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.

his ear,

was already riled up, her small fists clenched as she declared, "Fighting is easy. If anyone dares

into a fight with someone else today,

the subject, Stella asked, "Rosie, what did you

got some tools, textbooks, a

was currently wearing on her head, made her look

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

as long as you think it's worth

and anyway, Jasper

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

refused, "I have plenty. You

and Cody are hooked. They want to go again tomorrow. Do you want

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

at the

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 hide

onesie thermal suit, with a hole for Cooper's tail. There was another hole at the rear

should be another hole. Not wanting to put diapers on

like he had just come out of a coal mine with this black

blunt, "It looks

looking at Stella with innocent eye.

insulted Cooper bit at the suit: 'Get this ugly thing

"No way, Cooper is the most handsome

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

at Stella,

"I'm not lying, my

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

a 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,

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

"Keep it."

This was a life-saving tool, and he was just giving it to