They saw the smoke rising from the city centre some ten miles away as they entered the city via the city bypass. The castle that sat upon a rocky peak was smouldering and filled the sky with a huge black cloud. They stopped and stared at the sign into the city. Someone had painted over it in what looked like blood to now read;

Welcome To DEAD-inburgh

The further they ventured into the city the more carnage and destruction became apparent. Smoke rose from various buildings telling Sam that the gunshots and explosions he had heard recently definitely came from here. The stench of burning flesh clung to the air and in turn, it clung to him and Ailsa.

"This looks a lot different from when I left three years ago." Sam stated trying hard not to breathe in too much of the foul air.

"Do you think anyone is still alive here?" Ailsa asked.

"I think so. This looks like military work. You see the empty bullet shells lying around? And those bullet holes in the walls?" Sam pointed to the nearest torched building. "Looks like you could be right about Dreghorn barracks being safe if the army is still active." Sam admitted. Until now he didn't have much hope that there was any military left.

Both Sam and Ailsa looked around open mouthed as they entered the city centre via the west end. Princes Street lay in complete ruin. Huge chunks of rubble lined the streets. The scots monument that used to stand sixty metres in height and shadow over the famous gardens now lay in massive pieces across the road. Trams and buses lay on their sides, burnt out and broken. All that remained of the Princes Street Gardens was a blackened grassland area. Sam gazed up to the castle, Edinburgh's pride and joy. It looked like a bomb must have gone off inside or maybe an airstrike as it was all but flattened. The mass of wall that surrounded the fortress had managed to withstand whatever attack fell upon it but inside the protective ring of rock was sheer destruction. All the buildings and turrets that once stood tall now lay in a smouldering heap.

"Sam." Ailsa said.

"What?" Sam answered, not taking his eyes off the spot where the once great castle stood.

"Let's get out of here." Her voice shook.

"Yeah." He replied absently but made no attempt to move.

"Sam." She repeated in an agitated voice and tugged on his arm. "We have to go, now."

Sam turned and saw why Ailsa sounded scared. Climbing over the mass pile of what used to be the Scots monument was a huge succession of those creatures. They were barely visible through the grey smoke that covered the street like a thick fog but it was clear that it was them.

Using their claws, they scaled the pile with ease and jumped down with surprising agility. They sniffed the air as they walked trying to catch the scent of someone. They were half a mile down the street from Sam and Ailsa. Sam couldn't count how many but the flow of monsters seemed never ending.

"Come this way." Sam ordered and they ran into the smoky remains of the Princes Street gardens. "I don't think they are after us but given the chance they will be on us in a heartbeat so we'd be best to try and mask our scent."

Sam set the pace through the gardens taking as little and few breathes as he could until they came to a large graveyard at its end. Its gates were already open. A huge church stood beside it. It was here he slowed his pace for them to catch their breath but they did not stop moving.

As they worked their way through the graveyard Ailsa spoke quietly.

"The movies had it wrong for years. They had us believing that undead monsters rose from the graves but look at all of these. Not one of these graves are unearthed." She looked around as she spoke.

"Those movies were always stupid. I don't understand how there was never any flies around the zombies. Stinking, rotten flesh and not one single fly." Sam indulged in the pointless conversation to take is mind off the fact that his home city was in ruins and a mass horde of creatures were not far behind.

They exited the graveyard and began to run again making their way out of the city centre and gain as much distance as they could from what lay behind them. On the way the streets were lined with piles of ash and the charcoaled remains of human bodies spread randomly throughout. Seagulls and crows picked at the bodies. How did those bastards survive? He thought as he passed a flock of seagulls ripping apart a blackened fly infested body squawking as they passed by. Sam felt a little sickened at the sight and the smell was horrendous causing bile to creep up his throat. Eventually Sam slowed down and breathing heavily he turned to Ailsa who was right behind him, sweat dripping down her pretty face.

"I think we can walk from here." Sam puffed. "I know a place we can stay. If it's still standing." He added.

Sam's head tingled with pain as they walked for what felt like miles through familiar ground. Through streets that Sam once knew. Passed shops where he once shopped and even passed his old school. As they ventured further out of the city centre the signs of destruction and violence toned down. Clear signs of ransacking and vandalism were still visible but compared to the wreckage they had just witnessed, this seemed like child's play.

"We are just up here." Sam informed Ailsa.

"It's about time." Ailsa moaned quietly so Sam wouldn't hear.

"I heard that." Sam called back to her.

