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."

destitute beggar by natural disasters. Fate had a cruel

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

nightmare come true. But what could

rich kid sat atop a pile of garbage, numb

entered the base and drove up

and cashing

steel took the workers some time to clean, and after weighing,

truckload of steel could sustain a family for a few

attitude meant no prying questions about where

didn't plan to keep the credits. She went straight

these ten

case of a 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 the day

supplies, aside from a submarine, Stella had almost everything she

family was eager to return home and

without a word,

deep breath inwardly, not sure what

back to their private

while back. With things as chaotic as they are,

was taken aback, not expecting the usually covetous Stella to

"Uh, later," he mumbled.

but try to come by soon. We'll probably head out scavenging again after a short break.

Bran merely nodded, "Mhm."

address to the compound and exchanging goodbyes without

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

trio and their dog enjoyed a

comfort of home-cooked food after days

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

Porras family had left in a hurry, probably all in Goldbridge except Bran.

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

had turned to

pitiful state,