The Apocalypse Survival Manual (Three Days Before Doomsday, I Stockpiled Billions) novel Chapter 727

Nicole saw the man ahead as well. He really did look like a beggar.

His clothes were in tatters, and he wandered barefoot down the road with no clear destination.

Another person half-broken by the apocalypse.

Nicole had barely finished the thought when the man heard the truck behind him, turned around, and started waving for them to stop.

People used all kinds of tricks to rob travelers. He could easily be a lookout trying to lure them into an ambush.

Nicole chambered a round. If he tried anything, she would shoot.

The man waved both arms.

"Stop! Stop!"

Nicole scanned the area but didn't see anyone hiding nearby. Zeph kept driving and passed him without slowing down.

The man immediately raised his middle finger at the truck.

"Damn it! Stop!"

Nicole narrowed her eyes. Something about him looked familiar in the rearview mirror. She stared for a few seconds, then finally recognized him.

"Stop."

The moment the truck pulled over, hope returned to the man's face. He limped toward them.

"Hey, can you give me a ride?"

He hurried closer, but the second he looked up, he froze. It was like someone dumped a bucket of ice water over his head.

Without saying a word, Marcus immediately covered his face with one hand and turned away.

Nicole looked at him.

"Marcus."

His whole body went stiff. It felt like the last bit of dignity he had left had just been stripped away.

Nicole didn't laugh at him or ask how he had ended up like this. "Get in. The base is still more than ten miles away. If you walk the whole way barefoot, you'll tear your feet up."

The once-arrogant rich kid, son of one of the richest men in the country, had been reduced by years of disasters to a barefoot drifter.

That would take time, and with the points she had left, she could only afford half a truckload anyway. She decided to save up and buy a full load later so they would have plenty stored away if they ever needed it.

As for other supplies, Nicole already had almost everything she could want.

Except the submarine.

After spending several days outside, all four of them were filthy and ready to get home.

Marcus left without saying goodbye, probably because his pride couldn't take much more. Nicole didn't know what she could say to him either, so she let him go.

But on the drive back to the house, they ran into him again.

After thinking for a moment, Nicole stopped the truck and leaned out the window.

"Marcus, you left some medicine with me before. I brought it with me. Things are too chaotic now, so I don't wanna keep holding on to it for you. When do you wanna pick it up?"

Marcus froze. He hadn't expected Nicole, who had always been careful about every bit of supplies, to offer the medicine back.

"Um, later, I guess."