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

in the cab, so Bran had to settle for sitting on a pile of muddy

was a nightmare come true. But what could he do? He climbed aboard, the truck bouncing him all the way back

rich kid sat atop a pile of garbage, numb to the jostling of the

entered the base and drove

trading, and

clean, and after weighing, they earned 3000 credits minus the 50-credit cleaning

truckload of steel could sustain a

casual attitude meant no prying questions about

She went straight to the base's store and bought supplies-ten oxygen

for escape pods, these ten packs could

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

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

aside from a submarine, Stella had almost everything

on the road, the family was eager to

left without a word,

breath inwardly, not

the way back to their private compound, they crossed paths

head out, "Hey, Bran. You left some meds with me a while back. With things as chaotic as they are,

the usually covetous Stella to offer the

"Uh, later," he mumbled.

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

Bran merely nodded, "Mhm."

compound and exchanging goodbyes without much fuss,

truck drive away, feeling his heart,

compound, the trio and their dog enjoyed a luxurious meal after their refreshing

the comfort of home-cooked

the Porras family's annex got hit by that satellite? Bran gave us a lot of meds as thanks. I think he added

in Goldbridge except Bran. With all the disasters, looking after their golden

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

he had turned to scavenging,

to a pitiful