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  Suddenly, a huge explosion rents the air and our small bodies are thrown, landing hard on the packed ground. My head bounces off a rock, and the sound of screams pierce the buzzing in my ears.

  "Holy shit!" My body comes to life. In one swift move, I find myself standing in front of Connor. His face is a mask of concern and something I can't place. His hands are on my shoulders. The heat from his palms calms my shock.

  "What's wrong, Kay?" He uses the same nickname as the small boy from my dream. I’m so shocked I almost pee a little. Damn, he knows me? Well, knew me. Shit. Or maybe he planted the idea in my head and my subconscious mind turned it into a story like those I read on my device.

  I pull my shoulders free from his grip and move to the empty doorway. The early morning sun glimmers off pieces of metal within the rocks and stones littered everywhere, causing me to squint. When the bombs hit this site, they didn't do as much damage as intended. There were a lot of buildings still standing, a bounty to be plundered for scavengers like me. But after so many years, they’re all ruined and barely standing. Their contents eaten by the remaining wildlife or taken by survivors. Mother Nature’s taken over any space she can, giving London a wild look it didn't have back before the war.

  Trees, grasses and wildflowers sprout from carcasses of old motor vehicles, what's left of buildings, and between the bones of long dead creatures and humans. It isn't uncommon to see skeletons while roaming the city and the surrounding areas.

  Wildlife’s a rare sight. Should you see an animal on your travels it's very bad practice to kill it for food, but most still do. When you're on the brink of starving to death it's hard to resist meat. The animal population never did recover fully because food’s so scarce and the Panda eat whatever they can catch. Except for rabbits. Those things are everywhere.

  "I won't hurt you, Kay." I don't jump at his words. Years of fighting for survival have attuned my senses. I’d felt the air shift behind me alerting me he was near.

  "You couldn't if you tried, Connor." I step away from the entrance and begin my journey. Where, I don’t know, but I start walking anyway. I just know I have to get away from here. The rotten stench of Panda makes me want to vomit. They’re close, and always hungry. I move faster through the tall grass. Connor follows me making more noise than necessary. I don't want him near me. Panic rises as I replay my dream over and over. How can this be? He'll get me killed before I find out.

  "Kayla, wait! You're going the wrong way!" Connor struggles to keep up as I masterfully navigate my way to the vehicle wreckage. We need to get to the other side quickly. One of my dads used to call this a "motorway". Telling me the humans before us used it to travel far and wide. Their journeys took mere hours instead of the weeks it takes me by foot. Shells of old cars in four lines stretch as far as the eye can see. It's beautiful in its own way. Two rows pointing north, the others pointing south. Front to back they line the road.

  "Kay, if you don't slow down…" A Panda screams out, stopping us in our tracks. Shit. With so many places to hide, we won’t see it until it attacked.

  "Get on the tallest thing here!" I shout out the order while clambering up the side of a rotten pole. I need to see how many and where they are. Splinters stab my hands but don't penetrate through my roughened skin. I reach the top in seconds. Years of practice means I'm adept at climbing quickly.

  I watch in slight horror as at least four Panda come pouring out from between cars. One appears out of nowhere right at the side of me, screaming and clawing the base of the pole in an attempt to get me. The noise will surely bring more. I have to kill it. I shimmy down the wooden pole and land loudly on its shoulders. I slam the heel of my boot into its skull, bits of its brain splattering my face.

  Looking around me, I realise I'm in a good spot. Hoping to draw the zombie’s attention my way, I cup my hands around my mouth and shout, "Over here! Come get some meat!" Reaching back, I grab the hilt of my katana and draw it out. Just as more than one Panda answers my call, I see Connor sitting on top of a huge vehicle at the opposite side, a shitty smile on his face. Mother fucker!

  The first Panda reaches me. Slashing my blade, I sever an arm. It drops to the ground with a thud. The beast screams its anger and launches its rotting body at me.

  Practically all bone and small chunks of flesh, its weight isn’t enough to take me down. Instead, I swivel on my heel, my hand on its bony shoulder, and send it crashing down. Its protruding bones clatter against the ground. This one's old and weak. Easy kill. I bring the heel of my foot down onto its skull, ending the long years of its torture in a spray of bone and matter.

