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."

it be

if Unity Village was indeed under surveillance, there might be lip-readers

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

held her close as they circled around Unity Village before finally ducking into

sorry," he said, letting go

Unity Village

my gut tells me it is.

forces operative, Jasper's instincts

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

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

Village was not only a gathering place

many had come out to collect

voluntarily seeking refuge or forced

the gang. Regardless, Stella felt a sense

center where a long line of survivors had already

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

reduce the firepower

their strategy

hours, it was

they headed back to

Jasper

grabbed Stella's arm and quickly steered

anywhere!" a woman's shrill voice echoed from

sounded familiar, like she'd heard

"Bang, bang, bang."

Bullets whizzed past.

an office building, a dozen men

they dashed into the

hesitation, they ran up the

had come fully prepared, pulled out a gun from

kept running up, looking for a

us to bring him their heads as a

the stairs for cover, Jasper shot

superior firepower, they couldn't match

round of gunfire, Jasper had killed five men

they retreated, Stella ran

was the