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

clenched as she declared, "Fighting

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

did you get for the fish you sold

"We got some tools, textbooks, a dress,

hairband, which she was currently wearing on her head, made her look

Stella, did we lose out on brother's fish? Cody and Lukas said we only got

think it's worth it,

had different needs, and anyway,

exchange were more practical: two packs of salt, dried vegetables, sanitary pads, and a lighter. Angela passed

refused, "I have plenty.

Cody are hooked. They want to go again tomorrow. Do you want to

I'm staying home for a few days. You go

gleefully at the idea

project. Finally,

hole for Cooper's tail. There was another hole at the rear end, so he could

should be another hole. Not wanting to put

just come out of

blunt,

her mouth, looking at Stella with innocent eye. 'I

bit at the suit: 'Get this ugly

is the most handsome

"Cooper isn't ugly. He's even more

looked at Stella,

my dog

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

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 pretty, but it wasn't about looking good.

handed him a nail gun, "I almost forgot to

"Keep it."

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