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

Unity Village was indeed under surveillance,

She even overcame her discomfort and moved closer to Jasper,

around Unity Village before finally ducking into a side street to

he said, letting

Unity Village being

but my gut tells me it

forces operative,

although she wasn't as sharp as Jasper, she

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

not only a gathering place for The Chaos gang but

had come out to collect the relief

voluntarily seeking refuge or forced to

out of Unity Village, preventing them from becoming hostages of the gang. Regardless, Stella felt a sense of relief. As long

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 collect their

reduce the firepower at Unity

that their strategy was

two hours, it was finally

food, they headed back to Sunrise

there, Jasper instantly became

arm and quickly

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

she'd heard it

"Bang, bang, bang."

Bullets whizzed past.

Stella along as they sprinted towards an

as they dashed

ran up

gun from Arcadia by pretending to get something from

for a

orders us to bring him their

shot two bullets

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

a round of gunfire, Jasper had killed five men and Stella had injured

they retreated, Stella ran into a sturdy-looking

the