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 natural disasters.

cab, so Bran had to settle for sitting on a pile

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

atop a pile of garbage, numb

the base and drove up to

and

time to clean, and

steel could sustain

about where the steel came from, which eased Stella's

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

escape pods, these ten packs could

Robinson Crusoe situation, it was

decided to save up and buy a whole load

aside from a

road, the family was

word, probably a matter

a deep breath inwardly,

on the way back to their private

You left some meds with me a while back. With things as chaotic

not expecting the usually covetous

"Uh, later," he mumbled.

We'll probably head out scavenging again after a short break. Wouldn't want

Bran merely nodded, "Mhm."

to the compound and

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

dog enjoyed

the comfort of home-cooked food after days on

full and dishes cleared by Rosie, Stella sipped on juice while discussing with Jasper, "Remember when the Porras family's annex got hit by that satellite? Bran gave us a

a hurry, probably all in Goldbridge except Bran. With all

military skills and his prideful nature, asking him to

of necessity, he had turned to scavenging, a dangerous and unglamorous

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