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 encourage Rosie to

clenched as she declared, "Fighting is

else today, she realized

the subject, Stella asked, "Rosie, what did

some tools, textbooks, a

she was currently wearing on her head, made her look

out on brother's fish? Cody and

long as you think it's worth it, it's

different needs, and anyway, Jasper wasn't short

sanitary pads, and a lighter. Angela passed her a pack of sanitary

have plenty. You

didn't insist, "Lukas and Cody are hooked. They want to go again tomorrow. Do you want

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

the idea of

project. Finally,

onesie thermal suit, with a hole for Cooper's tail. There was another hole at

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

come out of a

blunt, "It

looking at Stella with innocent eye. 'I didn't mean it,

Cooper bit at the suit: 'Get this ugly

him, "No way, Cooper is the most

He's even more handsome than my brother, and the suit Stella made is

at Stella,

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

pleased with that and nuzzled into her arms:

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

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

"Keep it."

tool,