18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 376

Stella spotted him too-no doubt about it, he was a beggar. Dressed in tattered rags, barefoot, and wandering aimlessly. "Another soul driven mad by the apocalypse," she sighed to herself.

Just as she was reflecting, the sound of a car caught the beggar's attention. Surprisingly, he turned and waved frantically to flag it down. "Robbery tactics are getting more and more creative," she thought. "This guy could very well be a decoy for an ambush."

Stella cocked her gun, ready to take him down if he showed any sign of threat.

"Hey, stop the car, stop the car!" the beggar shouted.

Stella scanned the area but saw no sign of an ambush.

Jasper didn't hit the brakes and just drove past.

"Damn it, stop!" the beggar yelled, flipping them the bird.

Stella squinted, recognizing the figure in the rearview mirror.

"Stop the car," she commanded.

Seeing the truck pull over, the beggar's mood swung from irritation to hope. He limped over and asked, "Buddy, could you give me a lift?"

He hurried over but froze in shock when he got a better look.

It was like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over him in the dead of winter.

Without a word, he covered his face and turned to leave.

"Bran," Stella called out.

It was as if his heart had been pierced; his entire body stiffened.

His dignity, once guarded, now trampled into the mud.

But Stella didn't mock him or ask how he'd come to this. "Get in. We're still a good ten miles from the base. If you walk, your feet will be shredded."

a destitute beggar by natural disasters. Fate had

was no room left in the cab, so Bran had to settle for sitting on

to someone he knew was a nightmare come true. But what could he do? He climbed aboard,

sun set, the fallen rich kid sat atop a pile of garbage, numb to

base and drove up to the recycling

and

the workers some time to clean, and after weighing, they earned 3000

could sustain a family for

meant no prying questions about where the steel came from, which eased

keep the credits. She went straight to the base's store

ten packs could

case of a real-life Robinson Crusoe situation, it was better to be

credits left, Stella spotted coal for sale but decided to save up and buy a whole load at once,

other supplies, aside from a

was eager to return home and clean

left without a word, probably a matter

deep breath inwardly, not sure

the way back to their private

thought, she pulled over and stuck her head out, "Hey, Bran. You left some meds with me a while back. With things as chaotic

the usually covetous

"Uh, later," he mumbled.

We'll probably head out scavenging again after a short break. Wouldn't want you to make

Bran merely nodded, "Mhm."

him the address to the compound and exchanging goodbyes

the truck drive away, feeling his heart, already battered by the disasters, bleed

the trio and their dog enjoyed a luxurious meal

the comfort of home-cooked food after

bellies full and dishes cleared by Rosie, Stella sipped on juice while discussing with Jasper, "Remember when the Porras family's annex got hit by that satellite? Bran gave us a lot of meds as thanks. I think he added extra as a gesture of goodwill. Now that he's hit rock bottom, I'm thinking of returning the surplus. What do you

family had left in a hurry, probably all in Goldbridge except Bran. With all the disasters, looking after

military skills and his prideful nature, asking him to do hard labor for

had turned to scavenging, a dangerous

and luxury, now reduced to a pitiful