18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 97

Gripes aside, life must go on.

Jasper laid out various attack strategies, simultaneously providing impeccable countermeasures. Stella sighed again, realizing that survival in this post-apocalyptic world was no easy feat.

In the evening, Katie hollered from downstairs, announcing that the relief food, originally scheduled for the day after tomorrow, would be distributed tomorrow. Angela and the others were puzzled. What's with sudden change of plans?

Stella instinctively glanced at Jasper, just as he looked her way.

Their eyes met briefly, then quickly looked away.

"Angela, I'm planning to fetch the relief food in the morning, then take Cooper out for a walk in the afternoon," Stella said.

Without giving it much thought, Angela agreed, "Sure, we'll go after you guys get back."

That night, sleep was elusive.

Stella was contemplative, thinking that with Arcadia, she could live a better life. But even this kind of 'better' came with a price. She hoped for a successful day tomorrow.

The relief food was to be distributed at nine in the morning. Stella and Jasper agreed to leave at seven over the walkie-talkie.

They set out early, only to find Angela cycling in the hallway.

Rosie was nowhere in sight, and she casually asked, "Isn't Rosie coming?"

Jasper nodded, "Rosie's still asleep."

It was still early for the relief food distribution, and they had left without Rosie. Angela smirked, realizing their denial was just a façade.

Of course, Angela wouldn't call them out on it. She'd just wait and see.

After leaving Sunrise Sanctuary, the two of them didn't queue for food but headed towards Unity Village.

Upon reaching the intersection, Jasper suddenly paused.

Confused, Stella asked, "What's wrong?"

Jasper swiftly put his arm around her waist.

Stella felt a sudden rush of adrenaline. If she didn't know him better, she might have drawn her weapon.

"There's surveillance. Don't look around." Jasper whispered as he held her close, navigating through the icy chill.

"We're being watched?"

"Unity Village is."

be that

only spoke halfway, but if Unity Village was indeed under

She even overcame her discomfort and moved closer to Jasper,

Village before finally ducking into

said, letting

Unity Village being

gut tells me

operative, Jasper's instincts were sharper than

she wasn't as sharp as Jasper, she could faintly

the relief food have something to do with Unity

that Unity Village was not only a gathering place for The Chaos gang but also home to

many had come out

survivors were either voluntarily seeking refuge

from becoming hostages of the gang. Regardless, Stella felt a sense of relief. As long as they could wipe out the gang, this area should remain

to the community center where a

in a hushed tone, "With the relief food being distributed today, will the gang's minions come to collect their

reduce the firepower at Unity

seemed that their strategy

hours,

relief food, they headed back to

Jasper instantly

grabbed Stella's arm and quickly steered her in

a woman's shrill voice echoed

sounded familiar, like she'd

"Bang, bang, bang."

Bullets whizzed past.

an office building, a dozen men in pursuit, guns

they dashed

they ran up

out a gun from Arcadia by pretending to get something

looking for a place to take

to bring him their heads as a

cover, Jasper shot two bullets from above,

their superior firepower, they

killed five men and Stella

Stella ran into a

was the