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

Rosie was already riled up, her small fists clenched as she declared, "Fighting

She trained hard 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

subject, Stella asked, "Rosie, what did you

some tools, textbooks, a dress, and a

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

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

as long as you think it's

different needs, and anyway, Jasper wasn't

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

refused, "I have plenty.

want to go again

I'm staying home for a few days. You

the idea

project. Finally, she had finished her first thermal suit

a hole for Cooper's tail. There was another

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

looked like he had just come out

was blunt, "It looks

her mistake and immediately covered her mouth, looking at Stella

bit at the suit: 'Get this ugly thing off me. It's ruining my

him, "No way, Cooper is the most handsome dog in the

even more

looked at Stella, "Woof!"

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

pleased with that and nuzzled into her arms:

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

handed him a nail gun, "I almost forgot to

"Keep it."

tool, and he