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."

others saw the deadly seriousness in her gaze and kept

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

Rosie water and crumbled bread into her

half an hour, a man herded them towards a pool. "Clean yourselves up. Do a good job later, and there'll be plenty of food and drink for you," he sneered

pool water was precious. They frantically scooped it to

her face, thanked the woman who had cared for her,

clean, they were given second-hand clothes - worn and of uncertain

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

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

lingered at the back of the group, ears alert despite her downcast eyes. After three years of perpetual darkness, many survivors had developed acute hearing.

around a table laden

voraciously, protected by the shadows of their brothers, while Rosie observed the scene. These men wore human skins but exuded the essence of demons - demons