  Two more emerge on my right. Younger and fresher, these two can't be more than months old. Their bodies are almost fully intact. One’s missing an eye, the gaping hole left behind oozing. That one climbs onto the top of a vehicle and waits. I cock my head to the side, studying its strange behaviour. Usually, Panda just attack.

  Essentially brain dead from the virus, their bodies are on autopilot. The need to feed is their only goal. Panda don't have the capacity to think or to attack with efficiency. They just pounce without thought, their decomposing bodies barely able to put up much of a fight. Yet, this one crouches there and stares at me while the other rushes headlong at me. It bumps and scrapes itself against the structures on either side of us, leaving behind chunks of skin.

  The Panda on top of the car turns towards where Connor’s watching. And, like a beast, it springs from its crouch. It flies through the air with more grace than many Scraps or Advanced can muster. Roof to roof it jumps as I watch dumbly. I've never seen a Panda move like that before.

  A body crashes into my side, breaking my train of thought and we both fall to the ground. I land hard and my blade is knocked from my grasp. Ouch. Twisting, I bring my hands up and push at the Panda’s shoulders as it snaps and snarls, attempting to take a chunk out of me. I move one hand to its throat while I snake the other between us and attempt to pull a smaller knife from the holster at my thigh, only to find it empty. Damnit!

  My fingers sink into rotten flesh and liquid oozes out between them. I gag and dry heave. My vision blurs as my eyes water. The Panda reaches out its arm and just as it's about to slash pointed nails across my face, a deafening roar breaks through the pounding in my ears.

  Baby.

  The Panda suddenly jerks and is torn from me. Panting and bruised, I sit up just in time to watch Baby tear the zombie’s head from its body. Even after all the years killing Panda, the sound of ripping flesh and breaking bone still makes me cringe slightly. As Baby continues to eviscerate the Panda, I push myself off the ground. Picking up my katana and sheathing it at my back, I jump over the aisles of wreckages and make my way to Connor. My hands are slippery with gore and I barely manage to not fall on my face as I slide over hot metal.

  When I reach him, I almost lose my mind. There on the tarmac is Connor and the Panda who showed signs of brain function. Its teeth snap inches from Connor’s face as he struggles to keep it at arm’s length. I pick up a rock and launch it. The stone hits the Panda on the side of its face, not enough to kill it or even break the skin, but enough to hopefully distract it.

  As the rock makes contact, the Panda pauses in its attempts to take a bite of the man beneath it. It swings its eyes to me and what I see there is frightening. Cold calculating eyes stare at me. I reach up for my blade and its milky gaze follows my hand.

  My fingers wrap around the hilt and its eyes flick to mine. It's waiting to see what I do next. That's…. new. And freaky as fuck. Connor rolls the Panda off him. With it beneath him, he punches it in the face over and over. Blood splatters everywhere and the sound of bone crunching reaches my ears. It’s then I remember Connor doesn't have a blade. Shit.

  I let out a small whistle and a roar answers me. The Panda rolls, taking Connor with him. Its legs on Connor's arms, pinning him to the earth. My eyes stay fixed on the creature above Connor. The Panda looks over his shoulder into my eyes and then down at Connor who’
s still trying to push the beast from him by bucking his hips. Connor’s having absolutely no luck; the creature’s bigger and has the advantage.

  "Kay! Kill it," Connor grinds out, sounding like he's having trouble breathing. For a moment I just stand there, utterly shocked.

  There's something different. This Panda, he isn't even trying to bite Connor now. Bite first, can't ask questions later, that's what they usually do. I'm normally more than happy to end their existence. But as this one watches Baby jump onto the bonnet next to us, my body refuses to move.

  His flame-like fur streaked with blood and with sharp teeth exposed, Baby growls at the Panda. It's enough distraction for me to shoot my hand out and jam my blade into the Panda’s temple.

  It's body instantly dies and drops down onto Connor.

  "Ugh!" He pushes the body off him and rolls over. He's lucky it's not crawling with maggots and flies. Been there, ruined that t-shirt.

  I grab the Panda by the collar of its shirt and pull as Connor pushes. It flops to the side, landing in the dirt. I take a knee at its side and stare intently at it, barely aware of the fact that Connor’s cursing up a storm about almost being eaten.

