Chapter 9


    The water in Arcadia hadn''t stopped, and Ste was topping off her supply.


    The three households on the first floor had taken over the corridors of the second, third and fourth


    floors, making the original residents feel suffocated. Considering everyone''s predicament, they kept


    theirints to themselves.


    But it didn''t take long before tensions began to rise. Trash was scattered everywhere, and people


    were knocking on doors asking to use the bathroom. With no water to flush the toilets, the residents


    had to find ways to collect water from their balconies. They certainly weren’t keen on letting


    strangers in, so the frustrated residents on the first floor started using the hallway, moving up a floor


    when the stench became unbearable.


    It was a clear case of "if we''re notfortable, neither should anyone else." Arguments soon broke


    out, and the sound of quarrels often drifted from the stairwells. Themunity chat group was also


    in an uproar, filled withints and violent words, a far cry from the harmonious atmosphere


    before the storm.


    Ste''s phone kept ringing, with the relentless Hector constantly sending friend requests. When she


    blocked him on her phone, he’d start texting. Even Sadie joined the frenzy.


    Thetest message read, [Ste, let me exin, Sadie and I are just friends.]


    Judging by their persistence, Ste guessed that Hector and Sadie''s food supply on the twelfth floor


    was running low. It seems that he was certain that she had enough food supplies. If it wasn''t for the


    door installed on the stairs, he probably would have rushed up already.


    Ste was scrolling through the group messages when she saw a post from the girl on the twelfth


    floor asking for help, willing to barter or pay for supplies.


    With no water, electricity, or gas, and no sign of rescue, things were getting dire. The weather


    department predicted that the storm would pass in four to five days, but by the fifth day, the storm


    had only worsened.


    The neighborhood had more broken windows and the ce was in chaos. An old man had fallen


    and suffered a heart attack. Trapped by floodwater and unable to reach emergency services, frantic


    family members were pleading for help in the group chat, "Does anyone have medication for heart


    disease? We''ve run out. Even nitroglycerin tablets would help. Please, save my dad!!" The


    desperation and helplessness were palpable.


    Ste had some nitroglycerin tablets, but the patient was several hundred meters away in a different


    building, and the message had been sent an hour ago.


    Standing on the balcony, Ste could vaguely see something floating in the water. Using binocrs


    to take a closer look, she realized it was a body. It was reported in the group chat that the person


    was from building three. After being hungry for two days, he had tried to swim out of theplex to


    find food, but was struck by lightning and killed.


    Ste wasn''t sure if this had happened in her previous life. Back then, her phone had died and she


    was surviving on rainwater.


    Looking out at the unfamiliar world, Ste felt suffocated. But when she turned around and saw


    green sprouts poking out of the nters, her spirits lifted. The seeds she had nted had sprouted,


    showing tiny yellow-green shoots. The emergence of new life unexpectedly lifted Ste''s mood. She


    crouched down to pet the rabbit she was raising for food, and noticed that the mother rabbit had


    gained weight.


    Feeling her stomach, it was hard and swollen. She was pregnant. She must have been pregnant


    when Ste bought her. Rabbit gestationsts about 30 days, so by the looks of things, the rabbit


    was due to give birth around the same time the storm was forecasted to end.


    This made Ste happy. She couldn’t help but reward the rabbits with two carrots.


    For lunch, she had some chicken and chased it down with pineapple beer while watching a TV


    show, tuning out the world outside. It was a rare moment of rxation.


    After doing the dishes and preparing for a nap, Rosie came knocking—three long knocks, followed


    by one short one. The little girl''s cold had improved and she looked a lot better. Her hair was tied up


    in a messy bun, clearly the handiwork of Jasper from 1801.


    Rosie handed over a shiny red apple with an innocent smile. "Ma’am, for you."


    "Thank you," Ste didn''t take it, gently exining, "Rosie, keep the good things for yourself. Don’t


    let others see, or they might take it away." Such an innocent child would be a target in a few years


    when resources became scarce.


    "No give to others, only you," Rosie was resolute, holding up the apple. "We have lots at home."


