Chapter 2
Finally, Stella hit the outdoor gear shop. She grabbed four lifesaver rings, two inflatable boats, five waterproof backpacks, ten sets each of raincoats and rain boots, five insulated water bottles, ten moisture-proof mats, and five sleeping bags.
At every stop, Stella burned through her savings without hesitation. Her bank balance was dropping fast, but she didn't care one bit.
Money? She could always make more. But life? Lose that, and it was game over.
By 2:30 PM, Stella was back at Sunrise Haven. She rented a temporary storefront right at the entrance, signed the contract using a fake name and a temporary phone number.
As soon as she wrapped things up, the delivery trucks started arriving one after another.
Eight trucks in all, each one loaded to the max with supplies. The security guard at the gate was stunned, mumbling to himself, "Is she really opening a convenience store? Who needs this much stuff?"
Stella ignored his muttering, focusing on directing the workers to unload all the supplies into the storefront.
Once all the workers and owners left, she locked the door, pulled out the cart she'd hidden earlier, and began hauling everything up to the 18th floor.
She needed to get every last bit of it into her apartment and make sure it was all completely hidden before Susan arrived.
The elevator at Sunrise Haven was roomy, but Stella kept shuttling back and forth, hauling supplies nonstop.
Sweat drenched her clothes, her arms screaming in protest, but she pushed through the pain, refusing to slow down for even a second.
Every second counted. She had to finish before the storm crashed down on Riverton.
She stashed the heavy stuff, like pasta, flour, oil, and grains, in the entryway closet. Instant foods and snacks went into the living room cabinets.
Medicine and outdoor gear got tucked away in the spare bedroom. Bottled water and drinks were stacked on the balcony shelves.
As for the frozen goods, she'd already upgraded her fridge and freezer to extra-large models, so everything fit with room to spare.
The apartment across the hall was still empty, and the property management had a key. Stella paid 150 bucks for a copy, then set up a backup stash over there. That was double insurance.
If her place ever got breached, she'd still have a fallback.
By the time Stella finished hauling up the last load, it was already six o'clock. The storefront was covered in empty boxes.
She quickly gathered them up, tossed them in the trash, and scrubbed the place down with disinfectant, wiping away any evidence. Only then did she finally feel relieved.
She hadn't even caught her breath when her phone buzzed. Susan was here.
Stella rushed downstairs to meet Susan, who was struggling with a big bag. As soon as she spotted Stella, Susan looked baffled. "Stella, what's going on? Why did you buy all this stuff and take the day off? Is something wrong?"
"Mom, don't ask. Just come upstairs with me," Stella said, taking Susan's bag and pulling her toward the elevator. "For the days ahead, we're staying home. No going out. No contact with anyone."
"A massive flood is coming. It'll last a long time, and Riverton will go under. This isn't just a heavy rain. It's the end of the world," she added.
Susan froze, thinking her daughter had lost it. "Stella, are you sick? What are you talking about?"
"I'm not making things up, Mom. Trust me. Last time, I died in that storm because I wasn't ready. I've come back, ten hours before the end hits. I'm going to protect you, protect us," Stella said, her eyes deadly serious.
Susan met her daughter's gaze, and her heart skipped a beat. Against all logic, she felt herself believing Stella.
Back on the 18th floor, Susan was floored by what she saw. Mountains of pasta and flour, instant meals, and snacks covered every surface, while bottled water and medicine stood stacked high.
It finally hit her why Stella had been so desperate for her to come.
"How much did all this cost?" Susan asked.
"Money doesn't matter. Staying alive does," Stella said. She took out the locks she had bought from the hardware store, locked the stairwell door, and installed two more deadbolts. "From today on, this whole floor is ours. No one can get in."
Next, she took out the hot glue gun and hot glue sticks. She carefully sealed every window and door gap in the apartment with three layers of glue.
She even waterproofed the air conditioner vents to ensure that not a single drop of water could seep in.
"Mom, help me sort the supplies. Keep the water and food in separate rooms, so if the apartment gets flooded, at least we won't lose everything," Stella said as she reinforced the windows.
Susan shook herself out of her shock and got to work. Stella focused on fortifying their defenses, while Susan organized the supplies. Despite the tension in the air, there was a strange sense of security.
By eight that evening, all the preparations were finally done.
The entire floor was completely sealed off. Doors and windows were reinforced until they were rock solid. Supplies filled every room, enough to last Susan and her for more than a year on food, clothes, and other basics.
The small generator and gasoline were ready. Even if the power grid failed, the household could still run essential appliances.
Stella stood on the balcony, watching the sky grow darker, a cold, almost mocking smile curling at her lips.
She told the storm to do its worst.
She told human nature the same.
This time, Stella was in it for the long haul.
At ten o'clock that night, a light rain began to fall, pattering softly against the windows.
Stella sat on the living room couch, eyes glued to the drizzle outside, her whole body tense with alertness. She knew all too well. This was just the opening act. The real downpour was still lurking on the horizon.
Susan sat beside her, scrolling through her social feed. Most people were griping about the rain or sharing moody night shots. No one had a clue that catastrophe was around the corner.
"Stella, it's just some drizzle outside. Maybe you're overthinking it?" Susan said, still sounding worried.
"Trust me, Mom, just wait and see. By the time it's late tonight, the rain will be way worse than you can imagine," Stella said, setting the AC to the lowest temperature.
"We still have power, so keep the AC running to keep the food cold and stop it from spoiling. And make sure all our devices are plugged in. Let's get everything fully charged," she added.
Susan nodded and got to work.
At one in the morning, the rain suddenly intensified, from a gentle drizzle to a torrential downpour. It hammered the windows like a barrage of tiny stones, the noise so loud it was almost deafening.