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

fists clenched as she declared, "Fighting is

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 strong. The boy who tried to steal her candy couldn't even beat her with one hand,

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

responded quickly, "We got some tools, textbooks, a dress, and

wearing on her head,

out on brother's fish? Cody and Lukas said

think it's worth

and anyway, Jasper

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

refused, "I have plenty.

want to go again tomorrow. Do

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

the idea of a

finished 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

Stella had made a onesie thermal suit, with a hole for Cooper's tail.

be another hole. Not wanting to put

looked like he had just come out of a coal

blunt, "It looks

mouth, looking at Stella with

at the suit: 'Get this ugly

is the most handsome

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

looked at Stella,

head, "I'm not lying, my dog

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

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 pretty, but it wasn't about looking good. As long as it kept them warm, it

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

"Keep it."

was a life-saving tool,