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

fists clenched as she declared, "Fighting is easy. If anyone

was no match for her brother. But after getting into a fight with someone else today, she realized that she wasn't weak.

subject, Stella asked, "Rosie, what did you get for the fish you sold

"We got some tools, textbooks, a

fluffy hairband, which she was currently wearing on

Stella, did we lose out on brother's fish? Cody

as long as you think

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.

have plenty. You

and Cody are hooked. They want to go

few days.

the idea of

on the couch to continue her project.

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

Not wanting to put diapers on Cooper,

come out of a coal

blunt,

mistake and immediately covered her mouth, looking at Stella with innocent eye. 'I didn't mean

insulted Cooper bit at the suit: 'Get this ugly thing off me. It's

"No way, Cooper is

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

looked at Stella,

not lying, my dog is the most handsome

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

he didn't react to the suit. When she finished the second

Rosie. Stella stopped him and handed him a

"Keep it."

a life-saving tool, and he was just