18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 52

The metallic gate, bristling with spikes, slowly swung open, followed by the measured sound of purposeful footsteps.

For some reason, the gathered crowd felt a knot in their throats, a sense of unease clenching their stomachs. They had seen murders happen on the 18th floor with their own eyes. The first to appear was the young girl, her legs slender and straight, with a lethal samurai sword in her hand.

A wave of murmurs spread through the crowd. The 18th floor was infamous for their brutality, and to have this young girl leading the pack was a chilling statement.

Next came the girl rumored to be the national college boxing champion, whose punch could send a person's head flying.

Following her were two men, one wielding a baseball bat, the other a spiked club. The club was an ominous sight, a wooden baseball bat studded with rusty, sharp nails.

The last to appear was a striking man, representative of the 18th floor in both height and good looks. He wore a casual grey suit, his hands tucked nonchalantly into his pockets.

To everyone's surprise, a robust dog followed at his heels.

The crowd, angered and hungry, couldn't help but regret their previous decisions. They shouldn't have agreed to take only a third of the supplies from the 18th floor. They should've demanded everything, including the dog. They all licked their lips, their hands itching for a fight, as if victory was already beckoning.

However, Drew felt a foreboding chill when he saw the 18th floor's show of force.

called out, "why are you

the crowd squeezed onto corridor. There were no elderly, weak, women or children. All of them were men, either

of people - some with rosy complexions, some pale and weak. Regardless

in the crowd. He looked thin, his eyes hinted at a desperate hunger, and his face was pale, a stark contrast to his usual dashingly handsome self. Seeing the large gathering on the

What we

have no choice but to come ask

the greater numbers, Drew didn't want to resort to violence. To defuse the situation, he said, "In desperate times, we should all stick together. Those who have food should share, and those who are strong should contribute their energy. Isn't that how we survive? In these special circumstances, we've decided not to abandon anyone or give up. We want to pool all resources together and share them so that no one in the building starves to death. Everyone else has already given their share, you can't be any different, right?"

it once we get past the crisis," Drew's expression stiffened as he struggled to maintain a smile, "If you don't believe

"No," Stella refused flatly.

was nothing more to discuss. The

"Why are we bothering to talk with them?

want to play tough, then we don't have to be

on a face of concern, "Why can't you share a bit of your resources? Even if I agree to your terms, others might not. You're

Stella challenged them, "Come here if you want to

desperate and hungry, the man holding the

pulled out a gun and pointed it at the