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."

be that

it when people only spoke halfway, but if Unity Village was indeed under surveillance, there might

even overcame her discomfort and moved closer to Jasper, making them look

as they circled around Unity Village before finally ducking into a

said, letting

Unity Village being

but my gut tells me

operative, Jasper's instincts

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

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

observed that Unity Village was not only a gathering

had come out to collect

seeking

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

community center where a long line of

asked in a hushed tone, "With the relief food being distributed today, will the gang's minions come to

the firepower at

seemed that their strategy

waiting for two hours, it was finally

they headed back to Sunrise

Jasper instantly became

arm and quickly steered

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

familiar, like she'd

"Bang, bang, bang."

Bullets whizzed past.

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

they

they ran up

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

kept running up, looking for a

orders us to bring

cover, Jasper shot two bullets from above, scoring fatal

their superior firepower, they

Jasper had killed five

they retreated, Stella ran into

the CEO's