A/N: Hello again! IloveDiannaAgron thank you for reviewing! And thanks to you guys who followed! I hope everyone enjoys this chapter, it is a flashback that takes place the day of the outbreak. I wanted to put this up tonight because I'll be going on a vacation tomorrow. Reviews are appreciated; feel free to critique it too! Tell me more of what it is you want to see! Maybe what characters you want to see specifically in this story too? Everything in Bold is people speaking and Rachel's thoughts as again for reading!
RRRRRRQQQQQQQRRRRRRRRQQQQQQ
*FLASH BACK*
The loud pounding on her front door was becoming more frantic by the second.
"Does no one have the courtesy to use a door bell anymore?" she thought to herself. Honestly, she was just trying to enjoy her sleep and get the required 8 hours in. Nevertheless she was not going to stoop to their level and be so rude as to ignore the door. Throwing her covers off very unceremoniously and letting her feet sink into her soft carpet she was about to stand up when – The door burst open, and if this moment wasn't so terrifying Rachel might have even been quite impressed with the emotionally filled dramatic moment, but alas she did what any normal person would do in such an intense moment. She started swinging, hitting something soft and earning herself a loud groan. She swung again as the tall figure, clearly male, fell to the ground hitting him once more in the back before stepping back. Breathing heavily she swept the stray dark brown locks away from her face and took a few steps back, letting her death grip on the bat loosen and only gripping it with one hand. She pointed it at the figure still groaning on the ground.
"You have clearly chosen the wrong home to perform such a heinous act such as breaking and entering. Now, I will be calling the authorities and I believe it is in both of our best interests if you are to remain where you are as I do not wish to have to inflict more damage to your body. As I'm sure you are unaware I do not condone physical violence, however I think that we both can agree that, in this instance, it was vital that these actions were taken. I'm truly sorry if I have inflicted permanent damage on you but perhaps this will open your eyes and make you realize a life of crime really isn't worth living. In fact-" Her long winded rant was cut off when another body flew through her doorway almost tripping over the body still groaning on the floor but managed to stumble and remain upright, putting said body right in Rachel's personal space."Quinn! H-hi!" She felt as her face turned crimson. Quinn cocked her infamous eyebrow and let a small smirk caress her face for a mere second before it looked as if it was slapped off."Why did you hit Finn?" That was like a bucket of cold water all on it's own.
Finn? Oh yes the body on the ground."Finn?! Oh my gosh Finn I'm so sorry-" Finn, finally catching his breath sat up with the help of Rachel and Quinn, and cut her off."Why did you hit me? I was trying to save you! You wouldn't answer your phone and when I knocked on your door you didn't answer so I got worried. Look it doesn't matter, we have to go. Pack your stuff babe." He began tugging on her hand only to be met with resistance. Rachel was not having any of this. She was tired, clearly already feeling the effect of not having her full eight hours. She was not going anywhere until her questions were answered."I demand you tell me what on earth you are doing here at..." she glanced over at her alarm clock and... "five o'clock in the morning! That is an entire hour before my alarm is supposed to go off. Do you have any idea how important it is to have a full nights rest? It can have negative effects on your body. You two shouldn't be up at this hour either! Speaking of which why are you two here?! Finn you can't just come barging into someones home and not expect to be met with hostility. And Quinn," she turns only slightly to find that Quinn has stepped back to a reasonable, much friendlier, distance, "I have no clue why you're even here! Our friendship has always been strained and you have yet again rejected my proposition of a friendship not even a week from this moment. What is all of this nonsense of having to 'save me'?"
At this point Finn was rubbing at his back looking somewhat constipated as he processed all of the questions just thrown at them. Quinn however looked down right pissed off and, "Wait is that hurt in her eyes?"Rachel thought. As if sensing that she may have let a wall slip for a moment it shot right back up. Finn was about to open his mouth when Quinn stepped forward pocking Rachel in the chest, staring down at her with a fierce glare."Look here Manhands, as much as I hate to admit it, everyone from Glee club actually cares about you and your ridiculous sense of fashion." She took a moment to let her eyes rake down Rachel's body taking in her short silk sleep shorts that were soshort, and her tight tank top that hugged her body in all the right ways. Quinn's face reddened once she finished her leering and Rachel internally smirked. Rachel thanked fate that she had forgotten to do her laundry so this was her only sleep wear available. Quinn cleared her throat seemingly clearing her mind, " Pack your shit, we have to leave now." "You don't tell me-" she tried to say but was interrupted for the secondtime that morning.
