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 to

as she declared, "Fighting

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

did you get for the fish you sold

"We got some tools,

pink bunny-shaped fluffy hairband, which she was currently wearing on her head, made

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

you think it's worth

needs, and anyway, Jasper

Angela passed

have plenty.

want to go

a few days.

laughed gleefully at the idea of a

the day teaching Rosie math and language. When Rosie finished her homework, Stella sat on the couch to continue her project. Finally, she had finished her first thermal suit for Cooper. She

for Cooper's

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

out of a coal

blunt, "It looks

mistake and immediately covered her mouth, looking

Cooper bit at the suit: 'Get this ugly

Cooper is the most handsome dog

more handsome than my brother,

looked at Stella, "Woof!"

his head, "I'm not lying, my dog is

and nuzzled into her arms: 'If

didn't react to the suit. When she finished the second suit,

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

"Keep it."

This was a life-saving tool, and