He leapt over a small wooden garden fence with ease and signalled Ailsa to follow suit. Once they were both over Sam walked to a small rock pile in the overgrown garden and picked up one of the smaller rocks. Turning it over he opened a small hatch on the base rock and a key fell into the palm of his hand. He tossed the rock to the ground and made his way around the side of the house where a patio door stood.

A very rusty child's bike leaned against the garden fence. Its original colour was barely visible but pink is a hard colour to miss. The foliage had grown around the bike entwining itself around its frame.

Sam unlocked the door and allowed Ailsa inside. He followed behind her, locked the door and drew the curtains over making the room a little darker.

He turned to Ailsa and with little emotion in his voice, he said. "Welcome to my home."

"I... You sure you want to be here?" Ailsa asked uneasily.

"I promised myself I wouldn't set foot in here again until I had found my little girl." Sam confessed and stared at the floor.

That was a lie. He was heading here to take his own life before he met Ailsa but he would never speak a word of that. Ailsa stood silently listening to him talk. He knew she unsure what to say or do. That was the first time Sam had mentioned his daughter openly like that.

"The lounge is that way." Sam pointed towards a door before she had the chance to say anything.

"Lead on." Ailsa said as politely as she could.

This is horrible. Sam thought. Be strong!

Emotions flooded through him as memories screamed at him from every wall. He wanted to run for the door and never look back but they needed sanctuary for the night. He glanced up the staircase as they passed. His own bed was up there but he would never sleep in it again. His daughter's room was also up there. He turned into the lounge and threw himself onto his couch. Looking around he was surprised that everything was still here. It looked like no one had broken in. Picture frames lined the walls, a few were empty but those pictures were safe inside Sam's diary. A clock ticked away on the mantelpiece next to a picture of his wife and daughter surprisingly still working. It was mid-afternoon.

"You ok?" Ailsa asked, setting herself on the couch opposite.

"I'll be fine." The doubt was obvious in his reply.

They sat there silently for a while, listening to the rain that had begun to rattle against the windows. He knew Ailsa wanted to speak but he was glad that she didn't. The pain in Sam's head had increased and he was starting to doubt this was a hangover from last night's drinking session. He needed to rest for a bit. He closed his eyes not meaning to fall asleep but it beckoned to him and he obliged its call without a fight.

...Sam dreamed the recurring dream of the long dark tunnel with a light at the end. He ran as fast as he could but the light never got any closer. A young girl's voice shouted from the light. His daughter needed him but he could never reach her. He screamed and pleaded for her to wait but it was no good. She never came any closer. Suddenly one the creatures appeared from behind him, its eyes glowing in the darkness and he was being chased. Rattled breathes seemed to be all around him. He ran faster but the breathes did not quiet. He looked around as he ran but saw no sign of any creature anymore and yet the breathing was everywhere...

When Sam awoke some time later there was no sign of Ailsa in the room but she had thrown a blanket over him while he slept. It was getting dark outside now and even though the rain had died down, it continued to fall. His headache had gone which was a huge relief. He stood and stretched realising how hungry he was. He crept through to the kitchen and spotted Ailsa at the table skinning some kind of animal.

"Hey." She said looking up with a smile. "I hope you like cat?"

"I've never tried." Sam admitted.

"I collected some water in a pot for you to wash up. It's in the bathroom." She raised her hand to point but stopped. "He knows where the bathroom is stupid girl." She spoke to herself as she continued to work on the dead animal.

"Yeah I do." Sam smiled. "Thanks"

Sam walked upstairs to the bathroom avoiding looking at the pictures that lined the walls. Ailsa had left a couple of candles burning so the room glowed faintly. Too bad they're not scented, he thought as the smell of piss and backed up sewage stung his nose.

Sam stripped down to his waist and washed over the pot. He picked up one of his old body wash bottles from the shower cubicle and managed to tone down the body odour he had been carrying around for a while. Next, he went to his old mirrored medicine cabinet and took out some toiletries he had left there, a razor with spare blades and shaving foam. It took him nearly twenty minutes to rid himself of his beard. Afterwards he studied his face and his injuries. The scabs had nearly all fell off leaving three fresh pink scars. He had healed faster than he could have ever anticipated. Losing the beard had taken a few years off Sam but he still looked old for his age.

The swelling had completely gone now returning his face to its original size and no pain or tenderness remained as he poked and prodded his scars. Incredible! Next he dug around the cabinet quickly finding what he was after, scissors. He took the mildly rusty scissors to his hair and cut it as best as he could. It was really greasy and matted at parts since it hadn't been properly washed in god knows how long. After he was done he only had about two inches of hair left. He studied his work in the mirror. The shave and the haircut made him look more like the man he used to be. A man his daughter would recognise, hopefully. These past few days had distracted him from her. He had been so focused on helping Ailsa that he had almost forgotten his own purpose.