"Do you want to die Berry?" "Umm how dare you threaten me in my own hom-" "Answer the fucking question Berry!"
"Stop yelling at me!" "Rachel," "Finn I don't understand what's going on. Why should I pack? My fathers will be returning from Atlanta tomorrow, whatever little adventure that you and the rest of the Glee club have planned, that has clearly taxed your minds, I can't go. I'm sorry but you both need to leave." "If you stay here you'll die Rach."
"What?"
"The world's ending, Berry." Quinn walked over to where Rachel's television was and flipped it on. The screen immediately lit up with all kinds of banners and warnings. The news anchor looked sweaty and nervous. He was saying things that weren't making sense. People with inhuman strength and speed. Ripping people apart just because or drinking their blood. Some returning to life afterward, except not quite living. "If you stay here those sick things will either kill you or turn you into a monster like them. None of us want that so please pack so we can leave. Please Rachel."Her eyes had softened considerably, pleading to Rachel to stop arguing. Rachel's nod was so tiny that if Quinn had blinked, she would have missed it. Quinn stopped and turned once she was standing underneath the door frame, latching onto Rachel's eyes once more before turning and making her way downstairs. Leaving Rachel standing in her room at a loss for words the second time in under a week. Finn was already in her closet throwing clothes into a pink duffel bag, zipping and grabbing the second bag to repeat the action. Finn finished packing, proud that he knew her well enough to know that these clothes were her most comfortable clothes when the occasion didn't call for a skirt. As he turned her noticed her frozen in the same place that she had been since she started her rant. She looked paler by the second, and the small pink baseball bat finally slipped from her grip with the softest of thuds, being muffled by the carpet. He took only a few long, fast strides towards her, setting the duffel bags down next to them, and put both of his hands on her shoulders while bending to make eye contact.
Quinn's red Volkswagen beetle was parked in her front lawn diagonally. If the circumstances were different Rachel would have been outraged, and possibly (most definitely) have stomped her foot. However she took this moment to observe her surroundings and was shocked at what she saw. Her normally peaceful neighborhood was...well not so peaceful. Cars were flying down her street, no doubt heading towards downtown to the stores. People were crying and screaming. A mother was loading her son into her car, with tears rushing down her face, while her husband stood nearby sweating profusely and looking noticeably pale. He had marks on his neck and looked to be covered in dust. She wrapped her arms around him and slid them away from his neck to his cheeks, locking eyes with him for the last time. She finally removed herself from the man and ran to the drivers side of the car, starting it and backing out of her driveway, not once looking back at her husband. While Finn was distracted with trying to cram the bags into the backseat, while also making room for Rachel, and Quinn staring at Rachel in wonderment, no one seemed to notice the man retrieve a revolver from his back pocket. No one but Rachel. She surged forward just as he was putting the gun to his head, but was engulfed by strong arms that swung her around facing the opposite direction, just before the gun rang out.
Rachel felt the body of the strong arms breathing start to even out, even as her own frantically searched for air that seemed to avoid her like the plague. There was soothing circles being rubbed into her back. When they pulled away Quinn's arms reached up to cup her face and stare into her eyes. "It's intimate."Rachel thought, and Quinn's eyes held concern but also pain. She had to witness what Rachel knew was the man's last moments. There was a tugging at her hand that still lay limp next to her body, but the comfort felt off. It wasn't warm and inviting like Quinn's, it was suffocating. "Let's go babe." Finn said, clearly growing frustrated at the length it was taking them to leave. The sooner they left the better, this was no longer her home and Rachel knew that now.
