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."

wealthy family, now reduced to a destitute beggar by natural disasters.

the cab, so Bran had to settle

a nightmare come true. But what could he do? He climbed aboard, the truck bouncing him

the sun set, the fallen rich kid sat atop a pile of garbage, numb to the jostling of the vehicle, his eyes void of any

and drove up to

and

some time to clean, and after weighing,

sustain a family for a few

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

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

these ten packs

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

half the credits left, Stella spotted coal for sale but decided to save up and buy a whole load

for other supplies, aside from a submarine, Stella had

was

without a word, probably a

breath inwardly, not

back to their private compound, they crossed paths

with me a while

usually covetous Stella to offer the

"Uh, later," he mumbled.

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

Bran merely nodded, "Mhm."

compound and exchanging goodbyes without much

the truck drive away, feeling his heart, already battered

their dog enjoyed a

the comfort of home-cooked

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

all in Goldbridge except Bran. With all the disasters,

and his prideful nature, asking him to do hard labor for

had turned to scavenging, a dangerous

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