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.

worst, life could

short, they had to brace

Shaw, hysterical, accosted the doctor, "Why is this happening? The meds were the same. Why is Reagan fine, but my boy's

replied, "Please, Mrs. Shaw, every patient is different, and

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

were administered. As for

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

still, they

a thread, Mrs. Shaw lashed out,

What are you waiting for? Save

just stepped into the doorway, kicked the door open,

was about to scold this brash intruder in the monitoring room when it dawned on her who it

pale as a

but with fine fabric and a healthy glow, it

Shaw had not expected Stella to appear at the hospital, and her

after all, was the daughter of a high-ranking official, and misunderstandings could be

her off cold, "Mrs. Shaw, you can

Space for explanations,

Stella left no space

no doctor. It was

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

vetted the medicine. And now you dare

you think I possess some kind of panacea? Even if the nation's top physician stood here, he wouldn't dare guarantee a cure

ground. The clay floor held, but the soup scattered, its

Shaw hadn't expected such ferocity from Stella and took two

her and attending to her vomiting son, could only

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

of familiar faces. Across the street at the police station, the officers were escorting a group back-young men in their

forties, her clothes torn, her body marked

take much to