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."

a wealthy family, now reduced to a destitute beggar

so Bran had to settle for sitting on a pile of muddy

exposed to someone he knew was a nightmare come true. But what could he do? He climbed aboard, the

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

entered the base and drove up to

and cashing in

clean, and after weighing, they earned 3000 credits minus the 50-credit cleaning

truckload of steel could sustain a family for a few

attitude meant no prying questions about where the steel

credits. She went straight to the

these ten packs could last

real-life Robinson Crusoe situation, it was

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

for other supplies, aside from a submarine, Stella had

days on the road, the family was eager to return home and clean

left without a word,

deep breath inwardly, not sure what to

back to their private compound,

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

taken aback, not expecting the usually covetous Stella to

"Uh, later," he mumbled.

We'll probably head out scavenging again after a short break.

Bran merely nodded, "Mhm."

the address to the compound and exchanging goodbyes without much fuss, they

feeling his heart,

dog enjoyed a

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

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

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

and his prideful nature, asking him to do hard

had turned to scavenging, a dangerous and

to a pitiful state, it was a poignant