  The Panda looks fresh. Months old, maybe even weeks. It has small patches of peeling skin across its arms. I can see an infected bite wound through a rip in its brown cargo pants. Looking around me, I find a twig and use it to expose more of the bite. I've seen thousands just like this, human teeth don't make a wound like you'd think. Our teeth and jaws aren’t strong enough to actually take chunks out of flesh. But we can break the skin, and the result is gnarly.

  The edges are black and peeling. It stinks so bad Connor starts retching behind me. God, there’s no way I'm promised to this bitch. I've spent five minutes with him and already I know there’s no way I'm marrying him. We'd be dead if it was up to him to protect us.

  "Are you alright, Kay?" Connor’s now standing next to me, wiping his bloody fists on his pants.

  Am I ok? Is he for real? I drop the stick and stand. Placing my hands on my hips. "Listen, mate. This ain't gunna happen. You're a liability. You'll end up getting me killed."

  "I knew you had those Panda beat. I thought you didn't need my help!" Frustration pours from him, his odd coloured eyes boring into mine.

  "I didn't," I jerk my chin towards the body on the ground. "But you needed mine. So, if you don't mind," I whistle one sharp call and Baby’s standing in front of me, growling at Connor, "I'm leaving. You won't follow. Get it?"

  Turning, I walk at a fast pace away from him towards the countryside. Baby's mane brushes against me and I place my hand on top of his head. "Good boy." His fur’s sticky with blood and goodness knows what. I need to find us a place to bathe.

  "Kayla, wait!" I hear him running to catch up, but I don't stop. He's dead weight. I won't take care of both of us. He's on his own. I pick up the pace, needing to put distance between us.

  "Kay!" His voice is far behind me now and so I start to run. Baby's feet pound the dirt, kicking up dust in the air behind us. We’re literally leaving dumb-dumb in our dust. The thought has a giggle escaping me. The sound makes me slow down. I can't remember the last time I giggled. I stop suddenly. Baby flops his big ass down and cocks his head at me.

  "Am I being inhuman, Baby?" I turn to look back and see no sign of Connor. Has a Panda got him? Mercenaries? Shit. Why do I care? So, he says we’re promised or we knew each other as kids. It's gotta be lies. Even if it was true, a lot of time has passed and I'm not a kid anymore. I don't owe him anything.

  I turn back to Baby; his golden eyes holding judgement. "Don't look at me like that, you dog! He's dead weight. He'll get us killed. I won't risk you, boy. I won't." I suck my bottom lip between my teeth and bite down. Not hard enough to draw blood but hard enough to make my eyes sting. Shit.

  I turn and start running back to where we came from, Baby following slowly. The sun’s high in the sky now, and it's hotter than hell out here. Despite this being the UK, the wars messed with the ecosystem, making the country a hotbox most of the time. Winters were nuclear. Temperatures dropped so low, if you stood still for too long you'd freeze on the spot.

  Up ahead I see a figure sitting on a boulder, legs folded in front of him, his head between his knees. Silent on my feet so he doesn't hear my approach, I'm able to stand by his side for a few minutes, silently listening. It's not until Baby slides up onto the rock and nudges his giant head against Connor's side, almost knocking him off, that he notices he's no longer alone. His head jerks up and the horrified look on his face makes me burst out laughing.

  I bend double, huge guffaws coming from me. Falling to my knees as I clutch my middle, I then slap the ground while struggling to get a breath. It takes me by surprise and my usual silent approach to being out in the open like this disappears.

  "What's so funny, Kay?" Connor’s indignant voice pulls me from my fit.

  I barely get myself under control enough to say, "Your face!" before I drop to the floor and roll around like Baby does when he's getting belly rubs. I've never seen anyone look so shocked and scared at the same time.

  By the time I've pulled myself together, Baby’s started snoring softly and Connor stands a good distance from him. He stares like he expects my dog to pounce on him and eat him alive. I push myself from the dirt. I’ve got a stitch in my side and my mouth is completely dry.

  "He's a... a… LION!" I flinch when he screams the word like I should be terrified.

  I look at my boy and stroke his soft face. A lion? No way. Baby's a dog. A big dog, I'll admit. His paws are bigger than my face and his muscles have muscles. "He's a dog." My face aches from laughing so I stretch it out. My jaw creaks and cracks. The silence between us is deafening. "See," I pick up one of his floppy ears then let it go, "dog." As if his ears explain it all. My mum explained what dogs are, Baby fits the description.

