Chapter 276


    Ang could never have fathomed the hidden truth behind her parents'' death. They hadn''t


    sumbed to a heat stroke; they had been starved to death.


    The children, frightened into submission, spilled everything.


    No one could have predicted the cmity wouldst this long. At first, there was peace in the family,


    but soon, greed took over.


    The eldest brother used the younger of eating more than his share, while the younger suspected


    the elder of hoarding warm clothes. In the end, they each resorted to dipping into their parents'' life


    supplies.


    Reluctantly, the family divided. Deprived ofpassion, they manipted and exploited their


    parents, leaving them without any supplies. Each brother felt wronged, ming their parents for


    being selfish and not evenly splitting their resources.


    Guarding their separate stashes of food, neither brother stepped down, allowing their parents to


    starve to death. But they had their pride, and so they fabricated a more respectable cause for their


    parents'' deaths.


    Ang, upon learning the truth, lost her mind. She stormed into her brother''s house, beating the life


    out of them. Had military personnel not intervened, there might have been casualties.


    During the chaos and emotional turmoil, Ang miscarried, bleeding profusely. Fortunately, there


    was a doctor at the base camp who managed to save her life. But due tock of medicine for


    immediate treatment, she developed repeated infections, and her once robust health took a severe


    hit. To add to theplications, Ang was evicted from the base due to the violent nature of her


    actions.


    With no other choice, the trio was forced to return to Griffith to scrape out a living. In order to


    survive, they had to resort to their old ways.


    Ste could only sigh at their fate. They had left with hope, only to return battered and bruised.


    Lukas had to continue his patrols and couldn''t stay in the vehicle for too long. With a bitterugh, he


    stepped out and walked away.


    Before he went too far, he turned back and said, "Forgot to tell you, Cody found a partner."


    Ste blinked, "Is she olddy?"


    "We were scavenging when he saved ady. In gratitude, she invited us for dinner and ended up


    getting a bit too drunk and slept with Cody."


    Thedy seemed to enjoy it and so, Cody and she were together for a while.


    "She''s three years older than him. Quite capable, used to lead a team. When the team grew too big


    and unruly, she decided to go lone wolf."


    Probably tired of being alone, she started sleeping with men.


    "It''s been over six months, but she hasn''t made anymitments. No one knows how much longer


    it willst."


    Lukas gave Ste an address, suggesting she should visit sometime.


    As Lukas'' figure receded in the distance, Ste sat in the car for a while before driving home. Upon


    her arrival, her dog bounded out, frantically pawing at her.


    Jasper came downstairs, "What happened? You''rete."


    "Nothing, I just dropped Dr. Collin off at Swan Hill." Ste paused, "On the way back, I ran into


    Lukas."


    Lukas? Jasper was surprised. Shouldn''t she be happy to see an old friend? Instead, she seemed


    troubled.


    "Did something happen to them?"


    Sitting on the sofa, Ste recounted the story.


    Jasper listened, his expression calm. "In times of disaster, every lower-ss family will go through


    this. Even if Ang''s parents hadn''t died, their family would have had to face this situation


    eventually."


    Parents, siblings, nieces, and nephews, not everyone can withstand the tests of the apocalypse.


    Jasper held her hand, "Everyone has their own path. We just need to take care of ourselves."


    Ste thought so too.


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    The joy of their reunion was quickly eclipsed byplexity. If it were the past, she might have gone


    to see Ang immediately. But she didn''t. She even started to wonder, when should she go see


    Ang? What should she say when she did?


    Two years had passed, and not only had Lukas changed, Ang had suffered both mentally and


    physically. Was she still the optimistic and positive girl who used to approach things with a carefree


    attitude?


    Ste even worried that her presence might create a stark contrast, making Ang ufortable.


    Two years might not seem like a long time, but for some, it felt longer than a lifetime. Back at the


    18th floor, everyone started at the same point, and their emotional journey was much simpler.


    As they turned off the lights to sleep, Ste discussed with Jasper, "I want to go see Ang


    tomorrow. Do you want toe?"


    "Where do they live?"


    Ste mentioned the address Lukas had given.


    Jasper thought for a moment, "That ce is chaotic, full of survivors from the lower sses. It''s


    basically a slum."


    Having lived in Newtown for several months, Ste had a fair idea about the surroundings. That


    area, close to the edge of the city, was indeed a lot more harsh due to its cheaper rent.


    "I''ll apany you, but I won''t go up."


    Firstly, his previous rtionship with the the people living in 1803 were merely professional, not


    personal. Secondly, he was not good with words. With him around, Ang might not feel


    comfortable opening up to Ste.


    Ste agreed, "I''ll go alone. You stay back and look after Rosie and Cooper."


    "It''s too far, and it''s not safe for you to walk alone."


    The next day, Ste gathered some herbs, all known for helping recover from miscarriage and


    gynecological disorders. She didn''t carry anything expensive, just fast-growing herbs. She would


    decide on the next steps after assessing the situation.


    People living in Building 50 had a notorious reputation, and no one dared to provoke themtely. If


    they ran into anyone from Building 50 on the road, they would take a detour.


    Jasper, along with Cooper and Rosie, drove Ste to Southern Street in the southern part of the


    town in their Hummer.


    Garbage was strewn everywhere, and sewage ran down the streets. Children, barely clothed,


    yed around the buildings. As soon as the car stopped, numerous eyes turned their way.


    Ste, dressed in worn-out clothes, still felt uneasy, "Come pick me up in an hour." She pulled out a


    butcher''s knife from her bag and stepped into the cramped building.


    The hallway and stairs were cluttered with junk, forcing people to sidestep to navigate. The stench


    was everywhere.


    Despite the squalor, there were many eyes watching, mostly belonging to the elderly and children,


    their clothes torn and eyes dull.


    An endless gloom permeated the building, a chill creeping up from the floor.


    When she finally reached the 5th floor, Ste knocked for what seemed like an eternity before a


    hoarse voice from within asked, "Who is it?"


    Ste was taken aback, "Ang?"


    After a while, the door creaked open, revealing a gaunt and weary face. Ste thought she had the


    wrong apartment, but it was indeed Ang.


    This hardly looked like Ang. Her face withered and turned pale, and she even coughed to the


    point of being unsteady on her feet.


    The former National Collegiate Boxing Champion, Ang, who could send a man flying with just a


    punch, and who once killed a wild boar with her bare hands, now looked as thin as a skeleton.


    Her thighs, once thicker than Lukas'' waist, had also gone. The clothes hanging on her body looked


    empty and deted.


    Ang was taken aback. "Ste?"