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

halfway, but if Unity Village was indeed under surveillance, there might be

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

Unity Village before finally ducking into a side

sorry," he said,

Unity Village being

my gut tells me it is. All four exits are

a former special forces operative, Jasper's instincts were sharper

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

had a sudden thought, "Could the early distribution of the relief food have something to

that Unity Village was not only a gathering place for

many had come out to collect the relief

were either voluntarily seeking refuge or forced

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 for quite some

center where a long line of survivors

hushed tone, "With the relief food being distributed today, will

significantly reduce the firepower at

that their

for two hours,

collected their relief food, they headed back

there, Jasper

arm and quickly steered her in another

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

like she'd heard it

"Bang, bang, bang."

Bullets whizzed past.

towards an

as they dashed into the

hesitation, they ran

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

up, looking for

someone shouted. "Gregory orders us to

cover, Jasper shot

firepower, they

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

retreated, Stella ran

the