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."

family, now reduced to a destitute beggar by natural disasters. Fate had

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, the truck

pile of garbage, numb to

drove

and cashing in

the workers some time to clean, and after

of steel could sustain a

staff's casual attitude meant no prying questions about where the steel

went straight to the base's

escape pods, these ten

of a real-life Robinson Crusoe situation, it

but decided to save up and buy a whole load at once, for the day when it might come

other supplies, aside from a submarine, Stella

road, the family was eager to return home and clean

word, probably a matter of

deep breath inwardly, not sure

back to their private compound, they

with me a while back. With things as chaotic as they are, I can't keep

usually covetous Stella to offer the meds

"Uh, later," he mumbled.

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

Bran merely nodded, "Mhm."

to the compound and exchanging

feeling his

dog enjoyed a luxurious meal

home-cooked food after days

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

had left in a hurry, probably all in Goldbridge except Bran. With all the disasters, looking after their golden boy wouldn't

lack of military skills and his prideful nature, asking him

of necessity, he had turned to scavenging,

surrounded by beauty and luxury, now reduced to a pitiful state, it was a poignant