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."

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

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

worst moment exposed to someone he knew was a nightmare come true. But what could he do? He climbed aboard, the truck bouncing him all

of garbage, numb to the

and drove up to

and

workers some time to clean, and after weighing, they earned 3000 credits minus the 50-credit cleaning

truckload of steel could sustain a

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

straight to the base's

ten packs could last for

real-life Robinson Crusoe situation, it

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

other supplies, aside from a submarine, Stella had almost

road, the family was eager

a word, probably

inwardly, not sure what to

way back to their private

stuck her head out, "Hey, Bran. You left some meds with me a while back. With things as chaotic as they are,

was taken aback, not expecting the usually covetous

"Uh, later," he mumbled.

scavenging again after a short break. Wouldn't want you

Bran merely nodded, "Mhm."

him the address to the compound and exchanging goodbyes without

feeling his heart,

their dog enjoyed a luxurious

home-cooked food after days on

and dishes cleared 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 extra as a gesture of goodwill. Now that he's hit rock bottom, I'm thinking of returning the surplus.

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

him to do hard labor

had turned to scavenging,

reduced to a pitiful state, it was a poignant reminder of