Chapter 29
It wasn’t until Stella started loading the cases of bourbon that she realized that the antiques and the antique rack she’d collected the night before were nowhere to be found. She searched high and low, but they were definitely gone.
The bourbon, diving gear, watches, and safes were all accounted for, only the antique paintings and the rack were missing.
Could it be that these ancient artifacts possessed some sort of spiritual quality that triggered the expansion of Arcadia? It was plausible, considering the amulet she wore was of the finest quality.
But the antique rack was not of this nature, so why did they disappear too?
As Stella pondered over the secret to Arcadia’s expansion, Cody knocked on the door.
Perhaps the hunger he’d experienced during the hurricane had left a lasting imprint on him, as he now seemed to have a heightened sense of urgency about their food supplies. Their rations were quickly depleting with three people to feed.
Waking up to find the water level had risen again, he was more convinced than ever that the end of the world was upon them. “Yesterday we only searched my office building. There are two more nearby. Why don’t we get to them before anyone else does?” Cody proposed.
At first, Stella planned to fill up the apartment and Arcadia and then lay low. But with an extra 150 cubic feet of space, she was suddenly interested again. They had enough food, but surviving the apocalypse required more than just sustenance.
Being wealthy could be a curse. Perhaps having plenty of food could make them a bigger target.
Items like the samurai sword and golf clubs they’d found yesterday could’ve been invaluable in defending themselves against dangerous intruders. If they ever ended up in the water, diving equipment could potentially save their lives. Moreover, if they could find more spiritually charged items, perhaps Arcadia could expand even further?
With these thoughts in mind, Stella enthusiastically agreed.
So, Cody went to knock on the door of apartment 1801. Jasper had no objections, and everyone quickly packed up their belongings and set off.
Despite their discretion, they still attracted attention. The looks from others were meaningful.
It seemed like despite their precautions, they had been discovered the night before. But what did it matter? They had earned their supplies with their own efforts.
The city’s water flow was stable, and to remain inconspicuous and seas
chose to row away rather than start the motor However, they were still being watched.
As they were leaving their apartment complex, a thick rope suddenly emerged from the murky floodwater. Jasper reacted quickly, using his oar to block the rope, saving them from being tripped up. If they had started the motor, they would have been flipped over into the water with the boat.
In the brief moment of confusion, several men emerged from the buildings, each armed and quickly swimming towards the raft. It was clear the people were up to no good.
Stella stood up, and her face looked stern as she drew her samurai sword, slashing at the approaching men.
“Ahh!!!”
Accompanied by a shrill scream, a man’s arm was cut off, and his blood was staining the floodwater.
Killing just one wouldn’t be enough to deter the others. Without hesitation, Stella aimed for his head.
If it weren’t for today’s events, she wouldn’t have realized how many people had their eyes on them. The alliance between the other apartment buildings was just the tip of the iceberg; who knew how many others were lurking in the shadows?
The people of the 18th floor were seen as a fat lamb, ready for the slaughter. If they showed weakness or cowardice, they would be swarmed, their supplies would get stolen, and even Angela and Rosie could lose their lives.
So, there was no room for retreat. Any sign of softness would be their downfall.
Although Lukas and Cody were physically weaker, they quickly accepted the reality.
The world had changed. It was no longer a world of law and order, but one of survival of the fittest. Those sharp weapons could kill, and they couldn’t just sit and wait to die.
The two of them lifted their oars, ready to fight back against those who threatened their lives. Stella continued to swing her sword. The water around the raft turned red. The injured men screamed and thrashed in the water before being swept away by the flood.
After injuring five or six men, the remaining few turned tail and fled.
Remembering her tragic past, Stella’s eyes turned bloodshot as she coldly ordered, “Chase them. They couldn’t let them go!
Cody and Lukas rowed as fast as they could, while Jasper took out his nail gun. His aim was precise, and no matter how much the men thrashed in the water, he shot them down one by one.
angihilation!