There was a knock on the bathroom door.

"Is everything okay in there Sam?" Ailsa called through the door. "You've been a while."

"Yeah, I'll be out in a minute." Sam replied.

"OK, dinner is on the table." He heard her footsteps echo in the hallway as she returned to the kitchen.

Sam spotted some old hair wax in the back of the cabinet. He took a small amount and ruffled up his hair. He liked this girl and why shouldn't he? She seemed to like him and they get along most of the time. Maybe with her help he could find his daughter, and afterwards? Who knew? He had to try harder to open up to her. He studied his reflection again. And look nice for her, as nice as he could anyway with these hideous scars across his face.

He left the bathroom and was planning on heading straight downstairs but found himself instead entering his daughter's bedroom. Pink shouted from all four walls. She was always into bright colours. He went to her bed and found what he was looking for.

When they had become separated Sam had headed straight back here as it was the only place she knew. There was no sign of her but Sam did not give up. Every day he hunted around Edinburgh for her and every night he returned here. Over time he had built up a hamper of sorts for her. Tinned goods and even some chocolate bars but none of it had been touched. A hand-written letter from him lay inside, unopened. He left it that way and headed downstairs.

When Sam entered the kitchen, he was greeted with the smell of cooked meat. He had never tried cat but it smelt amazing. Any fresh cooked meat these days was a luxury to Sam. He had never learnt to hunt and relied solely on scavenging for his meals. Some days he went days without eating and there were times when he had nearly died from it. Those days were at the beginning though, before he had learnt to ration properly. Still, scavenging was never a sure thing and it was becoming harder to find food and supplies. Ailsa had been teaching him to hunt but he still had a long way to go until he was as good as her.

"You're quite the looker when you haven't got all this going on." Ailsa waved her hands across her face and head, smiling. "Eat before it gets cold." Ailsa said as she scoffed down on her own cat meat.

"Thanks." Sam sat down and immediately wolfed down his dinner. There wasn't much meat on the poor animal and it hardly made a dent on Sam's hunger but at least it was something.

Afterwards Sam went to his rucksack and dug out an old half eaten bar of chocolate. He had been nibbling little bits over the last few weeks trying to make it last but he wasn't alone now. Ailsa was his friend now and friends share.

"It's a little out of date but it tastes fine." Sam offered Ailsa the chocolate.

Ailsa's face broke into a huge smile.

"I can't believe you kept this quiet for so long." She exclaimed. "If I wasn't so happy that you have chocolate I'd be mad at you." She reached eagerly for the bar and shoved some in her mouth. "Oh my God!" She let out an orgasmic sounding sigh of satisfaction.

Sam laughed at her. "Enjoying that?"

She smiled a brown, toothy smile. "It tastes amazing."

They shared the rest of the chocolate bar. Sam didn't tell her about the stash upstairs he had left for his daughter. They then spoke of other foods and luxuries they missed before everything changed. Sam found himself staying true to his word and opening up to Ailsa. He really missed pizza (it was a start at opening up at least) and Ailsa would love to hear music again. Sam told her to sit tight and rushed off to his old storage cupboard under the stairs. He reappeared a minute later with an old portable CD player in hand. He pressed the power button but nothing.

"Damn. Sorry, the batteries are dead." Sam said gutted.

"I might have some that'll fit." Ailsa took the batteries she acquired from her last "companion" and tried them in the battery port. "Perfect."

Sam put the power on and hit play. Immediately they were lost in the sound of the music. The CD was one that Sam's wife had made. It was a playlist of songs that she loved over the years. Songs that at the time Sam couldn't stand to listen to as their taste in music differed vastly but now every track was beauty to his ears and each one reminded him of her. Sam watched Ailsa in an attempt to distract himself from the image of his wife. He watched as she closed her eyes and swayed side to side lost in the music. She was really beautiful with her uneven hair and pale complexion. Pout lips and dimples in her cheeks. She opened her eyes and looked straight into his.

"Do you remember your first kill?" She asked him suddenly.

"That's something I'm never going to forget." Sam replied quite taken aback by the question. He produced his diary from his chest pocket and found the entry. "Have a read." He offered her the diary.

