrence.
Sadie screamed and backed away, hitting the wall behind her. She was pale and shaking all over. She never thought that Stella would swing a knife at her, and for a moment she was too shocked to speak.
The commotion was too loud, and the neighbors who heard it opened their doors. Stella ignored their glances and continued downstairs, hearing Sadie start to cry.
In the time that Stella was delayed, Angela swam over in the storm. Humans were fragile in the face of major disasters. A mere 50 yards almost cost them their lives.
Stella pulled Lukas in through the window, then several backpacks and bags, then the rubber boat, and finally Angela who was soaked in water.
The residents on the second floor were also busy moving. Living without water, electricity, and gas was not easy. Even if they had rice, flour, oil, and grain, they had no way to cook. Some used vodka as fuel, some chopped up their furniture to burn, and some were so hungry that they ate raw rice and got diarrhea,
Seeing a few sturdy bags thrown in through the window, many people’s eyes lit up, especially when they saw the rubber boat. A middle–aged woman hurried over and asked with a smile, “You guys are moving and brought so many things. What’s in them?” Her face was smiling, but her eyes were calculating.
Seeing her wanting to touch the bags, Lukas quickly moved the stuff to his feet so she couldn’t touch them.
When she couldn’t touch the bags, the woman tried to grab the rubber boat, “Young man, we’ve been stuck here for days without food or drink. Can we borrow your boat to go out and find something? We can’t let the kids starve.”
The rubber boat was a lifesaver, and Lukas couldn’t agree. But the woman reached out to grab it.
Lukas, weakened by illness, almost fell when the woman pulled on the boat. In a moment of desperation, he pulled the air valve and the boat deflated.
What’s wrong with you, young man? We’re all suffering, why can’t you…”
Angela was pulled up by Stella Seeing her boyfriend being bullied, she became angry and pushed the woman What are you doing?
was strong and the woman took several steps back and hit the wall, almost tumbling down the stairs. The woman’s two sons immediately rushed over, “You don’t have to lend it but why do you have to hit people”
They raised their fists and wanted to hit Angela, trying to teach her a lesson. Angela didn’t hold back a punch and a kick and the two fell down the stairs and into the water on the first floor
The woman was about to wail when she saw her two sons fall into the water. She couldn’t afford to make a scene and quickly ran down to help them.
The other onlookers began to criticize. “They were just asking. Did you have to hit them?” If the rubber boat was borrowed, would it be returned? Stella had anticipated this situation, otherwise, she wouldn’t have brought a knife.
Angela took the kitchen knife from Stella and yelled, “Try touching my stuff!”
Short haired, husky voice, at first glance, you might think Angela’s a man. When they saw how she took down two men, the onlookers were unwilling but didn’t dare to step forward. Stella led Angela and Lukas upstairs with their bags. Lukas was dejected, and Angela was also upset. A storm had not only overturned the entire world, but people’s morals were also shattered, showing their true colors.
Seeing the stainless steel door on the 18th floor, Angela paused, “Stella, you’re really
smart.”
“It was my neighbor’s idea. I just benefited from it.”
Lukas rubbed his black eyes, “If we had known earlier, we would have moved. These past few days, we haven’t slept well.”
There were freeloaders, those who used the bathroom, and even those who tried to break in in the middle of the night.
Stella asked with concern, “You guys didn’t run out of food, did
you?”
“We hit the jackpot. Someone messed up their delivery address just before the hurricane, and the supermarket sent over several bags of groceries.”
Two 20–pound bags of rice, several bundles of spaghetti and rice, pickles and cheese, a portable gas stove, solid alcohol blocks, an inflatable boat, and a solar charger.
It’s an anonymous order. Before they could figure it out, the hurricane was upon them
Usually, they would either eat at the school cafeteria or order takeout, with the occasional indulgence in cooking. If it weren’t for the misdelivery, she and Lukas might have starved
to death.
