18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 576

Good news-Reagan had finally come around.

But he was as weak as a newborn calf, barely able to say a word.

Emily was right there, fussing over him like a mother hen. "Stella, I can't thank you enough for the medicine."

"Just doing what I can," Stella said, handing over a steaming bowl of chicken soup. "Uncle Hugh's as weak as a leaf, and porridge won't cut it. Luckily, the farm's chickens were ready for the coop, so I cooked one up especially."

Emily knew too well that porridge was about as nourishing as a wet paper towel compared to a hearty potato stew.

The aroma of the soup was tantalizing. Even someone of Reagan's stature hadn't had a taste in years.

Knowing her husband needed strength, Emily didn't hesitate. She figured she'd return the favor with a gift once her husband was on the mend.

Carefully, she spoon-fed him.

After a few comforting words, Stella got to her feet, suggesting Emily should drop by the farm whenever she could to pick up some chickens and help Uncle Hugh regain his strength.

Exiting the intensive care unit, the pair carried another bowl of chicken soup toward the monitoring room.

Nicholas was gone. Mrs. Shaw was there, a symphony of sobs escaping her as she kept vigil by her son's side.

After receiving medicine, Nicholas had woken up the night before, but he was in a

bad way.

He wasn't out of the woods yet, and from all the tests, it seemed the fever had triggered meningitis.

Even before the calamity, meningitis was a notorious killer, and without antibiotics, the survival rate was abysmal.

Nicholas had brain damage, his hearing gone, and he kept vomiting.

was often irreversible, and even with antibiotics to stave off the worst, life could be a

they had to brace for the

hysterical, accosted the doctor, "Why is this happening? The meds were the same. Why

of calm, replied, "Please, Mrs. Shaw,

Shaw wouldn't have it. "You must have botched it,

administered. As for the traditional remedies,

had been meticulous, especially with Nicholas, a man known for being difficult. There was no room

they

by a thread, Mrs.

the medicine. What are

doorway, kicked the door open, her

never met Stella, was about to scold this brash intruder in the

pale

and a healthy glow, it was

at the hospital, and her offhand accusation had reached

brewing. Stella, after all, was the daughter of

Stella cut her off cold, "Mrs. Shaw, you can mess up your diet, but not your

Space for explanations,

Stella left no space

no doctor. It

the port until I gave Out of respect for his service to the country and his relationship with my father, I

the process, and the hospital vetted the

of panacea? Even if the nation's top physician stood

over, Stella smashed the bowl of soup on the ground. The clay floor

ferocity from Stella and took two steps back in

following her and attending to her vomiting son, could

Nicholas, who had come hurrying over. She didn't give him the time of day and headed straight

the police station, the officers were escorting a group back-young men in their twenties, older ones in

them, a woman in her forties, her clothes torn, her body marked with the

take much