18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 640

Stella was in a sleepy daze when the insistent barking from outside jolted her awake. The whining was urgent, scratching at the door as if signaling some dire emergency. The summer heat was unbearable, and although only three months along, her belly had yet to show – but the fatigue came all too easily.

"Pregnancy brain really does last three years," she thought, recalling the old wives' tale. After all, this was her third time around, and it seemed to her that she spent her days either being pregnant or on the way to it. She had been dreaming just moments before, though she couldn't tell if it was of the past or present. Only Cooper’s eyes, wet and lingering, stayed with her upon waking.

Stirring from sleep, she felt a heaviness in her chest, and her spirit seemed to drag. Rising to open the door, she half-expected Cooper to be the one calling her to wake, but instead, it was the plump and fluffy Doughboy. Doughboy was Cooper's late-life pup, and the father-son pair were practically carbon copies of each other.

From the day Doughboy was born, he was the apple of Cooper's eye, frequently bringing Stella presents to assert his presence. As Doughboy grew, Cooper took him under his wing for rigorous training. Today it might be chasing chickens, tomorrow it could be fetching wild hares. Cooper even took him along to roughhouse with the other pups and grandpups. The old man’s favoritism knew no bounds, and Doughboy certainly lived up to the challenge, never losing a fight.

He must have gotten his strong legs from all that protein because he grew to mirror the young Cooper in his prime. Tall, mighty, and fearless, Doughboy was the undefeated terror of Griffith, causing passersby to give him a wide berth. A sense of foreboding crept over Stella. What she feared seemed to come to pass; Cooper, having mutated during a calamity, had regained years of youth but aged rapidly thereafter. It was as if a life accelerator had been switched on.

He aged day by day, his once sleek fur turning grey, his eyes yellowing and clouding over, his movements slowing down. Sometimes, Cooper wouldn't even respond when Stella called him. He ate his steak very slowly, his movements sluggish, preferring to stay indoors awaiting her return. Stella had sensed what was coming but had been reluctant to accept it. Until he started disappearing.

Wandering off and not returning, in a place as vast as Griffith, finding a dog was no easy task, but he wouldn't listen. Panic-stricken, Stella searched the yard to no avail – Cooper was gone. This was the third time. She hurried next door, where her three rambunctious kids surrounded Daniel, circling him like satellites, while Vanessa chased them with steamed custard eggs, “Grandma’s recipe – so delicious, have another bite.”

Three kids in as many years – the eldest, Colin, the middle, Hugh, and the youngest, Madison. The middle two were twins, a boy and a girl, which thrilled Daniel to no end and left Griffith abuzz. The couple had decided against more children, but unexpectedly, Stella was now three months pregnant with their fourth.

“Dad, have you seen Cooper?” Stella inquired, searching. Daniel frowned, “No, is Cooper missing again?” Vanessa quickly set down the cutlery, “Stella, maybe Cooper just went for a walk. Don't worry, go rest, I’ll take Doughboy out to look.” The kids, excited to see Doughboy, rushed over to grab his tail. Stella flared up, glaring fiercely, “Don't touch him, how many times have I told you? Be careful or he might snap.”

Doughboy wasn't a biter, but he wasn't like Cooper either, and didn't have the same human touch. Under stress, he could lash out. Unlike Cooper, who was as devoted to the kids as if they were his own, serving as their canine nanny for three years, rocking their cradles, tucking them in, and even serving as a pillow. The trio, usually doted on by their mother, were shocked by the sudden harshness and on the verge of tears. Irritated and frazzled, Stella snapped, “No crying!”

Daniel, ever the peacemaker with the children, reassured them and said to Stella, “Don't worry, we'll find him. Take your time, we'll find him.” Despite Daniel's stern disposition, his soft spot for his grandchildren was undeniable. Perhaps making up for lost time with his daughter, he poured his affection into the kids, becoming gentle and kind. Work no longer seemed as appealing as spending time with his grandchildren.

Pregnant women are known for their emotional swings, and Stella, having snapped at the kids, immediately regretted it. She crouched down to console them gently. With both parents working, two nannies were hired to look after the kids. Daniel asked them to join the search for Cooper. Stella returned inside but couldn't calm down, her eyelids twitching nonstop. Not only was Cooper missing, but Snowflake was nowhere to be seen. Doughboy continued to whine, and the constant twitching of her eyelids left Stella too frazzled to stay put.

Eventually, she set out to search herself. Doughboy led the way, and Stella followed slowly behind. They headed towards the distant woods, one leading, the other trailing. They hadn't gone far before Brandon, in his Shield SUV, approached from the opposite direction. He pulled over, “Sis, where are you off to?” “Looking for Cooper.” In the scorching heat, it was easy to succumb to heatstroke. Brandon, newly wrapped around his daughter's finger, offered kindly, “Hop in. I'll help you look.”

Stella accepted without hesitation and got into his car. For all his slick talk, Brandon was reliable, and he drove at a snail's pace. Doughboy kept leading the way. After a winding journey of over ten miles, they reached the crest of a hill. There, Stella heard a mournful howl. It was Snowflake, and the sound was filled with sorrow. Taking a deep breath, Stella tried to steady her emotions. They found them in a den. Upon seeing Stella, Cooper lay placid and still in the earthen hollow, with Snowflake standing guard.

Stella seldom cried, but the tears came unbidden. She sat down, cradling Cooper in her arms. Oh, how she wished to return to the year they first met. Cooper weakly lifted his paw, gently scratching at her, his devoted friend. Stella pulled out a steaming steak and choked out, “Eat up.” Cooper ate half, then stopped. Time passed, and Stella felt the stiffness set in. Cooper looked peaceful, even wearing a faint smile.

Brandon comforted her, “Sis, try to let go. By dog years, Cooper lived well past a hundred – it’s a celebration of life. He was luckier than any dog in the world to have met you. It’s time to part, even though it's hard. He left happy, and you should be happy too.” Holding Cooper, Stella stroked his head continuously. She took out a box, placed Cooper inside, along with fresh flowers and the remainder of the steak. As they buried him, Snowflake let out three heart-wrenching howls, with Doughboy joining in the lament.

As the car drove away, Doughboy followed. Snowflake stood solemnly in front of the grave mound, her fur as white as the day they had met in the Arctic. Learning of Cooper's passing, Jasper wrapped Stella in a hug. "Don't be sad, he trained Dumpling to be just like him. He'll always be with you, never really left." It took three days for Snowflake to return, gaunt and covered in mud. During those days, Stella thought she heard the howling of wolves, unsure if it was reality or a dream.

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