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.

was

hollow, no

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

by acid rain, her foot half

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

wife, he cried, "If you die, what

beat his chest, "All three of our kids

will get better, everything will," the husband pleaded through tears, "I promised your parents I'd take

want to go on, please just let me

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

instinct, even if they were walking

go as far as they

from 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 transported essential goods and personnel using trucks,

crowd, cars could hardly move fast, and honking was

way was the least of the problems; others

the doors, they

group

it on, it's just

trying to maintain order, it was futile; people had lost the will to live, preferring

in a past life, so they purposely kept their distance from the evacuation points

in their armored vehicle, they were careful not to

to escape; criminals were too, robbing as they fled, and

they took turns driving and keeping

back seat, Alice and their dog Cooper remained on high

many survivors had formed

along the

never as profitable as targeting the wealthy; their

their vehicle was like a juicy

clad in a bulletproof vest with a steel helmet secured. Lowering the window, she faced the man with a metal pipe approaching and without hesitation, pulled the

and

unsure of whether to continue or

grenade at them, her smile