Ailsa read;

"I killed my first monster today. I would love to write that I won in a heroic fashion but it was a close call. I was scavenging in a few shops when it pounced on me, knocking me to the floor. I didn't even hear it coming. I managed to draw my knife but by this time the thing was already towering over me. Its mouth already sucking in air as it leaned in towards me. I tried to stab it in the head but it was like trying to stab concrete. All those films and TV shows I watched growing up made it look easy when stabbing undead creatures in the head but trying to pierce a skull with a small blade is no easy feat. It took me five attempts to break through the skull and pierce its brain reducing it to a pile of smoking ash. I sprained my wrist in the process. I'm lucky I never broke it. I need to be more careful. She is out there somewhere, I am sure of it. I am no good to her dead."

Ailsa laughed. "I thought the same thing when I killed my first with a knife." She handed him back his diary and he placed it back in his chest pocket. "Your daughter, is that the she?" She asked.

"She is yeah. What was your first kill like?" Sam asked quickly. He wasn't ready to talk about that with her. Not yet anyway.

She got the hint and didn't press on the subject of his daughter.

"It was an arrow straight through the head." She whistled and tapped her head with her finger for effect. "It had just killed a boy I knew."

Sam noticed her voice crack at that last part.

"Were you and the boy...?"

"A thing?" Ailsa finished for him. "I'm not sure. We shared a few kisses and I liked him but I don't know how he felt. It never seemed the right time to bring it up and talk about it with everything going on."

Sam was surprised when he felt a brief pang of jealousy.

"I think in this world we need to try and keep as much of our humanity as possible. If you feel something then accept it and do something about it." Bit preachy, Sam thought after he said it.

He was happy to see that Ailsa was smiling at his words.

"I feel like dancing". She said as she hopped to her feet and pulled Sam to his. He tried to push her off as he mumbled.

"I can't dance" but Ailsa was deaf to his words.

It wasn't a slow song but Ailsa still wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his chest. His heart was beating so fast and hard he was sure she would feel it. He held her firmly not quite sure what to do. It was a strange feeling having the warmth of a woman against him again. Sam was never much of a dancer but he tried his best to sway in time to the music as it played. Ailsa looked up at him and he stared into her eyes, her beautiful hazel eyes.

"There's something about you Sam. I feel safe with you."

She stretched her head closer to his. His mouth was watering, his stomach was in knots. He lowered his head to meet hers. Their lips inches apart, they drew closer, they're breathes mingled but then the song changed to one that Sam knew all too well and he quickly pulled away from her and rushed to turn the music off. He stood with his back to her not daring to turn around and see the hurt on her face.

"It's probably for the best." She snapped at him suddenly.

Sam turned to her and saw that her eyes were glistening. She was holding back tears.

"That song..."

Sam started but whatever that song was he never got to say because at that moment they heard those dreaded rattled breathes quickly followed by a huge smash as one of those monsters crashed through the patio door into the kitchen where Sam and Ailsa were standing. They both reacted instinctively and drew their knife's quickly attacking the creature. Both knifes pierced the creature's simultaneously skull reducing the thing to a pile of ash. More rattled breaths filled the now darkened sky. Sam and Ailsa both tip toed into the garden and saw that a part of the wooden fence had been flattened making easy access for them. The rattled breaths echoed around them and they saw the same horde from the city centre walking past in what could pass for a march into battle. Their eyes glowing in the moon light.

"Back, get back now." Sam urged quietly.

At that moment though a gust of wind blew from behind them and carried their scents to the ever-hunting beasts. The tail end of the host turned their attention towards them and let out a rattled cry.

"RUN!" Sam shouted to Ailsa.

They sprinted back to the house and grabbed their ever ready to leave packs and weapons and headed straight back outside. A few of the things had already made it to the door and one launched a lethal swing to their heads as they exited the house. Ailsa pulled Sam out of the way just in time then Sam turned the thing to ash on his way back out again. They ran to the back of the house where a ten-foot wall lined the garden. Sam sprinted as fast as he could, quickly reaching the wall and kicked one footed to the top of it with amazing agility and landing with ease. He turned in a state of shock to Ailsa who was yet to make it to the wall. She was halfway down the garden with about ten of them behind her quickly closing in. He held out his hand.

"FASTER, COME ON." He called to her. "JUMP!"