She climbed into the backseat and then Finn took his place in the passenger seat up front. The car speeding off before either had a chance to put their seat belts on. Finn produced a 12 gauge semi automatic shotgun from seemingly nowhere while Rachel observed Quinn roll her eyes.
"Put that down Gigantor before you actually hurt someone." Quinn spat, clearly annoyed by his actions.
"It's for protection. I have to keep everyone safe from those things."
"Have you been watching the news or are you just plain stupid? Actually, I don't care. If you think you're going to be able to stop them if they attack us by surprise then we really are doomed."
"What's your problem?! I'm doing what has to be done!"
"My PROBLEM is with big Man-children who think they know everything when really the only thing they're good at is being obscenely large and uncoordinated!"
They continued to argue back and forth and Rachel really was trying to be the rational one and keep a clear mind. They were just leaving a main road when Rachel snapped. "ENOUGH! You both are acting like children fighting over a toy! We need to remain focused and figure out where it is exactly that we are headed. We need a plan and although this one will have to lack color coding and the amazing software that is Power Point, I believe that we can still come up with a fool proof plan." Rachel was met with silence. Finn and Quinn both shared an amused smile, clearly happy that even though Rachel was upset, she was still Rachel. Quinn looked at Rachel through the rear view mirror and flashed her pearly whites.
Not taking her eyes off of Rachel she began, "She's right; once we meet up with the others we'll have to come up with something." Quinn looked back to the road. Confusion climbed onto Rachel's face however.
"Excuse me, but what 'others' are you referring to?"
"The rest of Glee, some of their families too. Plus Mr. Schue and Ms. P."
"They're waiting for us?" Rachel couldn't hide the fact that she was a little more than happy that the club actually cared, although Quinn stated it earlier Rachel had simply brushed it off as a coherence method she was using to get her to come along without resistance.
"Yeah, I texted you and told you to meet us there but you didn't show up so when we called you didn't answer so we started to worry." Rachel didn't question the 'we' that Finn continued to use, assuming that it was only him who was worried about her. "We were gonna come in my truck but it was too full. Quinn's car was the least full and she-" "I didn't want this child wrecking my car with his oafish hands."
"Anyways, they're up here a few miles waiting until we get back. The news said we're safer in numbers." "Probably because those things only want one or two people. Then the rest can scurry off while they're too focused to notice."
Quinn's face expressed love, although Rachel chose to avoid noticing that, as she continued staring at Rachel, not focusing on the road ahead, or more importantly what had just jumped into the road ahead. "Everything is going to be fi-"The figure had reached only it's arm out but the car crumpled around the arm in question.
People say everything slows down in those moments that change your life forever, maybe Rachel was different because her world seemed to speed up. Her body lurched forward and the feeling of her head making contact with the seat in front of her was barely registered before she felt her head slamming against the solid window. The beetle flipped forward so she was uncertain if the window broke while they were in midair or if the force from it landing on its top was the cause.
The car was smoky and she could feel the burning start in her lungs, immediately looking to see if anyone was still alive. "QUINN!? FINN!?" Her head was throbbing but her body felt fine. Sore, but fine. She heard a soft thud and mumbling that sounded an awful lot like curse words, but she couldn't be certain. The door on the drivers side was quite literally sipped off and she heard Quinn yelling."GET THE FUCK OFF OF ME! LET GO!" Quinn sounded more frightened than angry though. A moment later the passenger door was, much like the drivers, ripped off and the seat in front of her was ripped out.
"Wait, stop, please don't hurt me! Please God no, don't-please..."Finn was pleading, and from what she could gather she was next to be pulled out carelessly. Rachel didn't see the point in such force when she was more than willing to go without resistance. She knew that she was in shock, because there is no way that she wouldn't be freaking out if she wasn't. She felt an arm reach in and tear off her seat belt, when it grabbed her though, it was gentle. No aggression like she was expecting.
