18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 222

Upon drawing closer, they saw a boy of about ten years old, ceaselessly trying to shift the rubble of a collapsed wall. Beneath the wall lay a woman, her blood long since dried, her body rigid and cold.

The ten-year-old boy, who had already grasped the concept of death, stubbornly continued his futile attempts to move the debris. But he was just a scrawny little kid, lacking the strength necessary for such a task. Even as his hands became raw and bloody, the wall remained immovable.

Jasper stepped forward, lending a hand to move the heavy rubble. Once the wall was removed, the boy desperately tried to rouse the lifeless body of his mother. A little girl joined him, her voice hoarse from crying. Unfortunately, no matter how much they called out to her, the woman would never open her eyes again.

Rosie's eyes reddened as she tightly clutched her brother's hand.

Stella asked the sobbing little girl, "Do you have any other family members at home?"

The little girl shook her head, "My grandparents and dad are all gone."

Stella pulled out a bottle of water from her backpack and handed it over. The thirsty little girl gulped it down gratefully, thanking Stella.

After drinking half of it, she passed the bottle to her brother. The boy held the bottle tightly but didn't drink.

Jasper patted his head, "You're older than your sister. You understand what's happening. You need to accept reality. Take your sister to the city and look for the official rescue teams. They will take care of you. Don’t linger here. Go immediately."

The place was too remote, and the two defenseless children were in great danger.

The boy remained silent, continuously wiping his tears.

Stella handed over another bottle of water along with five or six packs of crackers, "Hide these well, and don't let anyone find out. Go to the city with your sister."

"Thank you." The boy choked out.

With time running out, Stella continued her journey.

As they walked, Rosie couldn't help but glance back, "Stella, they're following us."

Looking back, Stella saw the boy and girl in the distance. The boy was holding his sister's hand, and the little girl was occasionally glancing back at their destroyed home disappearing in the distance.

As they approached the city, they encountered more survivors, both severely and lightly injured. Most of them were homeless, while some stubbornly searched through the ruins for their belongings.

Some of them stopped Stella and her group, begging for food and water, "We're injured. Do you have any water? Please, help us."

Regardless of their genuine injuries and desperate pleas, their eyes had a calculating glint. Stella ignored them and kept moving.

Some persistent survivors tried to follow them, but Stella pulled out her crossbow without a word and coldly warned, "Stay away." Seeing her weapon, they didn't dare to approach any further.

This delay gave the little boy and girl a chance to catch up. With a face full of dirt, he pulled his sister past the survivors who wanted to stop them, and cautiously and fearfully hid behind Jasper.