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."

reduced to a destitute beggar by natural

cab, so Bran had to settle for sitting on a

But what could he do? He climbed

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

and drove up to the recycling

trading, and cashing

to clean, and after weighing, they earned 3000 credits

of steel could sustain a family for a

staff's casual attitude meant no prying questions about

credits. She went straight to the base's store and

pods, these ten packs could last for

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

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

supplies, aside from a

family was eager to return home and clean

without a word,

took a deep breath inwardly, not sure what to

way back to

and stuck her head out, "Hey, Bran. You left some meds with me a while back.

taken aback, 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 you to

Bran merely nodded, "Mhm."

to the compound and exchanging goodbyes without much fuss,

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

and their dog enjoyed a luxurious

of home-cooked food after days on the

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. What do

hurry, probably all in Goldbridge except

him to do hard labor for food

of necessity, he had turned to

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