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."

now reduced to a destitute beggar by natural disasters. Fate had a cruel sense

was no room left in the cab, so Bran had to settle for

someone he knew was a nightmare come true. But what

garbage,

base and drove up to the recycling

and cashing

dirty steel took the workers some time to clean, and

truckload of steel could sustain a family

questions about

credits. She went straight

ten packs could last for

Crusoe

left, Stella spotted coal for sale but decided to save up and

a submarine, Stella had

the family was eager to return

a word, probably

a deep breath inwardly, not sure what

back to their private compound, they

moment's thought, she pulled over and stuck her 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 do

expecting the usually covetous Stella to

"Uh, later," he mumbled.

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

Bran merely nodded, "Mhm."

him the address to the compound and exchanging goodbyes without much fuss, they

drive away, feeling his heart, already battered by

at the compound, the trio and their dog enjoyed a luxurious meal

home-cooked

juice while discussing with Jasper, "Remember when the Porras family's annex got hit by that satellite? Bran gave us a lot of meds as thanks. I think he added

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

his prideful nature, asking him to do hard labor for food was out of the

had turned to scavenging,

now reduced to a pitiful state, it was