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."

Stella's eyes. Could it be that the

when people only spoke halfway, but if Unity Village was

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

close as they circled around Unity Village before finally ducking into a

he said, letting go of

Unity Village being

not sure, but my gut tells me it is. All four exits are

special forces operative,

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

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

a gathering

many had come out to

were either voluntarily seeking refuge

food was likely to draw these survivors out of Unity Village, preventing them from becoming hostages of the gang. Regardless, Stella felt a sense of

center where a long line of

hushed tone, "With the relief food being distributed today, will the gang's

significantly reduce the firepower

that their

hours, it was finally their

relief food, they

Jasper instantly

arm and quickly steered her in

I'd recognize them anywhere!" a woman's

sounded familiar, like she'd heard

"Bang, bang, bang."

Bullets whizzed past.

as they sprinted towards an office

grazed them as they

ran up

prepared, pulled out a gun from Arcadia by pretending to

looking for a

upstairs," someone shouted. "Gregory orders us to bring him their heads as

the stairs for cover, Jasper shot two bullets from above,

superior firepower, they couldn't match Jasper's

Jasper had killed

they retreated, Stella ran

was the CEO's