18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 93

Stella had no patience for nonsense. "If our mere presence is such a curse, then do us a favor and get lost."

"Why should we move?" Korey's wife glared at her viciously. "Because of you, my son was kidnapped and my husband was hurt. This isn't over!" Stella was speechless. "What do you want?"

Korey held back his wife. His eyes were filled with pain as he looked at Stella and her group. "I'm sorry. I know I messed up. I shouldn't target you guys. But I was desperate. My son is only eight. If I don't do as they said, they will kill him. I know I brought this on myself, but my mistakes shouldn't affect my son. Can you help me save him?"

Stella was speechless. She couldn't believe he had the audacity to ask that.

If he stood with them, like the Moore family, and told them about the kidnappers' true intentions, she might offer to help him by providing the latest news about the gang. But he had chosen to hide, putting them in danger time and time again. And now he wanted them to risk their lives to save his son?

"You're dreaming," Stella snapped.

She ignored him and walked straight to room 1702, kicking at the door. "If you have any guts, stay in there and never come out."

Angela added a kick. "Listen up, if you don't come out now, I'll break down this door!"

But, the door of 1702 remained shut.

"Fine, be that way," Stella scoffed. "See if we ever come here again."

After that, she walked away, heading back upstairs. Angela and the others followed suit. No one wanted to be the sacrificial lamb anymore. They'd let the 17th floor deal with their mess.

Korey's wife wanted to confront Stella, but her husband held her back.

"Listen, I can't hold on much longer, Jane," he admitted.

you won't die," she

the 18th floor after I'm gone. The gang won't let go of them and the 18th floor won't compromise. You need to survive, for me and for Jacky." "I can't live without you,"

could return. You

bleeding body to the kitchen and grabbed a knife before heading downstairs. "I'll fight them, but you, you need to survive. You need to be there

wife watched as he walked away, calling after

it to the seventh floor, but

dog, Cooper, came bounding up to her, whimpering

she assured him, crouching down to scratch behind his

winced and the others watched in shock. They hadn't expected the dog to be so fierce, especially since he seemed to respect Stella. They

sobs. He felt rejected, not being allowed to help in the

You would die if you

her. 'Was she really not

her finger with his paw in a 'pinky

In truth, only Cooper had the courage to hit Stella. Anyone else would have been punished severely many times

guts. The lingering trauma from Stella's beatings in their childhood

door, Rosie also rushed over, her pout clearly expressing her resentment and teardrop circling her eyes restlessly.

too." Why was it that every time there's danger, he either tied her to a tree or locked her in a

had settled, they gathered in room 1803. Cody and Lukas laid out the weapons they had found, wondering how they should be divided. Holding one of

he picked one up and placed it in Stella's hand. Then he picked up another

and took the second weapon from him, placing both back

suggested, "How about one

hoping that Stella and Jasper would agree

glanced at Stella before speaking. "I don't

weapon to be beneath him and damaging