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

clenched as she declared, "Fighting

else today, she realized that she wasn't weak. Jasper

"Rosie, what did

tools,

which she was currently wearing on her

we lose out on brother's fish?

long as you think it's worth

needs, and anyway, Jasper wasn't short

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

have

hooked. They want to go again tomorrow. Do you

I'm staying home for a few days.

at the

sat on the couch to continue her project. Finally, she had finished her first

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

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

had just come out of a coal mine with this black

was blunt, "It

and immediately covered her mouth, looking at

the suit: 'Get this

him, "No way, Cooper is the most handsome

tried to make amends, "Cooper isn't ugly. He's even more handsome than my brother, and the suit Stella made

looked at Stella,

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

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

chose a dark green fabric. While making the 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 make a suit for Smoky and Snowy. It wasn't pretty, but it

handed him a nail gun, "I almost

"Keep it."

was a life-saving tool, and he was just giving