18 Floors Above the Apocalypse



Jasper might have been clueless before, but after nine years with Stella, he'd picked up on everything he needed to know. Stella didn't hold back. "Yeah, your sister's all grown up."

Jasper paused, feeling a mix of happiness and a touch of melancholy.

"What's wrong?" Stella teased, tapping his chin playfully. "Not thrilled that Rosie's growing up?"

"Of course I'm happy. It's just... time flies, you know?"

Stella chuckled, "Feeling like an old dad who's going to walk his daughter down the aisle soon?"

Jasper opened his mouth, struggled for words, and finally admitted, "Yeah, and you're turning into an old mom, too."

But growing up was something to be celebrated. If their parents could see them from the beyond, they'd surely be comforted.novelbin

Raising a child in a post-apocalyptic world was no small feat, especially with Rosie turning out so well-most of the credit went to Stella. He wrapped his arms around Stella and kissed her. "Stella, thank you for all these tough years."

Feeling playful, Stella flirted back, "So, how do you plan to thank me?"

As their kisses deepened, he murmured, "My life for you."

Stella laughed, "What good is your life to me?"

He whispered in her ear, "What about my body, does that work?"

Stella playfully kicked him, "Be serious."

She went to deliver sanitary pads to Rosie and then turned to Jasper with a knowing look. "What are you waiting for? Clean up."

After five days in the submarine, Rosie's period had ended.

Blue Blue's relentless scratching finally paid off, clearing its body of barnacles over the past couple of days, and it hadn't reappeared since.

The silence of the deep sea was eerie, and the initial wonder at observing the marine life had turned to ennui. Not even the prettiest jellyfish or the strangest creatures could stir much excitement in the trio and their dog.

Meals were eaten in silence, punctuated only by the clink of cutlery, chewing of food, and the sound of breathing.

Even Cooper's snoring had lost its charm, becoming a source of oppressive irritation.

Stella recognized the signs: deep-sea cabin fever was setting in.

The bizarre creatures, dim lighting, and cramped space could suffocate the spirit if endured for too long.

To ease the stress, they surfaced the submarine.

The freedom of Arcadia, the warmth of the sun, the open view, and soothing music softened the moods of the three humans and their dog.

Stella and Rosie sat cracking sunflower seeds on the deck of the submarine.

Jasper and Cooper, not fans of such pastimes, took turns patrolling the waters.

After finishing with the seeds and noticing Jasper's furrowed brow, Stella asked, "What's up?"

He stared out at the sea. "I've got this feeling we're being watched."

His police officer's instinct, especially as someone who'd lived two lives, wasn't to be questioned.

Stella scanned the horizon with binoculars but found nothing.

Jasper reminded her, "Our binoculars aren't the best."

Considering the strange ocean creatures and the mutated Iran, Stella shivered. "You mean someone might be watching us from afar, and we just haven't spotted them?"

Without evidence but trusting his gut, Jasper felt uneasy.

Stella had Arcadia, and that's what kept them comfortable. But as ordinary people with limited resources, they couldn't ignore that others might have far superior gear.

Ordinary folks might lack the means, but what about groups or even nations?

The world had over two hundred countries, and despite the catastrophic disasters, the will to survive was strong.

"Why would they watch us?" Stella frowned slightly. "To see Rosie and me cracking seeds?"

Jasper mused, "Maybe I'm just being paranoid."

Better safe than sorry, they took a deep breath and the submarine descended once more.

Jasper was cautious. They moved the submarine away from that area, with Rosie and Cooper monitoring from their respective windows. No disturbances, for now.

After traveling a hundred nautical miles, they dropped anchor again.

Night fell, and the bottom of the sea was pitch-black.

Sitting in the bedroom, flipping through a magazine she couldn't focus on, Stella shared her worry, "Do you think it'll get harder from here?"

She was referring to human-caused disasters.

Before the land submerged, even amidst severe human conflicts, most countries tried to save the world.

But as tectonic plates shattered and nations became mere "nations," if they faced survival threats and dropped their national façades, it could lead to even greater catastrophes.

The scarcer the resources, the fiercer the plundering.

Even if you didn't provoke others, they might come knocking.

Unable to see the future, Stella comforted herself, "There's always a way out."

Daytime thoughts lead to nighttime dreams.

Stella dreamt of being besieged, the submarine breached and flooding, water rising to her neck.

She was trapped under the hatch, struggling in vain to open it as cold seawater filled her lungs...

Her body jerked awake in the pitch darkness.

"Stella?" Jasper's arms enveloped her. "Bad dream?"

Gasping for breath, she buried her face in his chest, silent.

Jasper turned on a light, patted her back gently, and handed her a warm glass of water.

Checking the time, it was barely 1 a.m.

She tried to sleep after drinking the water, tossing and turning restlessly.

Jasper offered his arm as a pillow, and eventually, her breathing evened out to the rhythm of his heartbeat.

In the morning, as they dressed, the submarine lurched violently. Stella's quick reflexes saved her from tumbling as she grabbed onto a safety rail.

Was it Blue Blue?

No, the impact was much stronger, capable of knocking a person over.

They hurried to the observation windows, bracing for more jolts, rhythmic and forceful.

A massive shape passed by the window, blocking out all light.

After about fifteen seconds, faint light allowed Stella to finally see the culprit.

Oh, it was Blue Blue again!

What on earth was it thinking?

She watched as Blue Blue circled the submarine, bumping it occasionally.

The force was significant to them but not enough to damage the submarine.

Still, they couldn't let it continue wreaking havoc.

Rosie hustled over, just as Stella was about to pilot the submarine away. Jasper approached from viewport number three. "Blue Blue's been attacked by another sub and got hurt."

Another sub?

"No, Blue Blue is a mutated blue whale. With a size like that, who'd dare mess with it? Are they looking for a death wish?"

"There's a harpoon stuck in its back, launched from a sub," Jasper mused. "Blue Blue keeps ramming our sub. It must be asking for our help."

Asking for help?

Rosie's eyes widened in concern, and Stella's hands paused on the controls. The idea of a creature as majestic and powerful as Blue Blue seeking their assistance was both humbling and alarming. In the vast expanse of the deep blue, even behemoths like Blue Blue were vulnerable. It was a stark reminder that beneath the waves, it was a different world entirely-a world where the rules of the surface didn't always apply. "Help? How on earth do we do that?" Stella questioned, the reality of the situation sinking in. The weight of responsibility pressing on her shoulders was as heavy as the ocean depths they were submerged in.

Jasper's gaze was steely, his resolve clear. "We've got to do something. We can't just leave it in pain. Besides, it came to us for a reason."

Rosie nodded, her determination matching Jasper's. "Right. Let's gear up and check the damage. We need to get that harpoon out."

The trio prepared for the unexpected rescue mission, knowing full well that the ocean's code was clear: when one of its own reached out for help, you answered the call.