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

cab, so Bran had to settle for sitting on a

was a nightmare come true. But what

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

the base and drove up to the recycling

and cashing in

to clean, and

truckload of steel could sustain a

staff's casual attitude meant no prying questions about where the steel came from,

She went straight to the

ten packs could

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

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

a submarine, Stella had

the road, the family was eager to

word, probably a matter of

took a deep breath inwardly, not sure what to

then, on the way back to their private compound, they crossed paths

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

not expecting the usually covetous

"Uh, later," he mumbled.

to come by soon. We'll probably head out scavenging again after a short break. Wouldn't want you

Bran merely nodded, "Mhm."

the compound and exchanging goodbyes without much fuss, they

truck drive away, feeling his heart, already

their dog

the comfort of home-cooked food

Porras family's annex got hit by that satellite? Bran gave us a lot of meds as thanks. I think he added

in a hurry, probably all in Goldbridge except Bran. With all the disasters, looking after their golden

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

of necessity, he had turned to scavenging, a

a pitiful state, it was a poignant reminder of the harshness of