Rachel was awoken on a ice-cold September evening in her New York apartment by her long term boyfriend, Noah. As she sat up dazed and half-asleep, she noticed his expression wasn't the normal one he wore, which was casual and easy going with an occasional smirk, it was a mix of concern and anxiety. Something was seriously wrong.
"Noah, it's 3.15 in the morning! I've got a rehearsal tomorrow, is it really necessary for me to be awake right now!" She looked awya from observing her alarm clock, to make out in the darkness him turning on their television in the corner of the room, and immediately tuning it in to the local news station. Rachel was becoming more apprehensive by the second. "Will you please explaing to me what's happening?" Rachel demanded as she sat on the edge of their shared bed, the remote clutched in his hands as he stared at the unfolding events on the TV.
"Shh Rachel.. Just watch it." Puck whispered quietly, paying close attention to the television.
Rachel glanced towards the TV, to discover a news reporter standing nearby what seemed like a crowded train station, who was being bustled about by many other frantic people rushing to get inside. Screams of dread and cries of suffering echoed in the background, but Rachel tried to block them out.
"..The actual amount of estimated deaths is uncertain at this current moment, we're still awaiting an official police report.." Rachel stared at the television, shock racing through her tiny body. "..There is no actual explanation as to what this is, or who has caused it, but one thing is for certain, it's not stopping soon."
Puck stood up and began to tear clothes out of his and Rachel's wardrobe, stuffing them into the nearest bags and suitcases. "Police officers have confirmed that NYC is now infected with the Virus, they advise everyone to remain indoors and keep their windows and doors locked, keep their curtains closed, and to not venture outside unless completely urgent."
Puck muttered to himself words Rachel wouldn't normally let him use, but right now he didn't care. He had to get himself and Rachel out of New York. Yeah, he knew Rachel would spout some crap about the fact she has a Broadway show to perform the next night, but that didn't matter anymore.
As he zipped up their suitcases and dumped them on the hard wooden floor, Rachel looked up at him, wariness and panic taking over her eyes. "Noah, didn't you hear what they said? We can't leave here! Its not safe! We should stay here, until somebody comes to help us!"
"Help? Help? The entire city, or possibly the world is screwed, nobody is coming to help us anytime soon." He hated speaking to her like this, but she had to take notice to what he was explaining. "Look Rach, this place isn't safe anymore. We've gotta get out of here, leave New York."
She tried to plead with him, but he wouldn't budge on his decision. "Pack things you need, nothing too heavy." He left the room then, dragging the suitcases along with him.
A virus? A life-threatening virus? Rachel couldn't process all of this information at once, and she hoped it was just a vivid dream, one that she'd soon wake up from and tell Noah how terrifying it was. That satisfying moment never came, though. It was now a never-ending nightmare, one Rachel wished she could escape.
Puck was taking knives and other weapons out from cupboards, placing them inside his coat pockets. He had to admit, the idea of sticking a knife in someone's head was pretty gross, but he'd do it to protect Rachel. He'd kill anything who tried to harm her, living or dead. "Are you gonna take much longer Rach? Its best for us to leave now, before things get anymore crazy."
"Yes, Noah I'm here.." Rachel stumbled into the kitchen with a small bag over her shoulder, soon stopping whatever she was about to say as she noticed him examining a sharp knife before sticking it inside his pocket. "W-What are you going to do with that? Put that back!"
"Oh, just going to make us a sandwich. Do you want cheese on yours?" He smirked at her hostile expression then continued talking. "No, I'm not gonna put it back. We need protection. Do you think I'm just gonna let us both go out there without any? You're crazy Rach. Now, which one do you want to use?" Puck pointed to a small variety of weapons that were strewn across the counter top.
Rachel then began to rant about how killing anyone isn't right, even if that person is dead. In the end, she decided to select a small pocket knife, but vowed never to use it against anybody.
As they left the apartment, preparing to face whatever lied ahead of them, they heard the screaming voice of the news reporter before they got cut off, or eaten by whatever lurked outside. Dying words faded off into nothingess. "Nobody is safe. Nobody."
Time seemed to pass by so quickly, Rachel had no idea where she was until she found herself sticking a knife into someone's chest, breaking down instantaneously into floods of tears, before Puck stopped her attracting any attention from their position behind a coach. So far, they hadn't been noticed by too many of those 'things'.
They didn't speak much, apart from whispers of where they should move to next. Puck was trying to keep her away from the procedure of killing, but when he was against the infected, he begged her to help him. She did what she vowed she wouldn't do. Kill someone.
It had a massive effect on her, and resulted in her being unable to stop crying when she watched the now lifeless body slump to the ground along with the other two Puck had killed himself. Rachel glanced around the once bursting with life New York streets, terror pulsing through her. People ran, screaming, only to be pulled back into the vicious arms of those who intended to take life from them. They arose soon enough though, but not as the person they were. No, they were killing monsters. Just like their murderers.
The small girl was beginning to calm down when they entered a place which was deemed "The Safe Zone" by the government. It seemed safe, as the military guarded all of the enterances and exits, carrying large harmful weapons. After an endless wait with Puck constantly scanning the crowd for who or what Rachel didn't know, they got aboard a train, the destination nobody knew. But everyone had the same intention. To leave New York and never return.
She sat down, with Puck tightly crammed in beside her, and decided to check her phone. Rachel was surprised to see a voice message from none other than Santana Lopez.
"Rachel? Rachel? Can you hear me? Oh, you can now. Sorry, its me, Santana. I don't know if you're even alive, but if you are, I wanted to see if everything was fine. I seen.. Everything that's been happening in New York. I'm really worried about you, Rach.." Rachel carried on listening to Santana ramble endlessly as she watched Puck doze in and out of sleep, keeping a tight grip on the blood-filled knife in his hand. Even now, he wouldn't let go of that knife.
"Anyway, I just wanted to know whether you would want to come back to Ohio to stay with me and Britt. Its safe here according to the news, and I wouldn't want you to be out there without any place to stay.." Rachel had to admit, their relationship had certainly improved since high school. In fact, they were kind of friends. Best friends. She liked Santana, and believed going to stay with her wouldn't be all too bad. They wouldn't be alone then. It was alot better than being out in the open, available to see from miles away.
"..Sorry for talking for so long, but if you do get this message, please reply to me. Even if you don't want to stay, I just.. Want to know you're safe, okay? Goodbye and I.. I miss you." The message then cut off, and Rachel began to type her reply to Santana.
Sending the message, the brunette informed Santana that she'd certainly try to come back to Ohio, and she'd call as soon as possible. Putting her phone back in her pocket, her eyes fluttered shut, soon falling into a deep sleep.