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."

of a wealthy family, now reduced to a destitute beggar by natural

had to settle for sitting on a pile of muddy

But what could he do? He climbed aboard, the truck bouncing him all the way back

garbage, numb to the jostling of the vehicle,

drove

and cashing

time to clean, and after weighing, they earned 3000

sustain a family for a few

casual attitude meant no prying questions about where the steel came from, which

She went straight to the base's store

escape pods, these ten packs could last for

real-life Robinson Crusoe situation, it was better to

for sale but decided to save up and

a submarine, Stella had almost

road, the family was eager to

without a word, probably

took a deep breath inwardly, not sure

the way back to

moment's thought, she pulled over and stuck her head out, "Hey, Bran. You left some meds with me a while back. With things as chaotic

taken aback, not expecting the usually covetous

"Uh, later," he mumbled.

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

Bran merely nodded, "Mhm."

compound and exchanging goodbyes without much fuss, they parted

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

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

beat the comfort of home-cooked food after days

Porras family's annex got hit by that satellite? Bran gave us a lot of meds as thanks. I think

all in Goldbridge except Bran. With all the disasters, looking

and his prideful nature, asking him to do hard labor for food was out of

of necessity, he had turned to scavenging,

luxury, now reduced to a pitiful state, it was