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

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

"Rosie, what did you get for the fish you

some tools,

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

brother's fish? Cody and

as you think it's worth it, it's

had different needs, 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

refused, "I have plenty. You

want to go again tomorrow. Do you want to

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

the idea of a

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

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

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

like he had just come out of a coal mine

blunt, "It

and immediately covered her mouth, looking at Stella with

this ugly thing off me. It's ruining my

is the most handsome dog in

amends, "Cooper isn't ugly. He's even more handsome than

looked at

petted his head, "I'm not lying, my

was pleased with that and nuzzled into her arms:

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 wasn't about

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

"Keep it."

tool,