A/N: So this chapter should start to explain how on earth everything got to where it is in chapter 1. This is 48 hours earlier from the events in ch.1. But I think it might take another two chapters to catch up to the present, and then we get to see what happens to Steve, Claire and the rest of the survivors. Hooray! Took some liberties with some characters... (Well, this is an AU!) But hopefully they're all still in character.
Effects of the Virus Chapter 2 – So This Is How It Starts
48 HOURS EARLIER...
Spring had been slow in coming, but finally the bright sunlight of a clear spring morning touched the little town. It wasn't particularly warm, with a fresh breeze keeping the temperature low, but there was barely a cloud in the sky. The sunlight streamed through Claire's bedroom window and she stirred at the brightness of her room even through the curtains. A quick glance at the clock beside her confirmed that she had woken up before the alarm again. The young woman groaned as she sat up and the quilt slid off her torso, revealing a slim but toned body in a red tank top. She yawned as she made her way slowly to the kitchen. There was a note attached to the fridge:
'Claire, I'm so sorry, but the Captain has called me in. I tried to tell him I had plans but he said Jill would have to go it alone if I didn't help her out today. (You know what she's like- she's swamped already.) I'll try to be back before dinner tonight, but I might be late so don't wait up for me. Sorry again little sister, Chris x'
The two siblings lived together in a small house that had been left to them when their parents had died. Chris was a key member of the police force in Rockfort City, so he spent alot of time at work. This inevitably left Claire alone quite often, but she was an independent woman anyway and she never minded. Rockfort city was only a quick main road away from the small town where they lived, so she sometimes met him there for lunch. She couldn't begrudge Chris being called in when it was Jill who needed help. Jill and Chris had been partners ever since they'd both joined the police and had fallen in love not too long after.
Claire yawned again and leaned her back against the counter next to the fridge. Seeing as Chris had changed her plans for the day she was free to do what she liked. It was one of her rare days off in the week that she intended to spend watching movies and eating snack with her big brother. During the week Claire spent her time tending to the animals at the local farm, about halfway between the town and the city. She technically worked at the Raccoon Vets Practice, but she mostly dealt with house calls and the farm animals since her employer was too old to get around as easily as herself. She enjoyed her job. She was strong willed and confident, coming together in an intense stubbornness and belief in her own ability. Claire was quick to anger, but she could count on one hand the amount of times she had cried in her life. The strength of spirit she possessed could put people off getting close to her, and was the main reason she couldn't keep a steady relationship. But she could relax and be herself around those willing to put the effort into getting close to her.
The sound of the toaster popping up startled the young woman out of her reflection. She picked the toast out and dropped them on a nearby plate quickly, shaking her hot fingers to cool them down. At least when she had a day off with Chris she could make sure he ate breakfast, rather than the cup of vending machine coffee he would normally have at work. He was always reminded of their mother when Claire would criticise his meal choices, since his job left him with little time for much more than fast food takeaways on his way home. Occasionally visiting her brother in the city on his lunch breaks was the only way she could ensure he had a decent meal every once in a while.
Claire chuckled to herself at the thought. She and Chris had always been opposites; her brother was always the one everyone went to for advice, he was brave and wouldn't let anyone down. She herself was nothing like that. Everyone looked up to Chris. Especially her. He'd always been her reliable older brother, and practically raised her when their parents died. She was glad of Jill too, being there for Chris when he needed support. Suddenly struck with a rush of affection for her brother and his girlfriend, the young woman realised what she was going to do on her day off.
The mobile phone dug into Claire's cheek as she wedged it between her head and shoulder. The dial tone droned on while she used her hands to do the laces on her walking boots, and she pushed away some stray red hair that had fallen onto her face.
"Hey Claire, what's up?" A cheerful voice answered and Claire smiled.
"The usual, wondering how life functions when not at work. You know how it is." Claire joked. Rebecca Chambers was her oldest friend. They had met when they were children at school, and even though Rebecca had been shy and studious while Claire was adventurous and loud, they had bonded over their love of a certain TV show on at the time and had grown closer ever since.
"You work too hard." Rebecca rebuked good naturedly.
"Says the one who's idea of a day off is going to the library to study. I swear your patients must think you live at that hospital." Claire rolled her eyes, despite knowing her friend couldn't see, but the smile was in her voice. A tinkling laugh was the reply from the other end. It was Rebecca's dedicated approach to study and working that had ultimately inspired her to work harder at her own job and become a vetinary nurse. "Anyway, I was wondering if you wanted to head into the city with me before your shift. We could get some lunch at Spencer's Cafe and take a sandwich to Chris and Jill before we head back?"
"You know I can't resist a cafe lunch Claire! You got me. As long as we're back by three I'd love to." Rebecca replied. Claire was about to reply and let her know she'd pick her up, but heard a loud thumping noise through her mobile. "Oh, hold on. Someone is banging on my door. One second." Her voice held a hint of irritation as the banging rose in volume and tempo. Claire listened to the sound of her friend's footsteps, the door being unlocked and then a yelp of pain.
