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."

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

had

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

rich kid sat atop a pile of garbage, numb to the jostling of the vehicle, his eyes void

drove

trading, and cashing

to clean, and after weighing, they

steel could sustain a family for a

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

straight to the base's

these ten packs

Crusoe situation, it

up and buy a whole load at once, for the day when

aside from a submarine, Stella had almost everything

was eager to return home

word, probably a matter

inwardly,

back to their private compound, they crossed

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

expecting the usually covetous Stella to

"Uh, later," he mumbled.

"Alright, but try to come by soon. We'll probably head out scavenging again after a short break. Wouldn't want you to make a wasted

Bran merely nodded, "Mhm."

and exchanging goodbyes without much fuss, they

truck drive away, feeling his heart, already

the trio and their dog enjoyed a

the comfort of home-cooked food after

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

had left in a hurry, probably all in Goldbridge except Bran. With all the disasters, looking after

his prideful nature, asking him to do hard labor for food was out

of necessity, he had turned to scavenging, a dangerous

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