Before you start to read this story, you must understand it maybe a little confusing. This story jumps between time zones a bit regarding before during and the supposed after of the world becoming the walking dead that it is. The story will be told through a variety of items, such as letters, diaries, videos and pictures. I will do my best to be a specific as possible but if you do end up confused and need me to answer any questions, please feel free to message or comment and I will try and get back to you with an answer as soon as possible.
Some helpful notes Bold dates are showing a 'in the now moment.' Doesn't mean it's a current moment, but it's not a note or a diary type date being read by anyone. Italic dates are moments being read by a 'in the now moment' character. Videos don't really have a date but may be mentioned by the person filming. Pictures may have dates on them but not always.
Not all notes and pictures ect have to do with the main characters, I simply like the idea that maybe the main characters find some of what others have left behind.

May 23, 2015
"Hello my fellow Americans. Today makers the 16 month point in the restoration of our world. Although it is not much, and we are still struggling, we take this time to recognize how far we have come. Three years ago our world came to an epic halt. We were torn from our homes, our loved ones, and our way of life. Some of us were forced to do unspeakable things to survive. The memories and moments of struggle will not soon be forgotten. Many of us have lost our friends and family, but they also, will not be forgotten. I understand you questions and concerns, and I ask you to believe me when I say I want nothing more than to give you all the answers you deserve. The truth is however, I don't have them. I, nor anyone else, really knows how or why this terrible event has happened to us. I, as well as what is left of our world's leaders are trying to find the answer. I do not know if this was a fierce act of god, or an angry, twisted, act of terrorism. I must ask, if this is a terrorist act, and if the person or persons who let this happen are alive and hear this, was it worth it? Are you happy now?"
"That was president Obama speaking at the white house. Powerful words he spoke, and I think we can all agree that our loved ones will be missed, and we can only hope that nothing like this will ever happen again. This is Tracy Simmons with your channel 2 news."
"Anything interesting?" A short bald man asked. He wore a lab coat and gloves as he approached another man. "Yeah actually." The other man said, he wore the same attire but was taller and had short black hair.
"What is it Steve?" The bald man asked.
"It's a video recorder…" Steve said. "Some of our out fielders found it in area six."
"Does it have anything on it?" The bald man asked.
"I don't know Tom, there is only one way to find out, grab some double A batteries for me."
Tom walked over to a desk drawer. "How many?" Steve opened the bottom. "Four."
Tom walked over with four double A batteries in hand. "Is there a memory card?" He asked.
"Yeah, there is, I just hope it wasn't damaged." Steve replied while placing the batteries in the camera. Steve then turned on the camera and watched the screen light up. The camera held no pictures, only video, most of which were not very long. Steve selected the first one to pop up.
"Wow this place is huge" A woman's voice said in awe.
"Yeah, mean's there could be walkers hiddin' so stay close." A male voice said.
Whoever was holding the camera turned to the left showing 2 people. One man, who seemed to be slightly taller than the camera person, He had dark hair and a scruffy beard and a dirty tan shirt. He held a gun in his hand as he looked around. On the other side of him was a woman with light brown hair in a loose pony tail. She also had a gun, but had it pointed downward.
"Alright everyone," The bearded man said. "Stay in pairs and stay quiet, don't use your gun unless y'a have too."
"Come on Claire, turn that damn thing off, we got shit to do." The camera turns to the right and looks at a man with a crossbow.
"Oh, right."
The video ends there.
"So it was a group." Tom said.
Steve nodded. "It seems that way." Tom frowned.
"I wonder what happened to them." Steve shrugged.
"Maybe this will tell us."