Lukas and Cody, panting heavily, asked, “Should we go back now?”
“We can’t,” Stella said, cleaning her samurai sword. “If we go back now, it will be seen as a sign of weakness, telling them that Angela was not up for the challenge. The next time we go out, they will swarm the 18th floor.”
Lukas was extremely nervous. He knew Angela could fight, but how many could she take on unarmed?
“Stella is right. We need to get there and back as quickly as possible.”
With a heavy heart, Lukas gritted his teeth and continued to row.
Once they left the city, they started the motor on the raft, roaring towards the outskirts. Halfway there, they noticed another raft approaching from the front.
Stella used her binoculars and was surprised to find Hector standing at the bow of the other raft. Sadie was there too, along with the boys who had been trapped on the 8th floor.
Their raft was towing a rubber boat filled with supplies. They all wore smug smiles on their faces.
As the two boats passed each other, Hector gave Stella a mocking smile.
Stella was indifferent. The apocalypse would teach him a lesson. However, she had a bad feeling. Their trip was likely to be in vain.
Soon enough, her prediction came true. In less than a day, the remaining two office buildings had been completely ransacked Broken glass and overturned office desks were everywhere, chaotic footprints all around.
It seemed that more than one group had come to scavenge.
Cody was frustrated. “We’re a step too late. There’s nothing left.”
Stella remained calm. “That might not necessarily be the case. It depends on what you’re looking for.”
Their supplies, if rationed, would last them half a year. By then, the flood would have receded, and they would be entering the freezing apocalypse.
With temperatures dipping to minus seventy degrees, food was not the most important thing Staying warm was vital for survival.
She subtly hinted, “Since we’re here, why not gather some firewood to take back? We can’t just go back empty–handed.”
Lukas was puzzled. “We have plenty of gas. Why do we need.firewood?”
can’t dry our clothes with a gas fire Coch
As they ventured upward, they found the offices in a mess, littered with plastic and the occasional wooden desk – though these were simply sawdust and glue, certainly not fireproof and smelling of toxic fumes.
The other office building was the same, yielding only forgotten fast food, a few cases of bottled water, and a minor amount of timber.
They returned to the building housing Cody’s company. It was also ransacked, but the damage was less severe, likely because intruders had discovered the place had been picked over and made
a hasty retreat to the other two buildings.
Stella’s hunch was right. As they climbed higher, evidence of intrusion became less frequent. She suggested a staggered search pattern, as each person might’ve noticed. something different, perhaps overlooked areas.
Stella set about searching the area Lukas had combed through the day before, while Cody swapped places with Jasper.
Her motives had shifted. Yesterday, they sought medication and food. Today, with an additional 150 cubic feet in Arcadia, the overly cautious Stella wanted to fill it to the brim.
Books to enrich their minds, ornate vases from the boss‘ office, wooden desks, wardrobes, jewel ornaments, and mop handles from the janitor’s closet.
Men seemed to lack the knack for scavenging. Stella, however, managed to find many overlooked snacks and suitable clothing and shoes after a thorough search.
She stumbled upon a jewel company. The counter was empty and showed no signs of vandalism. After a quick tour, she discovered the manager’s office was locked tight.
After a struggle with the sturdy door, she found four safes inside. They likely contained jewels, so Stella stowed all of it in Arcadia. She also found some tea, cigarettes, and alcohol, and used a samurai sword to dismantle the office furniture.
She also raided a sportswear company’s local office, taking only sizes suitable for their group, while the rest were swept into Arcadia.
One company appeared to be planning a team–building event, leaving several large boxes of barbecue charcoal and camping equipment behind in their administrative department. After going through four floors, Stella returned to the clothing company’s live streaming office and gathered another batch of clothing, including women’s underwear and bras that the men were too embarrassed to take
She also revisited the home appliance company from the night before and quietly collected a batch of appliances that might’ve proved useful later, including a high–end massage chair worth several thousands of dollars.
