Tilly and Liam picked through the rubble of what was once their home, looking for food, supplies or survivors. It was not to be, the tenants on the ground floor had been crushed, those on the top floor had fallen to their deaths. Really, it was only Liam's quick thinking that had saved the two of them.1

Tilly was no stranger to death, but it still killed a little part of her every time she brushed the debris off of a cold, familiar face. Whether it was old Mrs. Finch, who's many cats had now disappeared, or the Thatcher twins, only a year younger than she was.2

The worst, by far, was when they found little Misty Wane's busted crib. Tilly couldn't go anywhere near it, she could barely look at it. Liam had to look inside, in the vain hope that the baby was sill alive. Liam took a peek in the crib, and his legs just gave out from under him. Tilly couldn't help herself, she did what she hadn't done in seven years.3

Tilly cried.4

<><><>5

The little girl was so still as John carried her. Since her mother died, she had not spoken a word, and it was starting to creep him out.6

"So, little girl," He began uneasily, "What's your name?" The kid did not reply, she just buried her face in his shoulder and started crying.7

"Woah woah!" John said, pulling the kid off of him, "You can't get your snot-nosed nose snot on this suit. It's Italian." The kid gave him a look, and John sighed, "Can you say I-ta-li-an?"8

The child pouted, then smacked John in the face with her tiny hand.9

"I don't like you, you're mean." She said.10

John gaped at her, "You ungrateful little... You don't have to like me! I'm the only one who's going to take care of you!"11

The kid whimpered, "My mommy would take care of me," She started crying again, "I miss my mommy."12

Seeing the poor kid like that broke John's calloused heart, "Look, it's going to be okay. You're going to be okay."13

She nodded her head silently.14

"Okay," John said, relieved. He looked up at the darkening sky, "It's getting late, maybe we should find somewhere to sleep."15

The kid nodded again, "Charlotte," she said simply.16

"What?" John asked gently.17

"That's my name." She held up the stuffed toy she'd been carrying, "and this is Brownie."18

John smiled a little, "Okay, I'm John." Having said this, John sought out shelter. He looked around and spotted a small cove created when a billboard had fallen across two cars. The offices and apartment buildings would no doubt be inhabited solely by the dead. John had seen enough death for one day, so he was loath to seek shelter in one of the surrounding buildings.19

Dragging Charlotte along, John ducked under the billboard and brushed some of the larger rocks off the ground.20

"Are we gonna sleep on the ground?" Charlotte moaned.21

"It's not like I WANT to sleep on the ground!" John whined in reply. He wasn't exactly thrilled about sleeping in the street, but he couldn't do any better. Well, maybe he could, but he was rattled, he was scared, he was tired and he just wanted to curl into a ball and let himself fall into the release of sleep. Resting his head on his arms, John did just that.22

<><><>23

"I'm going to have to stop for the night." Ruby told her little party as she parked the bus. It would be too dark to drive around all the debris that now cluttered the streets, "Maybe I can get out and walk, see if I can't find..."24

"No!"25

Ruby looked at her sister quizzically. Rea, meanwhile, was more direct. 26

"And why the hell not?" Rea said indignantly, "Why can't we go out looking for people? There are probably dozens out there, they could use our help."27

Rhon shook her head, "I don't know why, but I just have a bad feeling. No-one can go outside."28

Ruby considered that. Rhon's 'feelings' seemed to mean something. After all, didn't she have a 'feeling' that they needed to get out of school. If they hadn't followed Rhon, all four of them would be dead now.29

"Alright," Ruby conceded, "We won't go outside tonight." Rhon sighed, obviously relieved. Rea, on the other hand scowled angrily.30

"There's absolutely no logical reason to humor her like this." She whispered in Ruby's ear.31

"I'm not humoring anyone," Ruby retorted, "Now go get some sleep."32

"That's probably a good idea," George, agreed, pulling Rea away into an empty seat. Ruby mouthed 'Thank you' as he walked her sister away. George replied with a smile and a wink.33

A little warmth touched Ruby's cheeks as she leaned back on her seat and closed her eyes, but she was far to upset to sleep. This was the end of the world, her sisters were disagreeing and it was all her responsibility. Quite frankly, Ruby was beginning to wonder if she could handle the pressure.