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

Bran had to settle for sitting on a pile

his worst moment exposed to someone he knew was a nightmare come true. But what could he do? He climbed aboard, the truck bouncing him

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

entered the base and drove up to the

and

time to clean, and after weighing,

steel could sustain

prying questions about where the steel came

the credits. She went straight to the base's

ten

Robinson Crusoe situation, it

coal for sale but decided to save up and buy a whole load

from a submarine,

on the road, the family was eager to return home and clean

left without a word,

breath inwardly, not sure

back to their private compound,

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 you want to

expecting the usually covetous Stella

"Uh, later," he mumbled.

but try to come by soon. We'll probably head out scavenging

Bran merely nodded, "Mhm."

address to the compound and exchanging goodbyes without much

watched the truck drive away, feeling his heart, already battered by the disasters,

and their dog enjoyed a luxurious

the comfort of home-cooked food after days on the

bellies 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

Goldbridge except Bran. With all the

Bran's lack of military skills and his prideful nature, asking him to do hard labor for food was out of

necessity, he had turned to scavenging, a dangerous

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