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 by natural

had to settle for sitting

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

sat atop a pile of garbage, numb to the jostling

entered the base and drove

trading, and cashing in

and after weighing, they earned 3000 credits minus

steel could sustain a family for a

prying questions about where

the credits. She went straight

pods, these ten

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

for other supplies, aside from a submarine,

the road, the family was eager to return

without a word,

inwardly, not sure what

then, on the way back to their private

over and stuck her head out, "Hey, Bran. You left some meds with me a while back.

was taken aback, not expecting the usually covetous Stella to offer

"Uh, later," he mumbled.

but try to come by soon. We'll probably head out scavenging

Bran merely nodded, "Mhm."

address to the compound and exchanging goodbyes without much

away, feeling his heart,

at the compound, the trio and their dog enjoyed a luxurious

home-cooked food after days on

bellies full 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

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

lack of military skills and his prideful nature, asking him to do hard

turned to scavenging, a dangerous

to a pitiful state, it