18 Floors Above the Apocalypse
Chapter 303

A parent's love for their child involved profound planning. Starting from now, they intended to be like wolves, no longer indulging in spoiling their children. Even if it meant paying a significant price, they were determined to push them to grow up quickly. The once pampered elite, who used to flit between Chanel boutiques and tea parties with delicate pastries, now found themselves doing the labor work, donning ragged clothes and feeding quails. They were even tasked with collecting eggs sullied with bird droppings-a

disgusting

affair.

Running laps, doing sit-ups, boxing, practicing martial arts-it was an intense regime that had the young heirs screaming in protest. Their parents, however, seemed invigorated by the change, urging them on with a fervor, "Train until you drop!"

The privileged youth were no match for the tenacity of Bran. Despite his lofty status and heritage, he still patrolled the streets, a testament to his skills and dedication.

No one improves without challenge, and the wealthy elite held Bran in high regard, eager for him to demonstrate his prowess to their coddled children.

Bran, never one to shy away from a challenge, threw down the gauntlet, "Who wants to try their luck against me?"

A dolled-up socialite stepped forward, her hand raised high, "Bran, may I?"

Hoping to hitch her star to the unmarried Bran and secure a life of luxury within the Porras family, she approached the stage with a flirtatious sway, "Please go easy on me, Bran."

But Bran was unfazed by her charms. With a swift motion, he caught her arm and executed a flawless judo throw, sending her crashing to the ground.

Stunned and humiliated, the socialite lay there, unable to even scream. "The nerve of him!" she thought, "He doesn't even know how to treat a lady!"

The crowd, fully aware of her intentions, could barely contain their laughter, leaving her father mortified.

Bran, often dismissed as the fool of the rich, proved his physical mettle time and time again. Wealthy folks often dabbled in diversions like sports cars, golf, tennis, clay pigeon shooting, and more-Bran was no exception, especially surrounded by a bevy of beauties. The socialite, her pride wounded, burst into tears, "Bran, how could you..."

Bran replied, "I'd be glad to show you mercy, but I can't say the same for the thugs out there."

Embarrassed, she fled the scene.

Stella, too, grew restless confined at home and refused to let Jasper carry all the weight of their survival. She decided to take turns patrolling, allowing Jasper some respite.

The 12-hour shifts were grueling. After some negotiation, they agreed to split the duty-Jasper and Rosie for six hours, then Stella and Cooper taking over. This arrangement allowed both training and rest.

But Bran, that pest, kept bothering them with his idle propositions, "Stella, it's too cold for you to be out here. Let's go inside for some hot stew and a game of poker?"

Cooper, protective of Stella, bared his teeth. One step closer, and he'd bite.

The never-ending night wore on, and the survivors endured, some resorting to robbery and violence, others to despair and suicide, but most clung to hope, knowing that after darkness comes the dawn. Then, Bran was kidnapped!

The ransom demands were outrageous: 10,000 pounds of grain, 5,000 pounds of meat, all of the Porras family's medicine, and 50 firearms. Failure to comply would mean his death.

Stella was resting at home, and it was Austin who brought the news.

"He was asking for it, driving out at times like this. Now only Bentley has returned."

Stella discovered that Bran had left his post unexpectedly, driving off with Bentley without explanation. Bentley returned alone, severely injured, with a broken arm and lacerations, carrying a threatening note that warned against involving the police. Shane, a shrewd businessman, knew that paying the ransom quietly would seal his son's fate.

The reason for their outing was unclear, but Evan and the police were already on the case.

The news spread like wildfire.

Bran had been an unwilling participant, dragged along by Bentley, who'd received a message from his lost love Lindsay. Blinded by love, Bentley had rushed out to replace her, and Bran, loyal to his cousin, joined him to prevent him from facing the dangers alone. They had left without notifying their bodyguards to avoid Shane's interference.

Austin shook his head in disbelief, "Are these guys nuts? It's the apocalypse, not a game. Do they think they're invincible?"

With the ongoing state of eternal night stretching into its first year, the survivors' resources were dwindling. Most criminals had given up, but the ruthless ones targeted the wealthy, hoping to hit the jackpot with the Porras family.

Stella was exasperated; it seemed the end of the world wouldn't come until Bentley met his demise.

In the dead of night, with sleep eluding her, Stella's curiosity got the better of her, "Who do you think kidnapped Bran?"

Jasper, calm as ever, replied, "Probably it is an insider crime."

An insider? Stella pondered, "You mean a mole in the Porras family?"

Not likely someone from the family, but perhaps a bodyguard or a servant. Knowing Jasper was adept at unraveling such mysteries, Stella nudged him playfully, "Well, what's your take?"

"The grain and meat are manageable; the Porras family can handle that. The real question lies with the demand for 50 guns."

In a country with strict gun laws, acquiring firearms was near impossible for the average person. Even in a chaotic post-apocalyptic world, while the wealthy might replace ways to procure weapons, they would never have such an abundance to spare.

In the small town where the Porras family reigned as the wealthiest, having a couple of guns was impressive enough for most. But even for the Porras clan, with their old money and sprawling estate, owning a dozen or two weapons was considered borderline miraculous in the eyes of the townsfolk.

When the kidnappers demanded a ransom of 50 guns, it was clear there was something fishy going on.

Stella pondered for a moment and said, "Maybe they're just shooting for the moon, expecting the Porras family to haggle."

"If they were really aiming high, they could have asked for tons of grain. I'm sure Shane could scrounge that up. But grain's tough to move without drawing attention. Too much of it, and you risk getting caught. Guns, on the other hand, are a solid ask," Jasper responded. Then he continued with his analysis, "Don't forget, Bentley's been chasing the ghost of his lost love for five long years since the hurricane took her. Kidnapping is a serious crime, and only someone very close to him would know he still holds a candle for that woman."