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 sense

the cab, so Bran had to

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

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

base and drove up to the

and cashing in

the workers some time to clean, and after weighing, they earned 3000 credits minus

truckload of steel could sustain a family

about where the steel came from, which

didn't plan to keep the credits. She went straight

escape pods, these ten packs could last for

a real-life Robinson Crusoe

to save up and

supplies, aside from a

road, the family was eager to return home and

left without a word, probably a

inwardly, not sure what to

the way back to their private compound,

while back. With things as

expecting the usually covetous Stella to

"Uh, later," he mumbled.

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

Bran merely nodded, "Mhm."

giving him the address to the compound and exchanging goodbyes

watched the truck drive away, feeling his heart, already

and their dog enjoyed a luxurious meal

the comfort of home-cooked

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

Goldbridge except Bran. With

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

had turned to scavenging, a dangerous and unglamorous

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