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

room left in the cab, so Bran had to settle for sitting

nightmare come true. But what could he do? He climbed aboard, the

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

base and drove up to the recycling

trading, and cashing in

and after weighing, they earned 3000

steel could sustain a family for a

casual attitude meant no prying questions about where the steel came

went straight to the base's store and bought

pods, these ten packs could last for

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

left, Stella spotted coal for sale but decided to save up and buy

supplies, aside from a submarine, Stella had almost everything

on the road, the family was eager

left without a word, probably a matter of

took a deep breath inwardly, not sure

to their private

"Hey, Bran. You left some meds with me a while

taken aback, not expecting the usually covetous Stella to offer the

"Uh, later," he mumbled.

We'll probably head out scavenging again after a short break. Wouldn't want you to make a

Bran merely nodded, "Mhm."

address to the compound and exchanging goodbyes

the truck drive away, feeling his heart, already

the trio and their dog enjoyed a luxurious

comfort of home-cooked food after

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

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

him to do hard labor for food was

turned to scavenging,

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