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 that

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 look more

held her close as they circled around Unity Village before finally

sorry," he said, letting

Unity Village

not sure, but my gut tells me it is.

a former special forces operative, Jasper's instincts

alert, and although she wasn't as sharp as

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

a gathering place for The

had come out to collect

survivors were either voluntarily seeking

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

returned to the community center where a long line of

relief food being distributed today, will the gang's minions come to collect their 'protection fee'?" Jasper

the firepower

seemed that their

for two hours,

food, they headed back to Sunrise

there, Jasper instantly became

quickly steered her in another

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

sounded familiar, like she'd heard it somewhere

"Bang, bang, bang."

Bullets whizzed past.

Stella along as they sprinted towards an office building, a

as they dashed

ran up

come fully prepared, pulled out a gun from Arcadia by pretending to get

looking for a

"Gregory orders us to bring

cover, Jasper shot two

superior firepower, they couldn't

Jasper had killed five men and

they retreated, Stella ran into

was the