Chapter 1

He sat on the ledge, legs dangling over edge of the high-rise. Staring down at the city below, at the mismatched, jagged shape of the skyline. Smoke billowed up from far away, a bang echoed through the night. Lighting whipped through the sky, lighting up the destruction with relentless cruelty.

Scott was silent as he sat there, taking it all in.

With a sigh, he swung himself off the ledge and took off into the seemly endless night.

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Gazing out at the night sky, she took in the flashes of light. The bolts of lightning forking across the sky were nothing new, the thunderstorms had increased just lately and this newest spectacle was just the latest in a long line of natural phenomena to crash over Britain. What was new, however, was the lack of thunder to this thunderstorm.

It was like an old ritual to her, to count the seconds between the lightning and thunder. Calculate how far away the lightning was and thank god it wasn't above her head.

But this storm was lacking one element. The lightning wasn't accompanied by its usual companion. This time there was no crack of thunder, no partner to this dance. The lightning was a lone wolf, howling soundlessly through the sky.

The world hadn't always been this way, Gigi could remember a time when it had been safe, peaceful even. She would imagine, longingly the nights she could have spent sleeping out beneath the stars. Gazing up at them as they lulled her to sleep, but those days were long gone.

Sighing, she tore her gaze away from the broken window. Night blowing in all around her. Strapping up her boots and slipping the knife into its sheath, she swung her backpack onto one shoulder before leaving the remote safety of the flats.

She had been sleeping here for about a week so far. It was safe, safe enough for now at least. But she knew she would have to move on soon. The street gangs would likely come sniffing about before long and she didn't want to be here when they did.

But Gigi knew the street gangs were the least of her worries. Out in the open, she would be exposed to much worse. The thought of it sent her skin crawling, though she tried to brush the thought away.

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Using her shoulder to push the door open, she glanced around. Checking left and right for a sign of… well anything. Seeing nothing to be alarmed at, she hurried down the street.

But something felt off, even on nights as cold as this one she could usually expect to hear something. Crickets, small animals foraging in the undergrowth, packs of wild dogs maybe? But it was eerily quiet, you could have heard a pin drop.

The hairs on Gigi's forearms were prickling unpleasantly. Every nerve in her body screamed at her to run, hide, before it was too late. But from what? She couldn't decide. It must be the lightning, she mused to herself. It was spooking her, the unnaturalness of it. Yes, that was it. But dread still filled her stomach, even as she turned the corner onto Glenn street.

Stopping dead in her tracks, Gigi stared at the street ahead of her.

In front of her was a swarm, quite literally, of soldiers. They moved and swayed as one, a seething mass of bodies. Tiny, little flies forming each figure. Stood rooted to the spot, Gigi just stared. She had seen the fly soldiers before, but never this close to the suburbs. Never. Her body continued to scream at her to run, to hide, to do something before they saw her.

She was trying to figure out what to do. When a hand suddenly wrapped itself around her mouth, another around her waist. Pulling her into the shadows besides a block of flats. Hearing a hurried whisper down her ear of 'Shh, it's okay', she tried to fight off whoever had hold of her.

Stretching a hand down to her knife, her fingers brushed against the hilt but not close enough to wrap her hand around the blade. Damn it. She thought to herself.

'It's okay, I'm trying to help you' was whispered against her ear.

'Then let me go' Gigi mumbled against the hand holding her mouth.

'Promise me you're not going to scream'.

'I'm not stupid' she hissed back. Before biting the hand, hard. Tasting blood and hearing the grunt of pain from behind her. She smiled to herself as the hand around her waist dropped.

Pulling the knife from its sheath, she whirled around. Holding it against the boy's neck, her smile faltering when she saw him smirk.

'It's… Gigi, right?' he whispered, his eyes roaming over her face, 'Put the knife down'

Slowly, she felt her hand drop from his neck. She stared at it as the knife quivered in her grip. Before falling from her hand altogether, clattering to the floor. Lifting her gaze back to his face, she saw her disbelief mirrored in the reflection of his eyes.

'You're one of… them' she whispered, horrified. It was the only explanation. Swallowing her fear, she half turned. It was time to go, she decided.

There was only one problem, the fly soldiers. They had moved from the street. Looking left then right, Gigi tried to spy them in the darkness. The tell-tale buzzing would be a dead giveaway but straining her ears, she couldn't hear them anywhere.

'I'm not one of them' the voice drifted from behind her. Swiping the knife off the floor, he offered it back to Gigi.

Glancing up at him, she narrowed her eyes before taking the knife carefully out of his hands. He looked… scared. As he shifted and his face caught the light from the moon, she saw the fear in his eyes. He was cradling his bitten hand in the other, Gigi could see the dark spread of blood as it dripped down his hand.

