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 the

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

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

as they circled around Unity Village before

said,

Unity Village

me it is. All four exits are

special forces operative, Jasper's instincts were sharper

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

"Could the early distribution of the relief food have something

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

many had come out to collect

were either voluntarily seeking refuge or

survivors out of Unity Village, preventing them from becoming hostages of the gang. Regardless, Stella felt a sense of relief. As long as they

where a long line of

hushed tone, "With the relief food being distributed today, will the gang's minions come to collect their 'protection

significantly reduce the

that their strategy was a

two hours, it

relief food, they headed back to

there, Jasper instantly

quickly steered her in another

a

like she'd heard

"Bang, bang, bang."

Bullets whizzed past.

as they sprinted towards an office building, a

them as they dashed

they ran

fully prepared, pulled out a gun from

looking for a place

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

stairs for cover, Jasper shot two bullets

they couldn't match

Jasper had killed

they retreated, Stella ran into a sturdy-looking

was the