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."

Could it be that the police had

people only spoke halfway, but if Unity Village was indeed under surveillance, there might

overcame her discomfort and moved closer to Jasper, making them look more

held her close as they circled around Unity Village before finally

he said, letting go of

Unity Village

me it is. All four exits are being

operative, Jasper's instincts were

wasn't as sharp as

distribution of the relief food have something to do with

had observed that Unity Village was not only a gathering

many had come out to collect the

seeking refuge or forced

was likely to draw 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

the community center where a long line of survivors

today, will the gang's minions come to collect

would significantly reduce the firepower

seemed that their strategy

waiting for two hours, it was finally their

relief food, they

Jasper

quickly steered

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

like she'd heard it somewhere

"Bang, bang, bang."

Bullets whizzed past.

an office building, a dozen

they dashed into

hesitation, they ran up

come fully prepared, pulled out a gun from

up, looking for a place to

"Gregory orders us to bring him their heads

stairs for cover, Jasper shot two bullets from above, scoring fatal

they couldn't

round of gunfire, Jasper had killed five men and

Stella ran into a

the