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."

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

no room left in the cab, so Bran had to

someone he knew was a nightmare come true. But what could he do? He climbed aboard, the truck bouncing him all the

the fallen rich kid sat atop a pile of garbage,

base and drove up to the recycling

trading, and cashing in

the workers some time to clean, and after weighing,

steel could sustain a family for a few

questions about where the

to keep the credits. She went straight

ten packs could

case of a real-life Robinson Crusoe situation,

but decided to save up and buy a

from a submarine, Stella had almost

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

a word, probably

a deep breath inwardly, not sure what to

to their private compound, they

a moment's thought, 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 you want

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

"Uh, later," he mumbled.

scavenging again after a short break. Wouldn't want you to

Bran merely nodded, "Mhm."

the compound and exchanging

feeling his heart,

their dog

the comfort of home-cooked food after days on

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 do

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

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

turned to scavenging, a dangerous and

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