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 the police

hated it when people only spoke halfway, but if Unity Village

She even overcame her discomfort and moved closer to Jasper,

Village before finally ducking into a side street

said, letting go of

Village being

not sure, but my gut tells me it is.

former special forces operative, Jasper's instincts were

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

"Could the early distribution of the relief food have something to do with Unity Village?"

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

example, many had come out to collect the

either voluntarily seeking refuge or forced

becoming hostages of the gang. Regardless, Stella felt a sense of relief. As long as they could wipe out the gang,

a long line of survivors had

the relief food being distributed today, will the gang's minions come to collect

would significantly reduce the firepower at Unity

seemed that their

waiting for two hours, it

their relief food, they headed back to

Jasper

Stella's arm and quickly

recognize them anywhere!" a woman's shrill

sounded familiar, like she'd heard

"Bang, bang, bang."

Bullets whizzed past.

Stella along as they sprinted towards an office building, a dozen men in pursuit,

grazed them as they

hesitation, they ran up

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

running up, looking for

upstairs," someone shouted. "Gregory orders us to bring him their heads as a

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

their superior firepower, they couldn't match

killed five men

retreated, Stella ran into a

was the