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

they regained some strength. Panic set in as one whispered, "What do they want with us?" No one

fed Rosie water and crumbled bread

up. Do a good job later, and there'll be plenty of food and drink for you," he sneered before

was precious. They frantically scooped it to their

who had cared

clean, they were given second-hand clothes - worn

drew the men's hungry and lascivious gazes. Rosie, particularly frail, staggered dangerously close to them, her vulnerability

rasp in her voice, stirring a paternal instinct in some of

eyes. After three years of perpetual darkness, many survivors had developed acute

room, where several men sat around a table laden

brothers, while Rosie observed the scene. These men wore