18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 353

Alice and Tom weren't rushing to head out. They waited for about an hour, understanding that leaving too soon to gather supplies might mean running into familiar faces.

Alice gazed out the car window, a hint of sadness in her voice, "I want to say goodbye to Dylan."

Tom nodded, "Go ahead."

In their neighborhood, there were plenty of kids, but Alice was always selective with her friends. Over the years, she had grown particularly close to Dylan.

But sometimes, being close wasn't the best thing, especially in a world torn apart by disasters. Emotional ties could lead to heartache or even gut-wrenching pain when faced with separation or death. Alice handed Dylan a drawing, "Dylan, I'm leaving. This is for you."

Dylan looked stunned, handing her a rag doll in return, "Alice, when I grow up, I'll find you."

Alice paused, then smiled warmly, "I'd like that."

In no time, they were no longer kids. Alice was as tall as her Aunt Stella, and Dylan was nearly as tall as his dad.

In a peaceful world, they might still be considered youngsters, but in this harsh new reality, they were seen as adults.

Dylan knew there was a gap between him and Alice. He wasn't ready to join the Kindle Society yet, but he believed he would be one day.

As he turned to leave, he grabbed her hand, panic and resignation in his voice, "Alice, will you wait for me?"

Alice knew the Kindle Society might not be the best choice for her brother and sister-in-law, and the future was uncertain.

But looking into Dylan's hopeful eyes, she couldn't bring herself to be brutally honest, "Sure."

Striving for the Kindle Society was a good goal and wouldn't hurt him.

Dylan stood at the door, watching her walk away.

Austin put his arm around his son's shoulders, "Come on, stop looking. When you're strong enough, you'll catch up to her."

Dylan stared in the direction Alice had disappeared, silently vowing to himself.

the neighborhood, the chaos was overwhelming: people crying, screaming, looting, the situation was utterly out of control. What to do? Oh God,

tattered clothes, eyes hollow, no food, and

put was a death sentence, let alone trying to make it

rooftop corroded by

she screamed hysterically, "Leave me alone; I don't

"If you die, what about me,

beat his chest, "All

the husband pleaded through tears, "I promised your parents I'd take care of you all

want to go on, please just let

some alone, some in groups, no one spared a moment to attend to

it was human instinct, even if

miles; they'd go as far

the same village or the same building, sticking together in hope of surviving the disasters. While the lower-class survivors relied on their feet, officials

crowd, cars could hardly move fast, and

the least of the problems; others threw stones at car windows. In more extreme cases, people climbed onto the roof of a car that wasn't

the doors, they would stomp on

out, and another group

it on, it's just another

police trying to maintain order, it was futile; people had lost the

had experienced this in a past life, so they purposely kept their distance from the evacuation points and took back roads out of

their armored vehicle, they were careful

to escape; criminals were too, robbing as they fled, and you never knew when a

turns

Alice and their dog Cooper remained on

and many survivors had formed impromptu caravans,

along the way, a stark reflection of

the weak was never as profitable as targeting

was like a juicy steak, signaling with hands or glances,

to be trifled with, was clad in a bulletproof vest with a steel helmet secured. Lowering the window, she faced the man

and he

whether to continue

a grenade at them, her smile cold