A/N: Ok, so I lied…I was a little later than usual. My grand excuse this time? I was ill for a week, and have been busy otherwise. I never expected to have so much homework this year! I'm really sorry you guys! I thank you so much for putting up with my constant crap, but I'm trying really hard to post as soon as I'm able. I also lied about splitting these chappies into two parts; I'm gonna split them into three because I haven't the time to write another entire chapter right now…so please bear with me.

For all of you who want more Robbie/Alex action, I CAN promise you that it will be coming shortly. And for everyone who is waiting for more action that I've created and has nothing to do with the movie, that's all in this chapter, and especially in the next. There will be a big 'boom' or accident in the following chapter after this one…I'm going to leave you all in suspense, lol. But I can say this much: there will be extra, unexpected trouble for the Ferriers (especially Robbie) and it involves a 'bad guy' sort of…sp that's all I'm telling you and please please review! Thanks!

Chapter Six: Deadland

Bodies. Everywhere. And where there were no bodies, there were clothes; empty sheets of cloth, leather, and denim. Empty, Alex thought. Just like…

A feeling of sickness swept over her, boiling in Alex's stomach as it churned uncomfortably within her. Am I upset, or just hungry?

She closed a shaky hand on her stomach, feeling still as nauseous as she had been when Audrey died. "Half the sign to Evergreen Heights is gone," Alex suddenly heard a cold, melancholy tone. It was her own.

Robbie turned his head and read what was left of the sign that once greeted him into the immaculate neighborhood. It was somewhat comedic, he thought, that half the words were either torn off the solemn grey stone and dangling, or missing completely and no where in sight.

Alex could hardly read the sign, but she had recognized it from when they first had settled into Evergreen Heights.

The van's wheels spat and sputtered as they rolled over debris on the thick, black road. Averting his eyes from Graveyard Earth, Robbie looked away. First he glanced up at the roof, but that was pointless, so his fell to the road in front of them.

Up ahead, there was once a quiet little park. There was a magnificent tree stretching forth from the ground and green earth that held it in its place so tightly. Even through the storm, it had remained attached.

Beneath the rich, earthy soil, long, thick roots curled in a maze of lines, gripping with their talon-like arms to the safety of the underground.

Above the surface, the titanic tree was a blossom of crisp, golden leaves. Copper hands flapped in the breeze and were dispatched with the coming of the wind to be carried out into the wide, lonely world.

The leaves turned with the gently sways of the breeze and landed again, yards away from the port where they had taken the amazing flight.

As the van neared, Robb could tell that things weren't always as they seemed from so far away. The graceful giant was no longer whole, but broken at its thick, bronze waist.

The front half of a blue truck was imbedded in the heart of the massive tree, and the carpet of earth beneath the giant structure was stained with bits and shard of glass. A pool of thick, sticky oil, the color of darkness seeped from the side of the wounded tree and gathered at its visible roots like a tiny river of acid.

A pair of pink girl's pajama pants were scattered carelessly along a reaching limb of the tree.

Rachel. It was whisper, if the mind could whisper. And Robbie's heart dropped. He felt as if it had fallen from his chest and landed on the floor in front of him, and he cautiously brought himself to look at his sister.

She was still sitting patiently in Ray's lap. "Rachel," Robbie began, his voice soft, and courteous. "Go sit in the back with Alex."

Ray glanced at his son. "She's fine," he stated.

"Rachel, get in the back with Alex." She did as her brother bid. His voice had grown strangely demanding. Ray glared fleetingly at his son." She's safer back their," Robbie figured, glaring dangerously back at his father.

"Rachel, you okay?" Ray asked, impatiently.

"Yes," she answered, timidly.

After several long minutes of nothing but silence and fear, a small grumble sounded. At first, the tiny roar frightened Alex, who seemed to be the only one that had heard it, but when it growled again, Alex realized that the sound had not come from the lonely, outside world, or the fierce below of an alien machine; it had come from her stomach.

I haven't eaten since yesterday, she suddenly realized. On a normal day, she would have before now recognized her hunger, but in times like these, starving to death would be nothing to worry about.

Is this the end of the world? Thought Alex in dismay. But she dare not think aloud; especially with Rachel sitting next to her.

As they passed through the suburban town, scenes of destruction lay before them. Robbie looked upon the scene with downcast eyes, soft and thoughtful with remorse and throbbing with pain. Everywhere he turned things looked the same; disheveled, torn, ripped and shredded into pieces. Buildings had become boulders and fences slender sticks of autumn colored wood.

Everything seemed to be dead; it didn't matter if it had life in it before the attack, but in those resent days, this town seemed so alive to Robbie. Now he felt like he was driving through a graveyard that yielded to no end.

His greatest fear was that his sister would share the fate of his friends. He wouldn't wish death upon Ray; not his own father, flesh and blood, but all the same, he couldn't say he cared much for the man. And Alex, he wished her well enough.

