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."

flashed in Stella's eyes. Could it be that the police had taken her letter

halfway, but if Unity

She even overcame her discomfort and moved closer

around Unity Village before finally ducking into a side street to

said, letting go of

Village being

sure, but my gut tells me it is. All four

special forces operative, Jasper's instincts were sharper than

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

had a sudden thought, "Could the early distribution of the relief food

Unity Village was not only a gathering place for The Chaos gang but also home

many had come out to

were either voluntarily seeking

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

to the community center where a long line of survivors had already

a hushed tone, "With the relief food being distributed today, will the gang's minions come to

the

seemed that their

hours, it was

food, they

there, Jasper instantly

arm and quickly

a woman's shrill voice echoed from

familiar, like she'd heard it

"Bang, bang, bang."

Bullets whizzed past.

Stella along as they sprinted towards an office building, a dozen

as they

ran up the

gun from Arcadia by pretending to

for a place to

orders us to bring him their heads as a

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

their superior firepower, they couldn't match Jasper's

killed five men and Stella had

Stella ran into

was the CEO's