The Apocalypse Survival Manual (Three Days Before Doomsday, I Stockpiled Billions) novel Chapter 117

Chapter 117

That first fight hit Poppy harder than anything.

She wrapped her arms around Zeph’s neck. “When I grow up, I’m going to protect you, too.”

“Alright.”

“And I’ll protect Nicole. And Cola.”

“Sounds good.”

After that came the fish-selling. Zeph walked her through it step by step, teaching her hands-on.

Nicole listened, quiet for a long moment.

The way Zeph taught was blunt, almost harsh.

Still, this wasn’t the old world anymore. All the rules about kindness and manners didn’t mean much now. If anything, sticking to them blindly would get Poppy hurt.

“He’s not wrong,” Nicole said finally. She glanced at Poppy. “Have you ever gone hungry? Been hit?”

Poppy lowered her head, fingers twisting in her clothes.

“It’s okay. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to,” Nicole said.

“When Zeph wasn’t home,” Poppy said. “I was really hungry, and my cousin would bully me. My aunt would yell at me…”

“Do you want to go through that again?” Nicole asked.

“No!” Poppy shook her head hard, her voice breaking. “I don’t.”

“Then remember how that felt. If anyone tries to treat you like that again, you fight back. Don’t be scared. They can’t beat you.”

“But my aunt said the police would take me away if I hit someone.”

“As long as you’re not the one starting it, they won’t.” Nicole gave her a reassuring smile. “Did anyone come after you today?”

Poppy thought about it, then shook her head. Relief spread across her face. “I’ll do as you say. I won’t let anyone bully me again.”

Cola bared his teeth beside her. “Woof!”

It was as if he was saying, “That’s right, kid! Don’t back down.”

Nicole grabbed his ear. “Don’t encourage her to fight.”

But it was too late. Poppy was already fired up, her little fists clenched. “Fighting’s easy.

If

anyone

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Chapter

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messes with me, I’ll hit them!”

Poppy used to think she was weak. All that training, and she still couldn’t even match one of Zeph’s hands.

But today showed her that she wasn’t weak. Zeph was just too strong. That boy who tried to take her candy couldn’t even handle one of her hands.

Nicole watched the two of them and sighed, feeling a headache coming on.

She shifted the topic. “So what did you trade for today?”

Poppy answered right away, “Tools. And school books, a dress, and a headband.”

She was wearing it now. It was a soft, pink, fluffy headband with little bunny ears. It looked adorable on

her.

She hesitated, a little unsure. “Did we make a bad trade?”

Jeremy and Hughie had said they traded for useless stuff.

Nicole shook her head. “No. If you think it’s worth it, then it is.”

Everyone needed different things. Zeph wasn’t short on supplies, anyway.

Hughie’s group had gone a more practical route. They got salt, dried vegetables, tampons, and lighters in

return.

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