    Ste was taken aback. She didn''t know how Jasper managed to grow apples in such conditions.


    "Won’t tell others," Rosie promised, her hand over her mouth. "Only tell you."


    Amused and helpless, Ste epted the apple and gave Rosie two candies in return.


    A message popped up on WhatsApp from Ang, [Ste, the water has flooded over half of the first


    floor. If it rises to the second, can Lukas and I stay with you?]


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Ang was a physically strong woman, a national champion in university-level kickboxing, and she


    was Lukas'' girlfriend.


    Lukas, Cody, and Ste were all orphans and had grown up together. Despite Lukas being sickly


    and Cody frail, they used to gang up and pick on Ste until she put them in their ce.


    Cody was starved of affection and always sought out older women to date. Lukas craved security.


    With his delicate good looks, he had always been chased by girls, but he only had eyes for Ang,


    who was much more masculine. He said he felt safe sleeping in her arms. Ang adored him. She


    treated him like a treasure.


    The four of them still met up asionally and remained close.


    In herst life, Ste''s phone had died. In this life, she made sure to keep her inte connection


    active, waiting for Ang.


    [Ang, thendlord''s stuff is taking up a room and I can''t fit you in. But 1803 is empty. You and


    Lukas can move there, but you should hurry. If the second floor gets flooded, I''m afraid someone


    else might snatch it up.]


    After a while, Ang replied, [Okay, keep an eye out for me.]


    With the storm and frequent thunderstorms, people would only take risks when they had no other


    choice. Ang was just asking in advance. She was naturally optimistic, and although the water


    had flooded halfway up the first floor, it wasn''t certain it would reach the second.


    In fact, it did flood more than the second floor, but Ste couldn’t reveal this. In any case, the room


    was avable.


    At mealtime, Jasper came to fetch Rosie. But Rosie was reluctant to leave. "No, your food makes


    my tummy upset."


    Jasper looked awkward. "I made it following a recipe today."


    "You said that yesterday too." Rosie had been traumatized. "Her food is yummy."


    Even Ste felt awkward now. "My food is just in boiled pasta. What''s so good about that?"


    Jasper didn''t indulge her. "Rosie."


    His features were cold and aloof, radiating an unapproachable chill. When he was serious, he


    seemed even more intimidating. Rosie instantly wilted and followed him out, head down.


    As they reached the door, Jasper turned to Ste. "Ste, the trash in the hallway hasn''t been


    collected. Should we discuss what to do?"


    The trash had been piling up for days and, even with the lids on, it was starting to stink. Ste had


    been thinking about dealing with it, but Jasper beat her to it. In themon area, the two quickly


    agreed to tackle the garbage situation. From now on, each person would handle their own trash, no


    longer leaving it in the hallway.


    With building management on a hiatus, residents from other floors began hurling their garbage


    down. Ste, unfazed, pinched her nose and dutifully tossed bag after bag of trash down.


    There was a possibility that Ang might move in, and Ste mentioned this to Jasper.


    He had no objections, but there were only two keys. None of these were issues. The key thing was


    that Ang could fight. During the apocalypse, she had saved Ste multiple times. Once, she even


    shared a couple of pounds of pasta. In such harsh conditions, she was willing to give away her life-


    saving food. Her character had withstood the test. Unfortunately, Ste hadn''t seen her since.


    Whether she was dead or alive, nobody knew.


    Even with plenty of food, survival in an apocalypse rampant with sin was a daydream for lone


    wolves. Especially for those solitary, seemingly fragile girls, they would be the first targets of the


    desperate and hungry. No matter how strong, it was impossible to guard against everything. If she


    had the chance, she wouldn''t mind finding a partner.


    Ang was the person Ste wanted to find and repay, but she would also remain on guard.


    Returning home, she bathed and changed clothes. She had prepared a lot of hearty dishes these


    past few days, enough tost for four to five months. For the next few days, she could prepare


    lighter dishes. Then she would take a well-deserved break.


    The hurricane continued, the torrential rain had lessened a bit, but the water level was still on the


    rise.