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."

proud son of a wealthy family, now reduced to a destitute beggar by

left in the cab, so Bran had to settle

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

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

and drove

trading, and cashing

and after weighing, they

truckload of steel could sustain a family

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

the credits. She went straight to the base's store and bought supplies-ten

escape pods, these ten packs could last for three

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

left, Stella spotted coal for sale but decided to save up and buy a whole load at once,

a submarine, Stella had

the road, the family was eager to

left without a word,

a deep breath inwardly, not sure what

to their private compound,

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

aback, not expecting the usually covetous Stella to offer the

"Uh, later," he mumbled.

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

Bran merely nodded, "Mhm."

address to the compound and exchanging goodbyes without much

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

the compound, the trio and their dog enjoyed a

the comfort of home-cooked food after days on

a lot of meds as thanks. I think he added extra as a gesture of goodwill. Now that he's hit rock bottom,

Porras family had left in a hurry, probably all in Goldbridge except Bran. With all the disasters, looking after their

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

had turned to scavenging, a dangerous and

pitiful state, it was a poignant reminder