A pang of something too much like sympathy struck at her, she tried to push it away. This boy, whoever he was. He wasn't her problem. She had problems of her own to contend with. The fly soldiers for one, finding somewhere safe to spend the night, finding her next meal. As if on cue her stomach grumbled painfully, reminding her where her priorities lay.

'Gigi?' he asked, sounding very scared. She glanced up at him, confusion pounding at her head. Mixing in with the hunger.

'I don't remember telling you my name' she stated, matter of factly. Trying to sound in control of the situation but feeling very far from it.

She gave him a crude once over. From his new clothes to his clean exterior. He didn't look like any of the street gang members she had encountered. But he didn't look like one of them either. To say she was perplexed was an understatement.

He's not my problem she reminded herself sharply, turning back to the street and checking for any more of them.

Seeing nothing, she peered up at the boy one last time. Before running, careful to stick to the shadows.

.

Hearing foot fall behind her, she glanced back to find him following her.

Spying a shadowy area, Gigi folded herself up into it. Waiting for him to catch up.

'What do you want?' she demanded when he reached her. He was like a puppy, stalking her every move; attached at the hip.

'You're the first person I've seen' he said, as if that explained everything.

Blinking at him, she surveyed him again. Narrowing her eyes. 'You can't follow me' she whispered.

'Why not?' he asked, blinking long eyelashes back at her.

'Why not...' she felt exasperated. 'I'm not your friend. For all you know, I could be one of them!'.

'One of what?' he asked, sounding exactly like he knew the answer but didn't want to hear it.

'One of them!'

'The Old Ones?' he said slowly, looking earnestly at her. Searching her face for a clue that he was right. 'Did they do… this?'

'Don't!... Don't say their name' she hissed, glancing all around like she expected them to pop up at any minute and take them. 'What's wrong with you?!'

'What?' he asked, hushing himself to a whisper again. 'What's wrong with saying their name?'

'Just don't, okay?' she peered up at him through the half dim of moon light, watching as he put his hands to his face.

A very faint, 'Damn' came from between his fingers. Lowering them, he looked intently at her. 'I need your help, Gigi. Please'

Sighing, she took hold of his arm. Half dragging him into the nearest building.

They made their way quietly up the stairs, there was no way the elevator would work and even if it did. Gigi didn't trust it not to break down, trapping them inside. She checked room to room, searching for one that they could barricade themselves into.

Finding what she was looking for, she pulled him into the flat. He watched apprehensively as she blocked the door with furniture. Dragging a table across the closed door, lifting chairs against the frame. Giving it a tentative shove as she did. Finally, almost as if she didn't want to, she turned to face him.

'What?' she challenged, watching as he eyed the stacks of furniture against the doorway. A chair fell from the pile, he raised an eyebrow at her.

'You know that won't keep them out' he said, gesturing towards the wobbling furniture. 'The Old Ones, I mean'

'Shush! What did I say' Gigi stared at him, fear in her eyes as she glanced around the room they were in.

She watched as he brazenly walked up to a light switch, absentmindedly flicking it on. Nothing happened. He flicked it on and off a few times, sighing.

'What did you think was going to happen?' Gigi asked, amused as she watched him turn from the wall to look at her.

'Sorry, I didn't think…' He admitted, rubbing a hand across his face again. 'Everything's changed so much'.

Softening slightly, Gigi righted the chair laying on the floor and sat down. He perched on the edge of the sofa, watching her with sad eyes.

'Are you hungry?' she asked, swinging her bag pack from her shoulder and opening it. His eyes lit up at the chocolate bars in the top of the pack. He nodded eagerly.

Sighing, she pulled two from the pack and passed them over to him. It was more then she should be offering, but she felt sorry for him. She wasn't sure why. But she did.

While he ate, Gigi checked out the rest of the flat. Flitting from room to room, using her flashlight to check each corner for anything. As she was rummaging through the cupboards in the kitchen, she heard the floorboards creak behind her. Stiffening, she reached for her knife.

'It's just me' He whispered, so quietly that Gigi wasn't sure she heard it at all.

Her shoulders slumping in relief, she glanced back at him. He was shifting from foot to foot anxiously.

'Can I help?' he asked, glancing at the bare space where food would have once sat in the open cupboards.

'There's nothing here' she sighed, brushing past him. 'There's nothing anywhere' she muttered bitterly. She was starting to regret giving him half her food stash. She might have been able to stretch those two more days. But she couldn't exactly ask for it back now. She didn't know him; she didn't even know his name.

'Scott' he said softly.

