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.

his ear, "Don't encourage Rosie

her small fists clenched as she declared, "Fighting is easy.

the past, she always felt 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 strong. The boy who tried to steal her

Stella asked, "Rosie, what did you get for

tools,

she was currently wearing on her head,

out on brother's fish? Cody and Lukas

think it's worth it, it's

different needs, and anyway,

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, we still have to bleed every month. It's such

refused, "I have plenty. You keep

They want

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

laughed gleefully at the

math and language. When Rosie finished her homework, Stella sat on the couch to continue her project. Finally, she

a hole for Cooper's tail. There was another hole

another hole. Not wanting to put

just come out of a coal mine with this black

was blunt, "It

her mouth, looking at

suit: 'Get this ugly

is the

ugly. He's even more handsome than my brother, and

looked at

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

pleased with that and nuzzled into her arms: 'If I'm so handsome, make

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 finished the second suit, she used the leftover fabric to

handed him a nail gun, "I almost forgot to

"Keep it."

This was a life-saving tool, and he was just giving it to