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

was already riled up, her small fists clenched as she declared,

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

did you get for

"We got some tools, textbooks,

wearing

fish? Cody

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

anyway, Jasper wasn't

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

"I have plenty. You

They want to go again tomorrow. Do you want to

days. You go

gleefully at the idea of a

her homework, Stella sat on the couch to continue her project. Finally, she had finished her first thermal suit for Cooper. She called him over, "Cooper, come here." The suit was black, to hide

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

hole. Not wanting to put diapers

like he had just come out of

was blunt,

and immediately covered her mouth, looking

'Get this ugly thing off me. It's ruining my

comforted him, "No way, Cooper is the most handsome

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

looked at Stella, "Woof!"

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

with that and nuzzled into her arms: 'If I'm

she finished the second suit, she

Rosie. Stella stopped him and handed him a

"Keep it."

a life-saving tool, and he