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

left in the cab, so Bran had to settle for sitting on a

exposed to someone he knew was a nightmare come true. But what could he do?

fallen rich kid sat atop a pile of garbage, numb to

drove up to the

trading, and

time to clean, and after weighing, they earned 3000 credits minus

truckload of steel could sustain

about

She went straight to the base's store and bought

these ten packs could

case of a real-life Robinson Crusoe situation, it was better to be

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

other supplies, aside from a submarine,

days on the road, the family was eager to return

word, probably

took a deep breath inwardly, not sure what to

the way back to their private

a 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 as they are, I

aback, not expecting the usually

"Uh, later," he mumbled.

scavenging again after

Bran merely nodded, "Mhm."

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

the truck drive away, feeling his

the trio and their dog enjoyed a luxurious meal after their refreshing

the comfort of home-cooked food after days on

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

in a hurry, probably all in Goldbridge except Bran. With all the disasters, looking after their golden

prideful nature, asking him to

he had turned to scavenging, a dangerous and

and luxury, now reduced to a pitiful state, it was a poignant reminder