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.

his ear, "Don't encourage

as she declared, "Fighting

she always felt inadequate. She trained hard every 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. The boy who tried to steal her candy couldn't even beat her with

asked, "Rosie, what did you

responded quickly, "We got some tools, textbooks, a dress, and

currently wearing on her head, made her look even

fish? Cody and Lukas

you think it's worth it,

different needs, and anyway, Jasper wasn't short of

in exchange were more practical: two packs of salt, dried vegetables, sanitary pads, and a lighter. Angela passed her a

have

insist, "Lukas and Cody are hooked. They want to go again tomorrow. Do you want

home for a few days.

laughed gleefully at the idea of

Stella sat on the couch to continue her project. Finally, she had finished

had made a onesie thermal suit, with a hole for Cooper's tail. There was another hole at the rear end, so

Not wanting to put diapers on Cooper, she

he had just come out of a coal mine with

was blunt,

covered her mouth, looking at Stella with innocent eye.

Cooper bit at the suit: 'Get this ugly thing off

is the most handsome

amends, "Cooper isn't ugly. He's even more handsome than

at Stella,

lying, my dog is the most handsome

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

chose a dark green fabric. While making the suit, she observed Cooper's reactions. Unfortunately, his 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

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

"Keep it."

was surprised. This was a life-saving tool, and he was