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 wealthy family, now reduced to a destitute beggar by natural disasters. Fate had

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

exposed to someone he knew was a nightmare come true. But what could he do? He climbed aboard, the

pile of garbage, numb to the jostling of the vehicle, his eyes

entered the base and drove

and cashing in

to clean, and after

sustain a family

meant no prying questions about where the

She went straight to the base's store and

pods, these ten packs could last for

of a real-life Robinson Crusoe

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

for other supplies, aside from a submarine, Stella had almost

days on the road, the family was eager to return

word, probably

breath inwardly, not sure what to

back to their private compound, they

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

usually covetous Stella

"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."

and exchanging goodbyes without much fuss, they parted

his heart, already battered by the

compound, the trio and their dog enjoyed

the comfort of home-cooked food

sipped on 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.

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

prideful nature, asking him to do hard labor

had turned to scavenging, a dangerous and

luxury, now reduced to a pitiful state,