18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 613

Recently, the weather's been a lot more predictable, but crops still need time to grow, so most folks are just managing to fill their bellies. Reagan, being who he is, never really struggled with getting enough to eat, though his meals were far from lavish.

Stella had given the Flores family some chickens a while back, so they had no shortage of eggs. Just a couple of days ago, their long-lost daughter came home, and Emily, without a second thought, slaughtered the hen to feed her frail child.

Daniel, knowing the Flores family's situation, warmly invited them over. "Come share another meal. No need to stand on ceremony, we're practically family."

Vanessa chimed in enthusiastically, "We've got plenty, and it's Stella's cooking—a real treat you don't get every day."

With such warm invitations, the Flores family couldn't refuse and shyly took their seats. Rosie, quick on her feet, hurried to whip up a couple more dishes and soon brought them to the table.

The dinner table was lively with chatter between the two families. Vera, having rested for two days, looked much better.

Emily, with her knack for words, said, "Sunny, it wasn't fate that brought Lyn back, it was Stella's good fortune."

Stella was indeed a blessing for the whole family. It's the Aussie way, to share stories and pleasantries over a meal, keeping the atmosphere harmonious.

During the meal, Stella noticed something wasn't right with Vera. She seemed not only shy but also easily distracted and quite listless. Emily, deeply worried, had rushed over with her daughter when she heard Stella was back. Her daughter had returned, but her spirit hadn't.

With the families living so close, Stella would definitely keep an eye on them. After dinner, Reagan and Daniel went to the study, and the concerned Emily took the chance to speak up.

Stella checked Vera over and found her physically depleted, which was expected, but the main issue was psychological—post-disaster syndrome.

Stella herself had experienced it when she first came back—anxiety, depression, irritability, and relentless nightmares. Each person shows different symptoms based on their personality. Vera, being introverted and frail, surviving was a miracle in itself.

Reuniting with her parents eased her tension, but her mind was still trapped in the horrors of the past. "It's nothing serious, just physical depletion and some mental fatigue. She should take some medicine, go out more, get some sunshine, and exercise."

Mental illness isn't cured overnight; Vera would need time to heal. Vera thanked Stella, "Thanks, Stella."

She was a girl of few words and soon got distracted again, this time by the playful Cooper. Cooper, feeling like this was his territory, swaggered over when he saw her staring and stared back assertively. He was a bit miffed; his favorite chicken drumstick had been given to her. Hmph, it used to be his treat!

Decades of partnership meant they understood each other with just a look or a word. With Daniel's reassurance, Reagan felt relieved.

After the Flores family left, father and daughter sat down for a heart-to-heart. Stella didn't hold back and shared the details of her salvage trip, especially the events in the New World. The New World was harsh but vast, likely with many survivors. The key concern was China's presence there, the exact numbers of which were unclear.

What pained Stella was the open oil fields. China, indeed, seemed to be fortune's favored child. Cody, Lukas, and others had roamed the New World for years, and despite the harsh conditions, they felt the land was rich in resources. If you worked hard, any environment could be transformed. An abundance of resources meant that once China stabilized, they could potentially soar.

But worrying wasn't helpful; strength was the only way to face fear. Still, she shared the port layouts she had seen. It was surprising that even after being backstabbed, China retained such strength. Fortunately, she had destroyed the fake China's base in the Arctic; otherwise, if the real China found it, it would have been like adding wings to a tiger.

The critical supplies were all aboard her Arcadia, and as for the aircraft carrier and transport ships that couldn't be moved, she guessed they were probably being salvaged by the Russians. Learning about China's current state, Daniel was optimistic. Griffith had preserved the military base in the south, and when push came to shove, they were not to be underestimated.

As for the four friends who returned with her, they required further consideration. Back at South Base, his curiosity about Stella had driven him to dig into the background of the four individuals. It all began rather unremarkably, but as they weathered through natural disasters, they grew stronger. Maybe that's what sets humans apart from animals—the resilience in the face of calamity, the boundless potential that seems to emerge.

However, Daniel was cautious, "After all these years apart, do you really still know them?"