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."

to a destitute beggar by natural disasters. Fate

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

he knew was a nightmare come true. But what could he

sat atop a pile of garbage, numb to the jostling

and drove up to the

and

to clean, and after weighing, they earned 3000 credits minus the

sustain a family for

about where the steel came from,

the credits. She went straight to the

these ten packs could last for

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

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

supplies, aside from a submarine, Stella

the family was eager to return home

left without a word, probably a

deep breath inwardly, not

to their private compound, they crossed

moment's thought, she pulled over and stuck her head out, "Hey, Bran. You left some meds with me a while back. With things as chaotic as they are, I can't keep them safe anymore. When do

not expecting the usually covetous

"Uh, later," he mumbled.

by soon. We'll probably head out scavenging again

Bran merely nodded, "Mhm."

the compound and exchanging goodbyes

his heart, already battered by the disasters, bleed

the compound, the trio and their dog enjoyed

beat the comfort of home-cooked food after days on the

juice while discussing with Jasper, "Remember when the Porras family's annex got hit by that satellite? Bran gave us a lot of

in Goldbridge except Bran. With all the disasters, looking after their golden boy wouldn't

prideful nature, asking him to

to scavenging,

now reduced to a pitiful state, it was a poignant reminder of the harshness