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."

family, now reduced to a destitute beggar by natural disasters. Fate had

had

knew was a nightmare come true. But what could

sat atop a pile of garbage, numb to the jostling of the vehicle, his

entered the base and drove

and cashing

steel took the workers some time to clean, and after weighing, they earned 3000 credits minus the

steel could sustain

staff's casual attitude meant no prying questions about

credits. She went straight

ten packs could last for three

case of a real-life Robinson Crusoe situation,

coal for sale but decided to save up and buy a whole load at once, for

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

the family was

left without a word, probably a matter

a deep breath inwardly, not sure

way back to their private compound,

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

usually covetous Stella to offer the

"Uh, later," he mumbled.

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

Bran merely nodded, "Mhm."

address to the compound and exchanging goodbyes without much

the truck drive away, feeling his

at the compound, the trio and their dog enjoyed a

of home-cooked food after

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 the surplus. What do you

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

skills and his prideful nature, asking him

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

pitiful state, it was a poignant reminder