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. Fate had

no room left in the cab, so Bran had to

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

pile of garbage,

drove up to

trading, and cashing

clean, and after weighing, they earned

sustain a family

attitude meant no prying questions about

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

these ten packs could last for

Robinson Crusoe situation, it was better

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

from a submarine, Stella had

the road, the family was eager to return

without a word, probably a matter

breath inwardly, not sure

to their

while back. With things as chaotic

aback, not expecting the usually covetous Stella to offer the

"Uh, later," he mumbled.

We'll probably head out scavenging

Bran merely nodded, "Mhm."

compound and exchanging goodbyes without

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

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

the comfort of home-cooked food after days

with Jasper, "Remember when the Porras family's annex got hit by that satellite? Bran gave us a lot

except Bran. With all

Bran's lack of military skills and his prideful nature, asking him to do hard labor for food was out of

turned to scavenging,

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