The light seemed blinding, but the fresh air started to work it's way into her lungs, finally clearing her head. She was pushed into Finn's arms by the arm that had 'rescued' her. Finn held her protectively, turning her body just slightly so his was more in front. Rachel finally looked around, taking in their surroundings. The car was on it's top and it was slowly catching fire, while the man that was their rescuer, and object of collision, walked towards a woman would stood only a couple inches taller than Quinn. The man was about 6'1 and had skin that was a beautiful ebony color. His head was bald but he sported a neatly trimmed goatee with wisps of gray hair littered throughout it. He wore a simple light gray button up undershirt, and black form fitting dress pants. He lacked shoes as his feet padded through a mixture of what looked like blood and gasoline. He clearly came from money but for his occupation, Rachel hadn't the slightest clue.
"You're bleeding." Rachel jumped slightly at the quiet interruption Finn had made. Finn had some scratches on his arms and face, but his concern for her stood out more.
"I feel fine..." She trailed off, fingers caressing her head only to come back with blood. "Is it bad?"
Finn reached down and examined it closely, shaking his head "I think there's some glass in there though."
"Quinn." Rachel thought, looking for her but catching the pile of blood the man had stepped in, eyes refusing to pull away from the sight. "Finn, that's too much blood..."
"Well hello dear! That is quite the observation you've made. It appears that my college here just can't push away his need to help people even though he's no longer a doctor."
Rachel's eyes had immediately snapped up once the woman had began speaking. Her British accent and sickly animated excitement wasn't the only reason she stuck out. No, Rachel had seen this woman before and she knew for a fact that Quinn had as well. She had recently been at one of the games claiming to be scouting Quinn for cheer leading. This woman had fierce red hair that looked similar to the flames encroaching Quinn's once blemish-free car. Her smile was wicked and the fangs she was sporting looked as though they could tear you apart and still remain in all their bright white glory. She was so pale too, like a statue that you'd see at a museum.
"Quinn and I have some business that we have to attend to, so if you and your friend could leave now that would be terrific." She stated, more as a command than anything.
Rachel felt Finn tighten his grip around her while she took the time to observe Quinn lying on the ground clutching forcefully at her side. Blood was dripping from her lower left side and there was a gloss of sweat that was gracing her features. Her eyes looked frantic while her hair was matted on her left side where it had undoubtedly slammed into her window as well. Her hazel eyes were bloodshot, and her right one looked to have a blood vessel that had burst. Quinn's eyes focused on Rachel, pleading with her to do something, anything. She looked so small in that moment, Rachel thought. Like a wild animal that was backed against a wall, not understanding what would happen next.
"Please let her go, she's done nothing to you!" Rachel hear her voice crack at the ending.
This cracked the cool posterior that the red headed woman had been holding. She turned and within mere seconds was in Rachel's face. Finn turning Rachel a little more behind him although he was shaking. The fierce woman developed a sinister grin and huffed out a humorless laugh. Turning her head down and to the side silently laughing before straightening her face and piercing Rachel with dark, soulless eyes. "You have exactly one minute to leave before I kill you. It's simple Rachel Berry, you need to remove yourself from this situation before I remove you and Finn Hudson. The choice is yours." And with that, the soulless eyed female trekked back to Quinn speaking lowly and garnering Quinn's attention.
Whatever she had said clearly had an effect on Quinn because the already pale woman turned impossibly paler, and refocused her eyes on Rachel and Finn. But Rachel stared back with resigned eyes that were filling with tears. She had made her choice, it was written on her face. "Come on Finn." She tugged on the boy who looked torn between Rachel and helping his injured ex. With one last glance at Quinn who was now staring hard at the ground he limped after Rachel, continuing to glance behind them just in case they were followed.
Leaving everything they had packed behind, it all being too damaged by the crash and flames to be usable anyways, they were just turning a corner the air was filled with blood curdling screams, stopping them both in their tracks. Tears were still falling from Rachel's eyes while Finn's, too, began to fall. Rachel felt as if she was paralyzed but Finn clasped her hand and practically dragged her for the second time that day away from something that would remain in her past forever. Or so she thought.QQQQQRRRRRRRRRQQQQQQQQRRRRRRR
A/N2: Hope you enjoyed, quick side note - I have no idea if cheerleaders get scouted. I was never a cheerleader, I only dated one.
A/N3: I'll be writing this from Quinn's point of view eventually as well.