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."

son of a wealthy family, now reduced to a destitute beggar by natural disasters. Fate had a cruel

had to settle for sitting on

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

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

and drove up to the recycling

and cashing

clean, and after

of steel could sustain a

staff's casual attitude meant no prying questions about where the steel came from, which eased

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

escape pods, these ten

real-life Robinson Crusoe situation, it was better to

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

a submarine,

the family was eager to return home and

left without a word, probably

took a deep breath inwardly, not sure what

to their private compound, they crossed

a while back. With things as chaotic as they are, I can't keep them safe anymore. When

usually covetous Stella to offer

"Uh, later," he mumbled.

out scavenging again after

Bran merely nodded, "Mhm."

to the compound and exchanging

truck drive away, feeling his heart, already battered

the trio and their dog enjoyed

comfort of home-cooked food after days on

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

had left in a hurry, probably all in Goldbridge except Bran.

lack of military skills and his prideful nature, asking him to do hard labor for food was

he had turned to scavenging, a dangerous and

luxury, now reduced to a pitiful state, it