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

up, her small fists clenched as she declared, "Fighting is easy. If anyone dares

brother. But after getting into a fight with someone else today, she realized that she wasn't weak. Jasper was just too strong.

did you

got some tools, textbooks,

was currently wearing on her head, made her look even more

out on brother's fish? Cody and Lukas said we

as you think it's worth it,

and anyway, Jasper wasn't short

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 a

"I have plenty. You keep

Cody are hooked. They want to go

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

the idea of a day

homework, Stella sat on the couch to continue her project. Finally,

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

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

had just come out of

blunt, "It

covered her mouth, looking at Stella with innocent eye.

this ugly thing off

"No way, Cooper is the most handsome dog in

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

at

not lying, my dog is

with that and nuzzled into her arms: 'If

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

noon, Jasper came to pick up Rosie. Stella stopped him and handed

"Keep it."

surprised. This was a life-saving tool, and he was just giving