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."

eyes. Could it be that the police had taken her

people only spoke halfway, but if Unity

suspicion, Stella decisively kept her mouth shut. She even overcame her discomfort and moved closer to Jasper, making

as they circled around Unity Village before finally ducking into a side street

said, letting go of

Unity Village

my gut tells me it is. All four exits are

a former special forces operative, Jasper's

and although she wasn't as sharp as Jasper, she

had a sudden thought, "Could the early distribution of the relief food have something to do with Unity

was not only a gathering place for The

come out to collect the relief

either voluntarily seeking refuge or forced

these survivors out of Unity Village, preventing them 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 peaceful for quite

returned to the community center where a long line of

distributed today, will the gang's minions come to collect their

significantly reduce the firepower

that their

hours, it was

collected their relief food, they headed back to

there, Jasper

grabbed Stella's arm and quickly steered her in another

recognize them anywhere!" a woman's

familiar, like she'd

"Bang, bang, bang."

Bullets whizzed past.

towards an office building, a dozen men in pursuit,

grazed them as they

they ran

come fully prepared, pulled out a gun from Arcadia by pretending to get something from

for a

"Gregory orders us to bring him

the stairs for cover, Jasper shot two bullets

they couldn't match

gunfire, Jasper had killed five men

Stella ran into a

the