'What?' She glanced up at him, his eyes were already on her.

'My name. It's Scott'.

'Oh' she swallowed, glancing away first and frowning to herself. 'It should be safe here for the night'.

He nodded, settling himself onto the sofa. 'Thank you' he whispered.

'What for?' she asked, perplexed. Watching him mess with the worn leather on the sofa.

'Letting me stay with you' he fixed her with a worried look.

'Look… I don't think it's a good idea-' She started, but he interrupted her.

'Please, Gigi.' He was looking at her with those huge eyes again. 'It's not safe for me out there'.

She laughed, 'And you think it's safe for me? For anyone? What makes you so special'.

He opened his mouth, as if to say something. But seeming to think better of it he just fixed her with that worried look again.

'Surely its better if we stay together?' Scott whispered after a short pause.

'I can't. Look, I can barely look after myself' she whispered back, exasperated.

'I won't be any trouble, I promise. I can help you'.

Gigi pursed her lips, 'You can stay tonight'.

He smiled at her then, a genuine smile. 'Thank you, I won't let you down.'

But Gigi wasn't so sure. She sighed again, 'Get some sleep, I'll keep watch'.

.

Taking up the night watch, she watched him while he slept. Mulling over the meeting in her head all night.

It's not safe for me out there. His words echoed over and over in her mind.

Tearing her gaze away, she watched as the sun rose. The rosy hue lighting up the sky and the devastation across the city, it never failed to surprise her. She had thought the more she saw the ruined skyline, day after day. She would have gotten used to it, but she never did. It was a shocking reminder every morning of the Old Ones. Of what they had done to the city, to the world.

Packing up her backpack. She gazed down at Scott as he slept.

Thinking about just quietly slipping away, she glanced at the doorway. But she couldn't shake the feeling, that she had been so lonely these past few weeks. She hadn't realised till she had seen him, just how lonely she had been. Looking down at Scott, she smiled softly to herself. His dark hair was falling in his face, he looked peaceful. Maybe it was better to leave him here, she thought to herself. She couldn't go through the hurt of getting close to someone just to have them ripped away from her again. Hesitating, she turned to the doorway. No, it was better this way. She thought to herself as she slipped out the door, she had kept her word to him at least.

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Scott awoke to the light shining through the cracked window. Glancing around as he stretched, he took in the ruined room. Furniture stood skewed around the hallway; the door stood slightly ajar.

'Gigi?' he whispered.

Looking over towards the window, he saw the chair stood facing the view. Coming over to look out at the view of devastation, he sighed. Touching the window, he placed his hand against the crack. Running fingertips down the splintered surface.

'It's awful, isn't it?'

Scott half turned. Seeing it was Gigi, his shoulders slumped, 'Yeah it is. I thought you'd left'.

Gigi felt her cheeks redden. He couldn't know she really had left, could he?

He looked up at her, hurt in his eyes. 'When did this happen?' He asked, gesturing towards the window.

She blinked at him, 'What do you mean 'When did this happen?' It wasn't that long ago'.

'Humour me' he sighed, sitting down on the chair and gazing out the window again.

She took in his fingertips, anxiously tapping against his leg.

She frowned slightly, watching the tap, tap, tap. 'About 6 months ago'.

'Where are we?' he asked.

'What do you mean where are we?' she glanced up; he was watching her intently again. Sighing she muttered 'Boston'.

'America?' he asked, sounding hopeful. It filled his eyes, pooling there like liquid.

Gigi laughed, 'Not quite. Boston, Lincolnshire. You know, in the UK'.

His face fell.

'You're not from round here, are you?' she asked, she had picked up on his accent. The more he spoke the more she noticed it. It sounded American, in fact he looked American. In the most literal sense of the word. With his tanned skin, deep brown eyes and long black hair.

'You a long way from home?' she asked, softly. Coming over to him.

He nodded, his face crumpling for the first time.

'You wanna tell me about it?' she asked quietly. Wincing slightly at her own words.

'You wouldn't believe me' he whispered, more to himself than to her.

Falling quiet, she looked out the window as well.

'I didn't leave you; you know. Well, I did but only to get supplies'. She whispered after a short pause.

'Did you find anything?' he asked, not looking at her. There was an accusation in the gesture, or lack thereof.

'Not much' Gigi sighed, it seemed she never found much these days. 'But I did find these' She held up two bottles of water. Turning to look, he smiled at her as she offered him one.

'Come on, we should move'. Smiling back at him as she tossed her own bottle into her bag and swung it over one shoulder.

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Making their way quietly back down the stairs, they checked each open flat on the way for food, water or anything else they might be able to use. Finding only the bare minimum. The scraps of leftovers from months of pillaging.

