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.

ear, "Don't

was already riled up, her small fists clenched as she declared, "Fighting is easy.

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

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

some tools, textbooks, a dress,

wearing on

Stella, did we lose out on brother's fish? Cody and Lukas

think it's worth

and anyway,

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

have

are hooked. They want to go again

I'm staying home for a few days. You go have fun." No need to

laughed gleefully at the idea of a

finished her homework, Stella sat on the couch to continue her project.

was brutal, so Stella had made a onesie thermal suit, with a hole for Cooper's tail. There was another hole

should be another hole. Not wanting to put diapers on Cooper, she cut another

out of a

was blunt, "It

her mistake and immediately covered her mouth, looking at Stella with innocent

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

way, Cooper is the most

even more handsome than my brother, and the suit

looked at Stella,

my dog is the

nuzzled into her arms: 'If I'm

temperature now, so he didn't react to the suit. When she

to pick up Rosie. Stella stopped him and handed him a

"Keep it."

was a life-saving tool, and