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 natural disasters. Fate had a cruel

no room left in the cab, so Bran had to settle for sitting on a pile of

true. But what could he do? He climbed aboard, the

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

entered the base and drove up to the recycling

and

the workers some time to clean, and after weighing,

of steel could sustain

prying questions about where the steel came from,

went straight to the base's

for escape pods, these ten packs could last for

case of a real-life Robinson Crusoe situation,

up and buy

from a submarine, Stella had almost

the family was eager to

left without a word, probably

breath inwardly, not sure what

to their private compound, they crossed

with me a while back. With things

was taken aback, not expecting the usually covetous Stella to offer the

"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 make a wasted

Bran merely nodded, "Mhm."

compound and exchanging goodbyes without much fuss, they parted

drive away, feeling his heart,

their dog enjoyed a luxurious meal

the comfort of home-cooked food after days on the

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

Goldbridge except Bran. With

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

he had turned to scavenging,

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