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."

in Stella's eyes. Could it be

but if Unity Village was indeed under surveillance, there

suspicion, Stella decisively kept her mouth shut. She even overcame her discomfort and moved closer to Jasper, making them look more like a close

around Unity Village before finally ducking into a side

he said, letting

Unity Village

but my gut tells me it is. All four exits are

special forces operative, Jasper's

also been alert, and although she wasn't as sharp as Jasper, she could faintly sense something

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

was not only a gathering

many had come out to collect the relief

survivors were either voluntarily seeking refuge

Unity Village, preventing them from becoming hostages of the gang. Regardless, Stella felt a sense of relief. As long as

where a long line of survivors had already

distributed today,

significantly reduce the firepower at

that their strategy was

waiting for two hours,

their relief food, they headed back to Sunrise

Jasper

arm and quickly steered her in

I'd recognize them anywhere!" a woman's shrill voice echoed from

sounded familiar, like she'd heard it somewhere

"Bang, bang, bang."

Bullets whizzed past.

towards an office

grazed them as they dashed into the

hesitation, they ran up the

pulled out a gun from

for a place

orders us to bring him their heads

stairs for cover, Jasper shot two bullets

they couldn't

a round of gunfire, Jasper had killed five men and Stella had

Stella ran

was the CEO's