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."

a destitute beggar by

cab, so Bran had to settle for sitting on a

worst moment exposed to someone he knew was a nightmare come true. But what

sun set, the fallen rich kid sat atop a pile of garbage, numb to

base and drove up to

and cashing

and after weighing, they earned 3000 credits minus the 50-credit cleaning

steel could sustain a family

questions about where

straight to the base's store and

escape pods, these ten packs

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

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

for other supplies, aside from a submarine, Stella had almost everything she

road, the family was

word, probably a

took a deep breath inwardly, not sure what

way back to

head out, "Hey, Bran. You left some meds with me a while back. With things as chaotic as they are, I can't keep them safe anymore. When

not expecting the usually covetous Stella to offer the meds

"Uh, later," he mumbled.

nodded, "Alright, but try to come by soon. We'll probably head out scavenging again after a short break. Wouldn't want

Bran merely nodded, "Mhm."

giving him the address to the compound and

feeling his heart, already battered by the

their dog enjoyed a luxurious meal after their refreshing

the comfort of home-cooked food

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 surplus.

all in Goldbridge except Bran. With all

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

to scavenging, a dangerous

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