Cindy started traveling again, roaming through the passable areas of the streets. She thought the time was growing short and that she had to find Lazarus because of some undefinable disaster looming over them, but she thought the disaster had already happened and she needed to learn to survive in this strange land.

She thought some type of military response should have occurred and the skies should be covered with helicopters and airplanes searching for survivors. But the skies were clear. She wondered why the greatest nation on earth didn't have a plan in place for this type of catastrophe. Cindy walked through a passage filled with decimated buildings and debris.

She hoped the creatures that killed Mary and Rochelle were not watching her right now, ready to attack. She tried to listen to any sounds and scan any dark hole or fissure, but there were too many places to watch. She focused and the water globe appeared. She wondered if she could give this thing commands.

She said, "Change into a bird."

The globe started to transform. It grew feathers, talons and a beak. The falcon flapped its wings and took flight. It squawked and flew around her. Cindy watched it fly and move along the wind's currents in the sky.

"Wow," she said. "I didn't know I could do this." Cindy clapped her hands. "Alright, I want you to protect me."

The falcon squawked and flew close to her and then soared high above and plunged down by her. She felt protected.

Cindy started to move along the street. She traveled through the many broken and demolished areas almost indistinguishable from the other places she had traveled. Cindy was not even sure she was moving in the correct direction. Then she saw a large sign on the ground. Parts of the marquee were shattered all over the ground and surrounding area, but she clearly saw two large letters "RA". Cindy realized she was in the wreckage of the Radio City Music Hall. The falcon high above squawked at her. She looked up into the air.

"What is it? What do you see?"

She shook her head. The echo of a memory of the famous Radio City Music hall hit her. A year ago around Christmas time she had was invited by a man, Charles, she thought, to watch the famous Radio City Rockettes dance. She knew Charles was trying to impress her because she was from LA and she was new in town. Cindy was impressed. She loved the large round amphitheater with its Art Deco embellishments and the many sculptures and murals all over the interior. It was dizzying. When they took their seats and watched the statuesque Rockettes dance in formation, she tried not to gawk like a teenager at her first prom. Cindy didn't want to show how eager she was because she didn't know this man, Charles, and she didn't want to end up sleeping with him.

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The falcon squawked at her and she had to gaze at the bird. Something was wrong. The bird flew high in the buildings, swooping in and out of spaces.

She said, "I see you. What is wrong?"

Cindy couldn't understand her bird. She shook her head. This was crazy. She was speaking to an animal. A loud noise thundered and she instinctively ducked her head. It was the sound of a gun. Cindy felt a pain in her chest and clutched at her skin. The falcon fell to the ground. It was shot. The bird hit the street in a sickening, splattered sound.

Before she could look around to find who shot her bird she heard a noise from behind her. A rock barreled at her and struck her on the side of her temple. She fell close to her falcon.

Her body hit the pavement in a bone-charring bounce. She felt the pain inside her and heard voices. Cindy tried to move but she couldn't get herself to stand or even turn her body.

"You shouldn't have done that. The Council will be mad that you hurt the woman."

"Nah, she will be ok. This one is special. She has powers."

"The Council will not like that you spoilt the girls."

"She will be fine."

A strong hand grabbed her and maneuvered her toward a waiting jeep. The car was scarred and dented all over. They moved her to the back of the opened trunk, placing her inside in a gentle manner. It was like being carried by two human giants. The door closed.

Cindy heard the men talking outside. They were arguing for some reason. After a few minutes, the two men opened the door. The jeep started and the vehicle started moving. Her head hurt and felt tender. The jeep jostled and moved down the road.

After a few minutes, she tried to moved her hands and legs, but saw something surrounding and binding her. It looked like a rope but it glowed and was semi-transparent. The rope made her light-headed and drowsy. She needed to be calm and stay awake but the constant moving and jostling made her sleepy. She closed her eyes.

***

Cindy woke on a cot and looked through jail bars. She shook her head. She should have woken when the car stopped but she didn't, and she would pay the price. She looked at the other cells and saw a familiar person. It was Rochelle, unharmed and looking at her.

"Rochelle. I thought you were dead."

Rochelle didn't respond. She seemed to be in a daze. She murmured, "My mom is dead. They took me here."

"Where are we?"

"We are at the police station."

Cindy was surprised the building was still standing and the jail was still in working order. She was curious about how Mary was killed, but she didn't want to ask Rochelle at this moment. She seemed confused.

"Are you ok? You seem to be acting odd."

"I don't know. They have powers like you."

"Who are they?"

"They are called the Council. They control the creatures around here. They are different. They are not human."

"Why didn't they kill me when I was napping?"

"They didn't want to kill you. You are powerful."

Cindy was surprised and shocked. She wished she knew more about her powers.

The screech of doors opening was heard down the hallway. Footsteps echoed down the chamber and two large men approached her cell. They were tall, over six foot each and almost identical twins except one had dark brown hair and the other was bald.

The bald one said, "The Council wants to see you, Cindy."