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."

now reduced to a destitute beggar by natural

Bran had

what could he do? He

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

drove up to the recycling

trading, and cashing in

time to clean, and after weighing, they earned 3000

steel could sustain a

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

credits. She went straight to the

ten packs

a real-life Robinson Crusoe

left, Stella spotted coal for sale but decided to save up and buy a whole load at once, for the day when it might

supplies, aside from a submarine, Stella had almost everything she

days on the road, the family was eager to return

left without a word, probably a matter

deep breath inwardly, not sure what to

to their private compound, they crossed paths

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

not expecting the usually

"Uh, later," he mumbled.

probably head out scavenging again

Bran merely nodded, "Mhm."

the compound and exchanging goodbyes without much fuss, they parted

his heart, already battered by

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

the comfort of home-cooked food

satellite? Bran gave us a lot of meds as thanks. I think he added extra as a gesture of

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

his prideful nature, asking him to

of necessity, he had turned to scavenging, a dangerous and

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