He caught her hand mid jump and pulled her straight up and over the other side where she landed with a thump. He then turned to face their hunters. Adrenaline flowed through Sam's body. Was it adrenaline? He felt strong. Stronger than he had ever felt in his entire life, almost invincible. He braced himself as the shrieking monsters leapt towards him intent on feasting on his flesh. Sam forced his knife out in front of him as one leaped straight towards him and he waited. His knife went right through the things head covering him in a coat of ash. Two more landed beside him, one on either side. Sam swung for one but missed and had to duck as it retaliated with a swing of its own. The monster on his other side swung at the same time. Both things stepping as they launched their attacks and caught each other's heads causing instant death to them both.

Sam laughed at his luck as he turned to face the rest of the approaching creatures. Another launched straight at him and Sam fired a kick to its jaw. It back flipped in mid-air and landed back in the garden on its front. Not dead yet. More landed on the wall beside him but were quickly destroyed with a succession of quick fire arrows from Ailsa who was shouting at Sam to move. He jumped down beside her.

"Let's go." He ordered.

They were in an alley way with only one way out. The moonlight shone on the cobbled path. This time Sam didn't run ahead but held back behind Ailsa letting her keep the pace.

"How did you do that?" She panted.

"I have no idea." Sam admitted calmly. His breathing was steady even though they were running for their lives.

The end of the alley was in sight. Sam looked behind and saw that they were still being chased by too many to count and they were gaining.

"You have to run faster." He urged Ailsa on running directly behind her and trying to push her faster.

She picked the pace up but kept losing her footing on the wet cobbles. Their exit was twenty feet in front of them. Fifteen. Ten.

Suddenly a group of people stepped out with guns in hand. Sam leapt on top of Ailsa forcing her to the ground as the group opened fire. Sam could hear the whistling of the bullets as they passed overheard and felt the rush of heated wind they left in their wake. The sound was deafening. This would surely attract more of those things. He could hear the monsters being destroyed behind him, a brief ear-splitting shriek then poof. Nothing but ash. After a while of this the shooting stopped and the armed group rushed towards Sam and Ailsa.

"On your feet." The closest one ordered.

Their face was covered but Sam knew it was a man. Looking around, he was sure they were all men. There were four of them in total with their faces covered. They were tall in height and broad shouldered. Not military, Sam thought. He helped Ailsa to her feet. They gunmen pointed their weapons at them. Shit!

"How'd you get those scars friend?" The bossy one asked with a nasty tone.

"Got in a fight with a cat mate?" Sam said sarcastically. He did not trust these men at all. "I'll show you the cat later after I shit it out." Sam answered back smartly.

His blood was at boiling point and all he wanted to do was rip these men apart. What was happening to him?

"He's been tainted Mark. Shoot him and we'll take the girl." Another said to the one Sam assumed was their leader.

"Don't be hasty Steven. He just had a little pussy trouble. Isn't that right buddy?" Another one of the group said.

"It looks like he hasn't got pussy trouble now though."

Sam stared daringly at the last man who said this. His eyes were locked onto Ailsa eyeing her up and down. Ailsa was wearing her black vest top and the sweat glistened down her cleavage. Sam stepped protective in front of her.

"Thanks for the help boys but we should really be going now." Sam tried to reason with them. "All that noise you were making is sure to attract more of those things." He made to step away.

"Stop" The man called Mark fixed his gun onto Sam's head and smiled. "You're not going anywhere but the girl is coming with us."

"That's not going to happen." Sam shot back immediately. He was really struggling to hold it together as rage built up inside.

Ailsa spoke up behind Sam. "We have food."

She was lying. Sam knew their food was almost gone. He had a few tins of soup left but that was it. To both their surprise, all four men started laughing.

"Stupid girl." Mark spoke up. "You are the food."

Sam didn't think twice, he dove for Mark with remarkable speed and hit him square in the jaw with a tooth shattering punch. He felt teeth crumble at the force. Mark fell to the ground dropping his gun. Sam was quick and pounced on one of the unnamed men next. A kick between the legs with enough power behind it to send him back to his pre-puberty days.

Two down, he thought.

He turned to "eager eyes" who had his gun pointed at Sam. BANG! Sam felt the bullet tear through his left shoulder. He let out a scream and fell to the floor. The man stepped over Sam, the gun targeted at his head.

"Kill him." He heard Mark order but Ailsa jumped onto the man's back and drove her knife into his neck. Blood sprayed out like a fountain as the man went down coughing and sputtering blood everywhere. He was dead before he hit the floor. The last man called Steven stepped up behind Ailsa and cracked her on the back of the head with the butt of his gun knocking her out instantly. He then turned his gun towards Sam who was already on his feet and jumped over the nearest wall calling to Ailsa as he went.

"I'll save you."

It was a promise he wasgoing to keep.