Cindy woke early in the morning, hearing the gentle snores of her other companions. Officer Dave yesterday found a building still half-standing in the remnants of structures.

Mary said, "Are you sure this house is safe to sleep in?"

"Yes, it’s made of bricks and mortar. It was built at the beginning of the last century. It will hold for at least a night."

They argued a little while longer. Rochelle looked bored. Cindy shook her head. She couldn't understand how a teenager could be bored at a time like this. Night filled the sky with bright stars and dark hues. Some of the street lamps turned on, casting cocoons of light on the street. They finally entered after they heard something clatter in the street beyond.

Upon entering the building, they found blankets and moldy boxes. It was a storage area, unused for quite some time. Cindy slept on the ground with a musty blanket wrapped around her. Officer Dave slept facing the empty doorway.

Light started to creep inside from the open front. Her stomach growled. The only thing she had eaten was some crackers and chips found outside a flattened liquor store.

Rochelle said, "I can't believe this is happening."

Cindy almost jumped from her sleeping spot. She looked over at her. Rochelle held her knees to her chest and was rocking a little. Cindy stood and sat close to her, placing her back against a stained box.

Cindy said, "My mom always told me when times are tough to remember the Lord is there to protect you. And the Lord will help you through your tough times."

Rochelle didn't say anything, so Cindy put her arm around her. They stayed like that for quite some time.

Officer Dan woke when the sun's light shone into his eyes. He jerked and lifted his head.

He said, "Hello, how are you doing?"

He sounded like he was walking down the street, talking to a passerby. She felt he was being cheerful for their benefit.

"We are doing fine," she said.

Mary roused herself and looked at them, rubbing her eyes with her hands.

"I'm hungry. Let's find something to eat."

After they were ready, they stepped out of their shelter. Officer Dave was in the lead. His black police uniform looked careworn and she noticed his shoulders seemed to sag. They had to pick their way through all the fallen debris, glass, steel and other things Officer Dave steered them away from.

She was not in New York when the September eleven terrorist attacks happened. She was still in high school, in her senior year to be exact. They were all sent home from school and she barely had time to talk to her friend, Lazarus. She wondered if this scene of destroyed buildings and dead bodies rekindled some of their memories. She wondered who was still alive to look at this scene. Then, as they walked past a group of crumbling building innards the ground started to shake.

Rochelle said, "What's happening?"

Officer Dave seem to be frozen. The ground shook then rolled as if they were adrift on an ocean.

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She said, "It’s an aftershock from the quake. Get over here toward a clear area."

They moved a few feet away. It was hard to find a place without dirt and debris jutting out from the ground. But she found an area with smooth asphalt, free of detritus and broken scraps. The shaking stopped as suddenly as it started. Rochelle was holding on to her mom. They all stood, looking downwards.

Dave said, "Thank you, Cindy. I couldn't move. I thought we were, you know."

"I know," she said. "I lived in Los Angeles and know about earthquakes."

He said, "I don't know what to do."

"It's fine. We need to start moving."

"Give us a few minutes," Mary said. Both Rochelle and her mom looked scared and Cindy didn't want them to run away in terror.

"Fine," Cindy said. She thought they should start moving again soon because she sensed something was coming for them.

Dave said, "Do you hear that?"

It was barely audible, but Cindy heard a scrabbling noise, like the sound of thousands of feet moving.

"What's that?" Cindy said. Now it was her turn to be surprised.

Officer Dave turned to them. "Run!"

Mary and Rochelle ran after Officer Dave. Cindy followed them. The sound of running feet became louder and another sound came forth, a low whining noise. Turning behind her, she saw large roaches coming out of every building and fissure. Cindy caught up to her fleeing group. Officer Dave directed them along a street littered with large blocks of cement and asphalt. The dead were scattered among the ruins. Repellant smells emanated from the ground. Cindy didn't care. She ran for her life.

Cindy tried to bring forth her powers, but she couldn't. Terror filled her mind and her actions. The roaches scrambled toward them in a rush of scaled bodies and writhing antennas. A rancid smell of a sewer came to them in a fog, overpowering the air and their senses. She was more than afraid. She was panicked, filled with dread and fear. It felt like an extension of the giant insects. Cindy fell. One of her sandals flew from her and she scraped her palm and forearm. The creatures were almost on top of her. Shots rang out and Cindy got to her feet. The roaches stopped for a few seconds and turned toward Officer Dave. She saw him holding his gun in a shooting stance, firing away.

Cindy knew what was going to happen. She saw the creatures move toward Officer Dave. Looking around, she didn't see Mary or Rochelle. She needed to do something. She screamed as the first roach attacked and hit Dave. A loud crunch of bones was heard. She screamed again. Her arm shot upwards toward the giant insects. Green water peppered the sky and rained on the creatures. The roaches started to scream.

Cindy sensed her power coalescing. Smoke appeared on the creature's bodies. The insects tried to run back into the holes and fissures. Cindy raised her arms high and then downwards. A wave of green acid swept before her, killing and burning all.

Everything ceased. She dropped her hands. The carcasses of the giant roaches littered the ground, smoking in death. She scanned the area looking for Officer Dave. Seeing him lying motionless on the ground she ran to him, noticing that he was not touched by her magic. Standing close to him was Rochelle. Mary knelt by Dave, her hands poised over his head.

"Is he alive?" Cindy asked, kneeling close.

"I don't know," Mary said. "How did you do that?"

Cindy ignored her question and turned him over. He was heavy and Mary had to help her. His skin was turning blue and a blood stain about the size of a fist was on his chest.

He murmured, "Take care of yourself." Then he died.

Cindy saw his eyes change, losing their luster and vibrancy. Rochelle gasped and looked away.

They couldn't say anything for a while. Mary went to her daughter and gave her a hug. Cindy shook her head. She was terrified, not because they were out here in a crazy new world, but because the one person who resembled protection and order was dead. Her eyes misted for a second or two and she wiped away a tear. The fumes of the dead roaches became unbearable.

"We should leave," Cindy said. She kneeled back down and took Officer Dave's holster and gun.

"What are you doing?" Mary said.

"We need something to defend ourselves with," she said.

"I think you can defend yourself with your magic."

"I am not sure I can do that again."

Cindy placed the holster around her hip. She found her sandals and put them back on, noting that she needed to find some more footwear. She stood and they walked away. Mary and Rochelle at first didn't move, and then started to follow her.