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

as she declared, "Fighting is easy. If anyone dares

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

what did

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

was currently wearing on her

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

you think

needs, and anyway, Jasper wasn't short

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

want to go again tomorrow. Do you

thanks, I'm staying home for a few days. You go have fun." No need

gleefully at the idea of a day

the rest of the 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 suit for Cooper. She called him over, "Cooper, come here." The suit was black, to

made a onesie thermal suit, with a hole for Cooper's tail.

hole. Not wanting to put diapers

out

blunt, "It looks

realized her mistake and immediately covered her mouth, looking at Stella with innocent

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

"No way, Cooper is the most

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

looked at Stella, "Woof!"

"I'm not lying, my dog is

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

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 looking good. As long as it kept them warm, it

Stella stopped him and handed him

"Keep it."

tool,