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."

it be that the police had

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

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

held her close as they circled around Unity Village before

he said, letting go

Unity Village

me it is. All four exits are being

special forces operative, Jasper's

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

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

was not only a gathering place for The

many had come out to collect the

seeking refuge or forced

them from becoming hostages of the gang. Regardless, Stella felt a sense of

where a long line

being distributed today, will the

the

seemed that their

waiting for two hours, it was finally

collected their relief food, they headed back to

Jasper instantly became

arm and quickly

them anywhere!" a

like she'd heard it

"Bang, bang, bang."

Bullets whizzed past.

as they sprinted towards an office building, a dozen

them as they dashed

ran

out a gun from Arcadia by pretending

running up, looking for a place to take

someone shouted. "Gregory orders us to bring

Jasper shot two bullets from above,

firepower, they couldn't match Jasper's

a round of gunfire, Jasper had killed

Stella ran into a sturdy-looking

the CEO's