June 3rd, 2012
Sometimes fate is like a small sandstorm that keeps changing directions. You change direction but the sandstorm chases you. You turn again, but the storm adjusts. Over and over you play this out, like some ominous dance with death just before dawn. Why? Because this storm isn't something that blew in from far away, something that has nothing to do with you. This storm is you. Something inside of you. So all you can do is give in to it, step right inside the storm, closing your eyes and plugging up your ears so the sand doesn't get in, and walk through it, step by step. There's no sun there, no moon, no direction, no sense of time. Just fine white sand swirling up into the sky like pulverized bones. That's the kind of sandstorm you need to imagine.
An you really will have to make it through that violent, metaphysical, symbolic storm. No matter how metaphysical or symbolic it might be, make no mistake about it: it will cut through flesh like a thousand razor blades. People will bleed there, and you will bleed too. Hot, red blood. You'll catch that blood in your hands, your own blood and the blood of others.
And once the storm is over you won't remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won't even be sure, in fact, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm you won't be the same person who walked in. That's what this storm's all about.

Rick awoke in a daze. "Lori? Shane?"
Looking around it was clear no one was around. The room was quiet and the flowers beside him are dead. How strange and unsettling. Rick felt as though the voices he heard were so clear and close, as if they were only just spoken. Getting up from the hospital bed he felt dizzy, his strength weakened from lack of movement. How long had it been? How many days had gone by where he laid in that bed. Opening the door Rick found a bed blocking the door and the hall a mess. He called out hello, but got no response. Where was everyone? What had happened? These were some of the many questions running though his mind.
Stumbling through the halls Rick looked for an exit. Coming to a pair of doors he was startled by the words DEAD INSIDE. What? The question was greeted as a number of hands pushed through the small amount of space between the doors. Ricks nose was filed with the scent of rotting flesh and death. The hands locked color and even some skin. Rick moved away and looked for another exit. What the hell was going on?

Claire Thompson walked calmly through the streets, avoiding any of the undead. This task simple for her because for some unknown reason the streets were quite clear of the undead. From a distance Clair spotted a figure moving. She squinted at it, no not it, him. She gasped as the realization hit her. Quickly she pulled out her camera and turned it on.
"For the first time in days I have come across another human. Not a zombie, and actual person...or at least for now."
She then turned her camera and pressed zoom while following the man wearing what seemed to be a hospital gown. Quietly Claire followed the man down the streets to a house. He called out names. "Lori! Carl!"
Claire frowned wondering who he was looking for...and also why he was dressed in a hospital gown. The man soon moved out of the house and sat on the sidewalk with his head in his hands. Putting her camera away Claire made her presence known. "Sir?"
She said causing him to turn around and look at her. A groan then moved both their attention away to a zombie. Before Claire could react a boy came out of nowhere and hit the man in the head. Claire jumped. "Oh! Why did you do that!"
The kid didn't answer her but screamed for his father who came running.

"I and a few of the others are going on a run, do you need anything?"Dan Patwood asked his wife Lisa. She shook her head no.
"Nothing in particular."
Dan nodded and kissed his wife's head. "I'll be back soon."
Lisa did not respond but simply nodded her head. Dan walked over to Glenn and the others.
"Alright let's go." They all hopped into a van and drove off down the road and into the city.
"How's she doin?" T-dog asked. Dan sighed. "Better, but you know…" T-dog nodded and patted Dan's shoulder.

"Glad you're doing better." Claire said with a small smile. Rick nodded.
"What is going on, what happened?" Claire's smile fell. "You don't know?"
Claire brought her hand to her face. He was in the hospital… he must have been in a coma or something. "I'll tell you what happened."
Morgan said coming into the room. "The world went to shit."
Rick face still held a look of confusion. Claire cleared her throat. "The answer to your question is not an easy one. The simplest way to explain it, although it's hard to believe, is that, well Zombies are walking among us."
Morgan scoffed. "Zombies…it feels stupid just saying that, I call'em walkers." Rick gave a dry laugh.
"That's not possible." Claire shrugged. "Yeah well…something happened and a lot of people died, unfortunately they didn't stay that way. It's a lot to process I know, take your time."
Duane, Morgan's son came in the room with some food. "It's been a long time since we've seen anyone alive." Duane nodded. "Me too." Rick put his head in his hands. "Lori…Carl." Claire frowned.
"Who are they?"
"My wife and son."

Notes
Alright I know its not much to go on, but I promise it will get better as it goes..at least I hope it will. Please comment to let me know what you think so far thank you. :)