Blinded by sunlight as they opened the foyer doors, the pair of them squinted in the early morning light. The street was empty, as per usual. Gigi wasn't surprised in the slightest, the street gangs tended to roam at night. Everyone preferred the cover of darkness. The stragglers were often too afraid to come out during the day and Gigi knew why, the chances of seeing one of the Old Ones was more likely during the day light. Even so, she preferred the day for scavenging. The risk was greater but the idea of keeping out of the street gang's way was worth it.

As they meandered down the side streets, Scott asked, 'What's your plan, Gigi?'

Gigi stopped, turning back to give him a once over, 'There is no plan, Scott. But survive. Just make it through each day'. She raised her eyebrow at him before turning and walking down the street.

He noticed that she talked with her hands, gesturing openly with them. It made him smile more then he cared to admit.

They didn't see any sign of the Old One's that day, except of course the ruin of the once magnificent city. Night crept up on them, their shadows growing long in the dying light of day. Gigi knew they needed to find somewhere to hole up for the night before long. Her head pounded with tiredness and her whole body ached, reminding her unpleasantly how she had spent the last night. Propped up against the wall watching while Scott slept.

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Gigi gazed up at one of the blocks of flats. Flats were always a good bet, lots of rooms to hide in. Plenty of flats to choose from and hopefully some still had food in them.

Gigi thought longingly back to when she had found one full of food, long forgotten by the occupants. Cans of soup, bags of crisps, chocolate, drinks. The lot. Pushing the memory away, she tried to ignore her stomach growling painfully.

'We should find somewhere to stay the night' Gigi thought out loud, musing to herself more than telling Scott as she looked up at the flats.

He nodded anyway, taking hold of the door and opening it. Standing back to let her take the lead.

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'I'll keep watch tonight, if you want to get some sleep' Scott whispered gently to her. Watching her empty, count and repack her bag pack.

Having found a safe enough looking apartment, they had barricaded themselves back in again.

Gigi glanced up at him, her eyes itching with tiredness. She sighed softly, rubbing absentmindedly at them. 'Okay' she whispered back. Getting up, she walked to the bedroom. Glancing back at him before shutting the door.

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It was freezing in the room, the flat itself was cold but still. Gigi glanced around before holeing herself up in the bed sheets. The cold November night was a stark reminder of how much things had changed. In the old days they could have turned on the heating, but there was no gas anymore, no electricity, no running water, no home comforts of the old world. As the months passed, they got further and further away from the old way of life. The new, harsh reality setting in. Time was moving on. No matter how much Gigi wanted it to stop, rewind and go back to the way it used to be.

Laying in bed, Gigi's mind wondered through the past three years. How much things had changed. Back then she had been a happy Thirteen-year-old. Well, as happy as she could have been. Parents, a safe house, a happy life. Each passing year taking her far away from that life. She often thought of her parents, they had died early on and Gigi missed them terribly.

A tear fell down her cheek, brushing it angrily away she turned onto her side. Hunkering down and trying to conserve some warmth beneath the sheets. Falling into a troubled sleep, Gigi dreamt of her parents, of the night she had last seen them. It was a dream she often had, memories of that night blotting in and out of the dreamscape, reality and fiction mixing in her head.

She would find herself, walking through the streets. The roads a river of blood. People being dragged out of houses, the screaming… The screaming.

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Waking to hands gripping her shoulders. Gigi tried to fight off whoever had hold of her.

'Shhh, it's me' Scott whispered, trying desperately to calm her down. 'It's okay'

Scrambling up, Gigi stared at him. 'What are you doing?' she demanded, blinking rapidly to clear her blurred vision.

'You were screaming' Scott said quietly, watching her as she got out of the bed. She was shaking, badly.

'I was?' she murmured, trying to stop her hands from shaking. Again? she thought. Worry flooding her, fighting humiliation for her attention.

He nodded, watching her intently. Getting up from his perch at the end of the bed. 'Are you okay-'

'I'm fine' she hastily cut in. Avoiding his gaze and crossing the room to the door.

He followed her through to the living room, watching as she unpacked and repacked her backpack. Wondering if it was an anxious move on her part.

'We should go' she muttered. Opening the curtains to let the daylight stream into the room. A quick check of the street showed it was empty. They weren't very high up, fourth floor maybe. Movement in one of the opposite flats caught her attention. Peering out of the window she watched a curtain twitch nervously. Frowning to herself she wondered if it was such a good idea to leave the flats after all. But there was no use staying put. So with a sigh, she got ready to leave.

'You coming?' she asked over her shoulder. Barely glancing back at Scott.

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