18 Floors Above the Apocalypse



Discussing why Lillian got hurt was enough to give the warden a migraine. "Area F is a madhouse, full of folks with dual diagnoses. Not a single sane soul among them, and the numbers just keep growing. We're fresh out of management strategies," he lamented.

These folks might be off their rockers, but they sure knew how to pick on the weaker ones-the meek and the women.

Sure, the wardens were there, but they weren't superhuman. They couldn't keep eyes on every patient all the time, and training or reforming this crowd was a lost cause.

We've got a disciplinary ward, but what good is punishment to someone who's lost their mind?

Lillian was an easy target, bullied by both men and women. The wardens had stepped in more times than they could count. The aggressors, when lucid, would apologize, but in the throes of their illness, they lost all traces of humanity.

And Lillian? She was like wet clay-no form, no resilience. Aside from her constant, delirious cries for Stella, she was passive to a fault.

After several conversations, it was clear to the wardens that Lillian's mental state wasn't as severe as some others. With the right cooperation, she could be healed and moved to Area E.

Area E housed those with physical ailments, mentally more stable than the folks in Area F, where you had to earn your keep to get your meals. But Lillian was a complex case.

Even in the base, it was a dog-eat-dog world. If the warden were in Lillian's shoes, he'd have fought back against the bullies. After all, they were all in the same sinking ship.

Lillian, however, was prone to dodging issues, mistaking her naivety for cleverness, and always pinning her hopes on others. In the end, her reliance on others was her downfall.

But as a warden, there were thoughts he kept to himself.

Listening to all this, Stella remained expressionless.

The woman before her was a shadow of her former self, a far cry from the pampered life Lillian once led.

Always depending on someone else.

What was going through Lillian's mind?

Born into a world that didn't want her, tossed into an orphanage, ignored for years, and nearly killed for someone else's gain.

Why couldn't she stop fixating on it?

Julia was her pride and joy, Daniel her knight in shining armor. Why weren't they on her mind now?

Stella watched as Lillian's breath grew ragged.

Lillian reached out, blood smeared across her face, trying to muster a smile. "Ginger... Ginger... I'm sorry... it was me... my fault."

Her arm fell limp, her eyes wide open, never to close again.

In her final moments, Lillian's life flashed before her eyes like a flickering film. She had held on to the hope of her beloved returning.

And he did return.

She had the child, the wedding, and the blissful family life.

Stella, I'm sorry.

Daniel, I'm sorry.

She had the courage to love but not to hold on.

She wanted everything but ended up with nothing.

What she did have was never what she truly wanted.

The hospital had procedures for the deceased. Stella glanced at Lillian one last time and walked away, not back to work but out to the hospital entrance for some fresh air.

As she reached the door, along came Bran, huffing and puffing.

Stella raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you supposed to be hauling bricks?"

Bran looked at her with feigned innocence. "Yeah, but I overate last night, still feeling stuffed, so I'm out for a jog."

Stella eyed him skeptically. "You look more like a starving ghost than someone with indigestion."

Bran chuckled. "Sis, I'm craving a smoke."

As if he needed one. The guy just needed to scratch an itch.

Fortunately, Stella had a few stale cigarettes left over. "My brother-in-law's got a couple left. I'll hook you up when I get a chance."

Bran beamed at her. "You're the best, sis."

Stella paused, then smirked. "Can't get rid of you no matter how hard I try."

After all, a little kindness never hurt, especially to someone who'd been like a brother to her.

"So, sis, guess who I partied with last night?"

Stella feigned indifference. "Someone from South Base?"

"Yeah, Hans was there too," Bran said casually "Some folks brought their relatives, and one of them claimed to be a survivor from a transport ship in the Ru Province." Said they ran into a ghost ship in the Devil's Sea, loaded with food and meds."

Stella kept her composure, though her heart skipped a beat.

Never did she expect her past generosity to come back to haunt her at Hope Point.

Bran continued nonchalantly, "He bit his tongue talking too much. Hans had to patch him up with some herbs."

A chill crept up Stella's spine.

Bran patted his stomach. "Thought I had indigestion, but I guess the run did me good."

He gave Stella a long, prating look before waving goodbye. "I'm off to haul bricks, sis."

Stella watched him leave, lost in thought.

She mulled things over before seeking out Jasper.

Approaching lunchtime, Jasper was puzzled to see her. "What brings you here?"

Stella looked uneasy as she pulled Jasper aside. "Arcadia's been compromised."

Jasper's face fell. "What happened?"

Stella recounted the previous night's gathering and the slip-up.

It was a significant oversight.

Explaining the supplies to Hans was manageable, but the goods from the fishing boats were harder to justify.

People's plans change all the time, and if it weren't for the cargo from the sea floor, Stella might have never considered heading to Hope Point. Circumstances aligned too neatly-the Ru Province ship's arrival, its crew at the local gathering, and Hans' coincidental presence.

Even Bran suspected something. If he could piece it together, what about Hans?

Would they have to silence everyone? There were over five hundred on the transport alone, dozens at the party...

It was too many.

Hans was skilled but straightforward. Could he keep a secret, or would he be tricked into revealing the truth by someone like Justice, the old fox?

Bran had come to warn her today, but what if he had second thoughts tomorrow?

Once a person gets a whiff of

suspicion or greed, they can eitherThis content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

follow the vine to find the melon.or unravel the thread from the cocoon, or they might just keep probing incessantly.

Having lived two lifetimes, we've seen the dark side of human nature.

Whether it's individuals or the community, once they set their minds on something, they won't care if you admit it or not.

Once they make up their minds, they don't need any proof.

And what awaits Stella is beyond imagination.

Jasper's expression was grave, and after a long silence, he finally said, "Stella, let's go.

He couldn't afford to gamble, and he wouldn't take the risk.

The contributions he was supposed to make, he'd done in his past life.

In this life, his priority is to look after the people he cares about.

Go? Stella paused.

Having lived here for months,

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everything was getting better. Not only were her siblings' careers looking promising, but her heart had also found peace. Content belongs

She looked at him, "Can you really leave all this behind?"

Jasper understood her concerns, "It's not about what I can leave behind. Being with my family is what matters most to me."

Since we carry secrets and have enjoyed the benefits they bring, we must also be prepared for the day they're exposed.

This place is wonderful, and he'd like to settle down here, but no matter how much he wants to stay, it's not as important as family.

"We should leave now, before things get more complicated."

Stella snapped back to reality, "Okay."