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 disasters. Fate had a cruel sense of

cab, so Bran had to settle for sitting on a pile

a nightmare come true. But what could he do? He

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

entered the base and drove up to the recycling

and

workers some time to clean, and after

sustain a family for a

about where the steel came from,

didn't plan to keep the credits. She went straight to the

ten packs could last for

real-life Robinson Crusoe situation, it was better to

the credits 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,

family was eager

without a word,

inwardly,

way back to their private compound, they

"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 you want to pick them

expecting the usually

"Uh, later," he mumbled.

soon. We'll probably head out scavenging again after a short break. Wouldn't want you

Bran merely nodded, "Mhm."

giving him the address to the compound and exchanging goodbyes without much

the truck drive away, feeling his heart, already battered by the

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

comfort of home-cooked food after days on the

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

except Bran. With all the disasters,

skills and his prideful nature, asking him to

to

now reduced to a pitiful