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

if Unity Village was indeed under surveillance, there might be

overcame her discomfort and

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

said, letting go

Unity Village being

gut tells me it is. All four exits

special forces operative, Jasper's instincts were

also been alert, and although she wasn't as sharp

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

was not only a gathering

out to collect the relief

were either voluntarily seeking refuge

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

to the community center where a long line of survivors had

relief food being distributed today, will the gang's

reduce the firepower at Unity

that their strategy was

hours, it was finally their

their relief food, they headed

there, Jasper instantly became

and quickly

recognize them anywhere!" a

like she'd heard it

"Bang, bang, bang."

Bullets whizzed past.

an office building, a dozen men in pursuit,

grazed them as they dashed into

hesitation, they ran up

fully prepared, pulled out a gun

for a

to bring him their

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

firepower, they couldn't

Jasper had killed five men and

they retreated, Stella ran into a sturdy-looking

was the