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."

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

had to

But what could he do? He climbed aboard, the truck bouncing him all the way

kid sat atop a pile of garbage, numb to the jostling of the vehicle, his

the base and drove up to the recycling

trading, and cashing in

steel took the workers some time to clean, and after weighing, they earned

of steel could sustain

questions about

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

pods, these ten

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

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

supplies, aside from a submarine, Stella had

days on the road, the family was eager

left without a word, probably

took a deep breath inwardly, not sure what to

back to their private compound, they crossed paths

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

was taken aback, not expecting the usually

"Uh, later," he mumbled.

We'll probably head out scavenging again after a

Bran merely nodded, "Mhm."

compound and exchanging goodbyes without

watched the truck drive away, feeling his heart, already

trio and their dog enjoyed a luxurious

comfort of home-cooked food

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 lot of meds as thanks. I think he added extra as a gesture of goodwill. Now that he's hit rock bottom, I'm thinking of returning the surplus. What

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

asking him to do

to scavenging, a

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