Since the dawn of time supernatural creatures have lived among us. For generations people have been taught to cower away from the dark, to always stay in the light, to fear the monsters who lurk in the shadows. They were wrong. The real monsters roam in the daylight, strolling in the sun. Daywalkers. They have taken over the world, most of us have been killed or have died by now. 

For the last ten years there have been few of us left in the world; those who've survived taking shelter in the cold crumbly corners of abandoned buildings and homes. Now everyone's gone. 

I have searched nearly every crevice and corner of the world, admittedly taking a long time, mostly on foot; no sign of anyone. I've survived on my own for years, sheltering in secret, hiding in the shadows, alone in the world. 

I am the Last She, and this is my story.

I am woken by flashing lights, sirens, explosions and screams. They're here. They've come. I can hear mother shouting at father and Brady from the basement. As the sirens begin to drown out the sound of panic that echoes around the house, I sprint around my bedroom, in an attempt of packing a small suitcase.

Mother bursts into the room, a grim expression on her face. "Laika, we need to leave. Now."

"I know," I reply, "I just...I can't leave without taking something with me. To remember home."

"I know, baby." She smiles comfortingly as I look into her eyes, where I can sense a warm glow. "But we have to leave. Or there won't be anyone or anything left to remember!" She places her hands, smooth as silk onto my cheeks and plants a gentle kiss on top of my head. With that she turns to walk out the door, her hair, black as coal, follows behind her, blowing gently in the cool draft that comes from my bedroom window. 

At that moment Brady bursts through the door. His short chestnut hair ruffled, my bedroom light casting his tall lanky shadow across the walls. He looks confused, as though he had just woken from a peaceful slumber that had lasted all night. Everyone knew that wasn't true: how could it be? How could anyone possible sleep at a time like this?

"Hey. You ok?" He asks, with an edge of concerned grimness. 

"Yes, I'm fine," I reply. "I guess I could never fully imagine what it would be like to have to leave home. For good. Especially not for this reason"

"I know. But everything will be fine. I promise. We just need to make it to safety first." He stares at me with supportive eyes, as deep as the ocean, as blue as the sky. 

My mind wanders for a moment. Thinking. Thinking about the feeling of safety as we finally find shelter, as we finally come to rest in peace. The whole community would be there by our sides and we would all stand as one. Stronger than we are now. Stronger than we've ever been. Stronger than we ever could imagine. 

As I snap back to reality, I think about my brother. "What about you? How are you dealing, you know, with it being your birthday tomorrow and everything?"

"I'm okay. Not exactly how I was hoping to spend my 18th birthday. I guess I'm just glad to be a year older than you! I'm surprised you're not still recovering from your 17th birthday party the other week!"

I can tell he's lying about how he feels. He never makes jokes; Brady is the serious one of the family. He probably doesn't want to show me that he's hurt in fear of breaking my heart. He's always been caring like that, always putting others before himself. 

"Come on, Brads. You can talk to me. Anything you wa-"

I'm interrupted mid sentence by a loud boom that echoes through the house, and the ground beneath me begins to shake. We look at other, startled, with every sense of panic plastered over our faces.

We leave the bedroom and join our parents downstairs, who are already halfway out the front door, which had been blown off its hinges by the impact of the explosion. They lead the way; down the garden, past the square. 

We nearly make it to the border, when I hear gunshots. The noise rings in my ears, momentarily disabling my sense of hearing. Mother begins to trail behind. As I turn to look at her, she collapses to the ground, clutching her side. 

I sprint back towards her, hot steamy tears falling down my cheeks, my screams carrying for miles and my breathlessness taking over my body. Kneeling beside her on the floor, I lay her head on my lap. I run my thumb over her cheek, clearing the stray strands of hair from her face. The life from her eyes drains quickly and the colour in the cheeks slowly fades. 

"Please don't leave me. Not now. Not yet." I whisper to her, holding her tighter than ever, fearing the moment I'll have to let go forever. 

"You'll be fine. Promise me that. You'll be strong. For me. Just be brave. Just promise...to be...brave."

She struggles to form the last word. Brave. As I think of the meaning of the word, I bite my lip, nodding my head to assure her I'll be strong. She smiles, her eyes close and her body falls limp.

I turn to look at my remaining family members. "She's gone!" I cry. 

 My cold sweat drips down my face, leaving me lying on the ground wide awake, drenched in water, soaking wet. The memories from my dream fade quickly and I return to reality. Mundane reality. Silent reality. Lonely reality. It may have only been a dream but it felt so real; as if I was there all over again. Stood in the middle of a war zone, bullets being fired at loved ones left, right and centre. But no. Now I'm alone. Now I'm here, in a crumbling crusty building, hidden from daylight. Hidden from them; the Daywalkers. It's their fault that everyone's gone. That's one thing I know, or at least, think I know. But how ? Why ? How did they get here ? Why do they have such a strong thirst for human blood ?