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."

to a destitute beggar by

the cab, so Bran had to

nightmare come true. But what could he do? He climbed aboard,

pile of garbage,

base and drove up to the

trading, and cashing in

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

sustain a

questions about

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

ten

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

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

other supplies, aside from a submarine,

the family was eager to

left without a word, probably

deep breath inwardly, not sure what

way back to their private compound, they crossed paths

some meds with me a while back. With things as chaotic as they are, I can't keep them safe anymore. When do you want to pick

was taken aback, not expecting the usually covetous Stella to

"Uh, later," he mumbled.

try to come by soon. We'll probably head out scavenging again after

Bran merely nodded, "Mhm."

compound and exchanging goodbyes without much

truck drive away, feeling his

their dog enjoyed a luxurious meal after their

comfort of home-cooked food after days on the

that satellite? Bran gave us a lot of meds as thanks.

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

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

had turned to scavenging, a dangerous and unglamorous

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