18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 358

mouths without a thought for the days before the dust storms.

A ragged group shuffled into a side room, each clutching a half cup of water and a chunk of dense, dark rye bread. Starved and parched, their eyes lit up at the sight of food. They lunged like ravenous ghouls, gulping down the water and cramming the stale bread into their They ate in a frenzy, choking and coughing as they forced the dry food down their throats.

Rosie was still out cold, and someone eyed the untouched portion of food on the table with greedy intent.

The woman tending to Rosie shoved the intruder away. "We're all women here; no need to act like animals."

The pushed-away woman muttered, "She ain't your daughter. For all we know, you might not even make it through the night."

The caretaker's eyes turned icy. "Believe me, I'll cut you down if I have to."

saw the deadly seriousness in

strength. Panic set in as one whispered, "What do they want with

fed Rosie water and crumbled bread into her

a good job later, and

They frantically scooped it to their lips while

who had cared for her, her

were given second-hand clothes - worn

they drew the men's hungry and lascivious gazes. Rosie, particularly frail, staggered dangerously close to them, her vulnerability eliciting a rare moment of sympathy from

gratitude genuine despite the rasp in her voice, stirring a paternal instinct in some

group, ears alert despite her downcast eyes. After three years of perpetual darkness, many survivors had developed acute hearing. She could

led to a cavernous space resembling a living room, where several men sat around a table laden with food that reminded them of

their brothers, while Rosie observed the scene. These men wore human skins but exuded the essence