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."

eyes. Could it be that the police had taken

spoke halfway, but if Unity

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

Unity Village before finally ducking

sorry," he said, letting

Unity Village being

tells me

special forces operative, Jasper's

she wasn't as sharp

thought, "Could the early distribution of the relief

Unity Village was not only a gathering

many had come out to collect

voluntarily seeking refuge

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

a

being distributed today, will the gang's minions come

would significantly reduce the firepower at

their strategy

two hours, it was

relief food, they headed back to

there, Jasper instantly became

quickly steered her in another

them! I'd recognize them anywhere!" a woman's shrill voice echoed

sounded familiar, like she'd heard it

"Bang, bang, bang."

Bullets whizzed past.

they sprinted towards an office building, a dozen men in

grazed them as they

hesitation, they ran up

gun from Arcadia by pretending to get something from

kept running up, looking for a place to take

someone shouted. "Gregory orders us to

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

superior firepower, they couldn't match

of gunfire, Jasper had killed

retreated, Stella ran into a

was the CEO's