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

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

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 all

garbage, numb to the

and drove up to

trading, and cashing

the workers some time to clean, and

steel could sustain a family for a

meant no prying questions about where the steel came from, which eased Stella's

went straight to the base's store and bought

for escape pods, these ten packs could last

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

spotted coal for sale but decided to save up and

supplies, aside from a submarine, Stella had almost everything she

road, the family was

word, probably

took a deep breath inwardly,

way back to their private compound, they crossed

pulled over and stuck her head out, "Hey, Bran. You left some meds with me a while back. With things as chaotic as

expecting the usually

"Uh, later," he mumbled.

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

Bran merely nodded, "Mhm."

to the compound and

feeling his

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

home-cooked food after days

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 think he added extra as a gesture of goodwill. Now that he's

Goldbridge except Bran. With all the disasters, looking

him to do hard labor

to scavenging, a

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