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 Rosie

up, her small fists clenched as she declared, "Fighting is easy. If anyone dares to bully me, I'll beat

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

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

tools, textbooks, a dress,

was currently wearing on her head, made her look even more

out on brother's fish? Cody and Lukas

as long as you think it's

different needs, and anyway, Jasper wasn't short

things 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 sanitary pads, "Even in the apocalypse,

have

hooked. They want to go again tomorrow. Do

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

at the idea of a

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

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

Not wanting to put diapers

out of

was blunt, "It

and immediately covered her mouth, looking

the suit: 'Get this

"No way, Cooper is the most handsome dog in

"Cooper isn't ugly. He's even more handsome than my brother, and the

at Stella,

my dog is the most handsome on the

her arms: 'If I'm

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

up Rosie. Stella stopped him and handed him a nail gun, "I almost forgot to

"Keep it."

surprised. This was a life-saving tool, and