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

but if Unity Village was indeed under

her mouth shut. She even overcame her discomfort and moved closer to Jasper, making them look more

they circled around Unity Village before finally ducking into a side street to

he said, letting

Unity Village

not sure, but my gut tells me it is. All

special forces operative, Jasper's instincts were sharper

wasn't as sharp as Jasper, she

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

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

many had come out to collect

either voluntarily seeking refuge or forced

gang. Regardless, Stella

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

in a hushed tone, "With the relief food being distributed today, will the gang's minions come to collect their 'protection fee'?" Jasper nodded,

would significantly reduce the firepower at

seemed that their strategy was a

for two hours, it was finally their

collected their relief food, they

there, Jasper

grabbed Stella's arm and quickly steered

recognize them anywhere!" a woman's

sounded familiar, like she'd heard it somewhere

"Bang, bang, bang."

Bullets whizzed past.

they sprinted towards an

grazed them as they dashed into the

hesitation, they ran up

out a gun from Arcadia

up, looking for a

shouted. "Gregory orders us to bring

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

superior firepower, they couldn't match

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

retreated, Stella ran into a sturdy-looking

the