18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 65

The first time Rosie got into a fight, it left a deep impression on her young mind. She clung to Jasper's neck, "When I grow up, I'll protect you too." "Alright."

"I'll protect Stella too, and Cooper."

"Alright."

Next, they sold fish, with Jasper showing her the ropes.

Stella listened silently. Jasper's teaching methods were rough, but in a world where order had collapsed, maybe Rosie would have been worse off if they'd stuck to the old ways of kindness and gentleness. "Yes, what your brother taught you isn't wrong."

Curious, Stella asked Rosie, "Have you ever been hungry or been beaten up?"

Rosie lowered her head, nervously fiddling with her clothes.

"That's okay. You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."

"When Jasper didn't come home, I was so hungry. My cousin bullied me, and my aunt scolded me."

"Do you want to go through that again?"

"No!" Rosie shook her head vehemently, her voice tinged with a sob. "I don't want to."

"Well, remember that feeling. If anyone ever treats you like that again, you fight back. Don't be afraid. They can't beat you."

"But my aunt said the police would take me away."

"As long as you're not the one starting trouble, the police won't take you away." Stella comforted the little girl, "Today, when you fought, the police didn't come to get you, did they?"

Relieved, Rosie said, "I'll listen to Stella and Jasper. No one will bully me anymore."

Cooper growled his agreement from the side.

at his ear, "Don't encourage

she declared, "Fighting is easy. If anyone

day, but was no match for her brother. But after getting into a fight with someone else today, she realized that she wasn't weak. Jasper was just too strong.

subject, Stella asked, "Rosie, what did you get for the fish you sold

got some tools, textbooks, a dress,

which she was currently wearing on her head,

lose out on brother's fish? Cody and Lukas said

as long as you think

and anyway, Jasper

practical: two packs of salt, dried vegetables, sanitary pads, and a lighter. Angela passed her a pack of sanitary pads, "Even in the apocalypse, we still have to bleed every month. It's such

"I have plenty. You

are hooked. They want to go again tomorrow. Do you want to

for a few days. You go have fun." No need

gleefully at the idea of a day

spent the rest of the day teaching Rosie math and language. When Rosie finished her homework, Stella sat on the couch to continue her project.

Stella had made a onesie thermal suit, with a hole for

Not wanting to put diapers

looked like he had just come out of a

blunt, "It looks

her mistake and immediately covered her mouth, looking at Stella with innocent eye. 'I

suit: 'Get this ugly thing off me. It's

is

isn't ugly. He's even more

looked at Stella,

his head, "I'm not lying, my dog is the most handsome on the

and nuzzled into her arms: 'If I'm so handsome, make

thick fur meant he didn't feel the change in temperature now, so he didn't react to the suit. When she finished the second suit, she used the leftover fabric to make a suit for Smoky and Snowy. It wasn't pretty, but it wasn't about looking

to pick up Rosie. Stella stopped him and handed him a nail gun,

"Keep it."

a life-saving tool, and