She's been a good comfort, he realized, turning back his head to glance at the girl who was sitting behind him, her eyes frozen and facing the window. Robbie knew the feeling, the urge to look upon the destruction again and again.

It was like watching a car crash. It was horrible, but you couldn't tare your eyes from it. A sudden, soft voice broke Robbie from his thoughts.

"I'm hungry," voiced Rachel, her vivid sapphire stare latched onto Ray and she wouldn't look elsewhere. "Dad, is there any food?"

Ray took a deep sigh. "No, Rachel, there isn't any food."

"I thought we brought food," Rachel offered in a hopeful tone.

"We left it at the house, Rae," said Robbie.

"Oh." Rachel stared at the floor a moment. "Well, can we stop and get some food. I'm hungry."

"Yeah, Dad," Robbie added. "We haven't had anything to eat-"

"Then maybe you should have eaten last night," Ray's voice cut like a knife through the thin air. "When we all had an opportunity."

"Don't give us your bullshit Ray," Robbie mumbled.

He's like his father, Ray thought, gritting his teeth. Always ready to pick out a fight. I guess that's my fault then, huh?

"Stop it, Robbie," he began, his voice stern.

Robbie wouldn't let his father say anymore. "You can't make us starve. What are you gonna do?"

"Robbie," Ray breathed in heavily and glared for an instant at his son. "Watch your language in front of your sister…and stop fighting with me. I'm the adult here, and in charge."

"Like you were ever in charge, Ray."

Ray wanted to stop the car. Stop the car, and give Robbie a piece of his mind. He wanted to curse and yell and scare the hell out of his son, but he knew he couldn't. Nothing seemed to frighten Robbie, just piss him off, and he would never act so rashly in front of his daughter.

This is all my fault, Ray knew. I should have been there with the kids…seen them grow up. Spent time with them. Maybe then they would…No. God damnit this is Mary Ann's problem. If she hadn't left me in the first place…

"Dad, Rachel continued. "We need food."

"Jesus…" Ray muttered cold words under his hot breath. "Rachel, check in the back. There- maybe there's some food back there, alright? But we're not stopping."

Rachel glanced in the back seat swiftly and turned back to face her father, whose eyes were fixed on the road. "There's no food back there, Dad."

"Look," Alex piped up from the middle seat. "There's a grocery store up ahead. Or what's left of a grocery store.

Robbie leaned forward so he was able to see the remnants of the store's façade. He'd only been to Joe's Market Place once; it was too far on the opposite end of town for his family to visit there often, but he went once with a couple of his friends.

"Stop here," he ordered.

"I can't do that, Robbie."

"Look, Ray; we need food. We're not gonna go all the way to Boston without eating anything. You have to stop. Why won't you stop?"

Ray eyes the empty parking lot with his almond shaped eyes. "Because…." He started. "The minute we stop, people are gonna try to get in.

"I don't see any people," suggested Rachel as she looked around.

Look behind that school bus," Ray said, quietly.

Robbie, Alex, and Rachel all turned to the right where a long yellow bus lay on its side. Beside it were two young adults, sitting and sobbing by the corner of the road.

Why hadn't I seen them before? Wondered Alex.

They blended in carefully with the color of the bus and were both covered in riding gear. They must have been bicycling when the aliens came. The bus hid them.

Would it be so bad if they came to? "Our car's large enough-"

"I don't car, Robbie," Ray said clearly. "I'm sorry, but we can't take in strangers. We don't know anyone, and if they've survived this far…and it doesn't matter. We don't have time to stop this van, Robbie. Those…things could be right behind us-"

Rachel turned around and said, "I don't see any of them."

Ray pondered a moment on their situation and fiercely turned the wheel into the parking lot of the grocery store.

A bright smile bloomed on his daughter's face as Ray drove up to the curve. Little did she realize that her smile would shortly be a frown.

Behind the grocery building, a hand clutched at the red brick, stained with blood. Dark eyes were hidden beneath the man's bushy brows, and a look of terror swept over his face.

Breathing heavily, the man watched as a blue can came to a steady halt outside the store. His mind was boggled and he felt confused.

"I'll find my family," he grunted aloud, his hands trembling. "Sarah, Ashley, James, and Robyn. I'll find you…" his fingers grabbed at the still air, yet he caught nothing and his voice began to fail him. Something burned in his throat. "Our children, Amanda," he whispered to the spirit of his wife. No doubt she was dead, but his children would be at home, he knew it…he just had to believe it. "I'll find you," he said, his voice growing louder. "And I'll take you all away from here."

Like a cat on the prowl, he glued his eyes on the target: The Ferrier's car.

A/N: Ooh…this can't be good. I smell a sticky situation! Please review people, I love reviewers. It really makes my day when you give me your opinion. And bless all of you who reviewed before. Luvs and Hugs!

-Modesty