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."

son of a wealthy family, now reduced to a destitute

cab, so Bran had to

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

atop a pile of garbage, numb to the jostling of the vehicle, his eyes

base and drove up to the recycling

trading, and cashing in

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

of steel could sustain a family for a

about where the steel came from, which eased Stella's

didn't plan to keep the credits. She went straight to the base's store and bought supplies-ten

for escape pods, these ten packs could last

Robinson Crusoe situation, it was better to be

and buy a whole load at once,

aside from a submarine,

family was eager to return

left without a word, probably

a deep breath inwardly, not sure what

then, on the way back to their private compound, they crossed

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

was taken aback, not expecting the usually covetous Stella

"Uh, later," he mumbled.

soon. We'll probably head out scavenging again after a short break. Wouldn't want you to make a wasted

Bran merely nodded, "Mhm."

him the address to the compound and exchanging goodbyes without

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

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

the comfort of home-cooked food after days

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

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

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

to scavenging, a dangerous

beauty and luxury, now reduced to a pitiful