  Connor starts to shake his head vigorously, his eyes on Baby. I turn and watch as my dog opens his mouth in a huge yawn, exposing sharp bloody teeth.

  I found Baby when I was just sixteen. Abandoned as a pup and on the brink of death, I'd taken him in and raised him. It was the first time I’d ever loved anything or anyone other than my parents. Baby grew quickly and changed dramatically from the small little pup I'd first taken home. I named him after my favourite song on my device.

  "Why are you just sitting here, ain't you got somewhere to be?" quoting what he'd told me at the spaceship. I don't care what Baby is. He's mine, and I'm his. End of story.

  "I…" He lets out a breath. Looking down at his hands he continues, "I grew up in the wastes, Kay. With you and your family. My dad, he… he didn't want to admit I was his. My mother was a Hand. He was ashamed that I was half his. He sent for me when I turned six. I'm no longer used to the harshness of these lands. But I've learnt a lot lately. I can take care of myself. I've lived in the city for fourteen years but I'm not a liability."

  Huh. That Panda was different from any other I'd seen, perhaps it was stronger? That’s why he couldn't fight it off. Maybe I judged him too quickly? "Why are you out here?" I spread my hand out to indicate our surroundings. This is no place for someone who’s bathed in the lap of luxury for so long. He'd have to prove to me he could handle Panda before I thought him capable. "You need to go back. I can't carry you, Connor. I don't play nice with others."

  "I'm here for you, Kayla," he throws at me.

  I flinch. For me? "Huh? I'm just a Hand’s daughter. A nobody."

  "Look at your hair, Kay. You’re not a Hand. Listen, I must get you back. I've been searching for you for six months. My father will think…"

  "Oh, hell no! I’m not going to the city." We? Nah. Not happening, how’d he even survive six months out here? I almost turn and walk away, but he stops me before I can make a move. His soft warm hand wraps around my wrist. He tugs gently but I don't pull away or go to him.

  "You should let me go, Connor." Baby's snarl punctures my words. Simultaneously I want to throat punch hi
m and throw myself into his arms. It confuses me so much I end up signalling Baby to stand down, but my knees bend into a slight crouch, ready to pounce. My hand toys with the hilt of my blade behind my back.

  He brings his other hand up in surrender, palm out. "Easy, Kay. I mean you no harm. I swear."

  Unbidden, a snarl lifts my lip and I growl low in my chest. He lets me go and even though it was what I wanted; I mourn the loss of his heat.

  "Please. Let me find us some shelter." He looks around us and quickly realises that's not gunna happen. This area’s bare of anything other than nature. He's out of his depth out here. It'll be me who has to take care of us. At that moment, his stomach growls loudly and we both look down at it. I click my fingers and Baby bounds away.

  "Come. And be fucking quiet, will you?" I turn knowing exactly where we can go. "Like a baby elephant!" I scold him. Without acknowledging it, my mind decides we need to take Connor back to the city. Looks like I'm on babysitting duty.

  We walk for miles. Hours pass, and Baby doesn't come back. It'll take time for him to find something for us to eat. As we move, I gather edible flowers, popping them in my mouth. Connor drags his feet and constantly wipes his hand across his forehead.

  "Here." I throw my water skin to him. He barely catches it and I roll my eyes at him. The city’s a five day walk from here. At this rate it’ll take twice that many. Not that I'm going. But Connor is.

  “Thanks, darlin’. It's so fucking hot," he rumbles.

  "The aliens take all your supplies?" I ask, venom in my voice.

  "Aliens? Those buttholes didn't even leave me with a knife. I'm not usually so...."

  "Inept?" I don't allow him to finish.

  "Yes." He looks at the ground and swings his foot back and forth before continuing, "I've learnt a lot out here, Kay. I’m not as skilled as you but I'm not a liability. I swear."

  Huh, I wanna believe him but… so far, he's nearly been killed and he’s taking up all my supplies. He never stops talking, constantly chatting and being loud. This guy’s a fool. But he’s the one who saved me from the "spaceship", has great reflexes and has survived on his own for six months. So maybe he isn't so bad. Maybe.