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

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

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 that she wasn't weak. Jasper was just too strong. The

did you get for

tools, textbooks, a dress,

wearing on

Stella, did we lose out on brother's fish? Cody and Lukas said we only

think it's worth it, it's

different needs, and anyway, Jasper wasn't short

were more practical: two packs of salt, dried vegetables, sanitary pads, and a lighter. Angela passed her a pack of sanitary pads, "Even

have plenty. You

insist, "Lukas and Cody are hooked. They want to go again tomorrow. Do you want to

staying home for a few days. You

the idea of

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

made a onesie thermal suit, with a hole for

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

had just come out of

was blunt,

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

at the suit: 'Get this ugly thing

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

more handsome than my brother, and the suit Stella made

looked at Stella, "Woof!"

"I'm not lying, my dog is

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

dark green fabric. While making the suit, 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 a suit for Smoky and Snowy. It wasn't pretty, but

and handed him a nail gun, "I almost forgot to return this to

"Keep it."

was surprised. This was a life-saving tool, and he was just