18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 358

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

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."

Though resentful, the others saw the deadly seriousness in her gaze and kept quiet.

After choking down the meager rations, they regained some strength. Panic set in as one whispered, "What do they want with us?" No one had an answer.

The woman carefully fed Rosie water and crumbled bread into her mouth.

After about 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 before shoving them in.

The pool water was precious. They frantically scooped it to their lips while they washed.