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 to

as she declared, "Fighting

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 candy

asked, "Rosie, what did you

quickly, "We got some tools, textbooks, a dress, and

was currently wearing on her head,

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

as you think

anyway, Jasper

Angela passed her a pack of sanitary pads, "Even in

refused, "I have

insist, "Lukas and Cody are hooked. They want to

days. You go have fun." No need

gleefully at the

continue her project.

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

to put diapers on

just come out of a coal mine with this black

was blunt, "It

her mouth, looking

suit: 'Get this ugly thing off me. It's

"No way, Cooper is the most handsome dog in

even more handsome than my brother, and the

at Stella,

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

was pleased with that and nuzzled into her arms:

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

up Rosie. Stella stopped him and handed him

"Keep it."

a life-saving tool, and he