"Rebecca?" She clutched the phone. "Rebecca!" She repeated with more urgency. There was more footsteps and then the phone disconnected. For a few heartbeats Claire simply stood with her mobile still pressed onto her ear. She could feel the plastic digging into her hand. The silence of the room felt like a vacuum, sucking the sound from the world. What had happened? What- Her thoughts were running faster than she could keep track with and so many different scenarios ran through her mind, nearly all of them ending with her best friend desperately needing her help. Claire shoved her phone in her pocket with force and grabbed her house keys from the kitchen table, pushing them into the same pocket. She glanced at her car keys but shook her head as she dashed out of the house. There wasn't time to get the car, it was faster to run; there houses were only a couple of streets away and there was a public footpath that ran almost straight between their streets. They'd made great use of that as children. Claire gritted her teeth. She couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to her gentle friend. There was a scream in the distance and the sound of gunshots. What on earth was happening?
Not lingering on the rising sense of foreboding darkening her thoughts, Claire slowed as she neared the house. Still there were sounds of yelling and more gunshots and she looked around a street she barely recognised. People were running in all directions and cars speeding off the drive. She pushed away the dread and continued to Rebecca's small house. The door was wide open and Claire paused in the doorway. There was paper all over the hallway where a little table had fallen. A black mobile phone was smashed amongst the pages. She stepped inside carefully and felt her breath hitch as she spotted the crimson dotted on the white paper. Blood.
"Rebecca!" Claire yelled, throwing caution away. She moved into the lounge and froze. There was blood pooling on the floor around the head of what appeared to be a man at first glance. She moved closer, being driven by horror. What was on the floor in front of her could only be described as having once been a man. His face was torn open on one side, drying blood smeared across across his cheek and mouth and scabs stretched across various wounds on what was visible of his skin. The top of his skull was an odd shape, and blood was pouring out of a deep hole there. There was no explanation for what she was seeing. She wasn't squeamish, but it was horrifying to look upon a body so mutilated and, and somehow wrong. Taking a deep breath she stepped around the monstrosity and was about to continue into the kitchen when she heard a whimper to the left.
Rebecca Chambers had crawled into the narrow space between her settee and the wall. She had drawn he knees up against her body, as if she was pushed as far into the corner as she was physically able. A particularly loud gunshot sounded outside and she flinched visibly. There were spots of blood on her white t-shirt and a little in her cropped hair. She clutched a small bottle in her hands, arms wrapped around her drawn up legs, and her knuckles were white with her grip. Claire crouched down slowly, and spoke softly.
"Rebecca?" She struggled to keep her voice steady, but knew she had to stay calm for her friend. She had to be as brave as Chris would be. For a moment the only sounds were the ever present noises of panic from outside. Finally she looked up into Claire's eyes.
"I opened the door..." At first she spoke hesitantly, but the shock faded as she spoke to someone familiar and safe. "He... He lunged at me. I s-stumbled and dropped my phone. He just kept coming, and there was blood all over him." She lifted up the bottle in her hand. "I always keep pepper spray in the lounge. So I pushed him away and sprayed it. He fell backwards and his head hit the shelf. I didn't mean to k-kill him!" Rebecca finished speaking and Claire realised she hadn't seen the body since he'd stopped moving. That was no person, and he certainly hadn't been killed by her. There was no telling what would have happened if she hadn't pushed him. There was only one woman in the whole town who would keep pepper spray in her lounge, but her paranoia had probably saved her life.
"You didn't kill him, okay? Whatever he was, it wasn't human. I know it sounds strange, but something horrible is happening." Claire stood up and held out her hand. "We need to move and get out of here." An explosion from nearby added emphasis to her words and she helped Rebecca up. They both made their way to the door with Claire making sure her friend stayed on her feet. The scene outside was even worse. Everyone was running around in a full scale panic now, and more bloodied and torn 'people' were seemingly grabbing them as they ran. The two women watched in horror as people were being dragged down and bitten. Flesh being ripped from their very bodies. "Come on." Claire said, pulling Rebecca with her as she ran. They would go back to her house and get the car. But they stopped, and Claire cursed loudly. The path back to her street was blocked by a dozen of the creatures and a car that had crashed into the street lamp beside it. A van screeched to a halt behind them. The door slid open and a woman leaned out.
"Get in!" She shouted above the noise, and a few nearby people did just that. Claire didn't need to be told twice. She pulled Rebecca's hand and both leaped into the van, squeezing into what little room was left. The door slammed shut behind them and she tried not to think about the banging on the metal as they pulled away. Were they people left behind or those monsters trying to get in? She couldn't help but think of her big brother. Had this madness spread to the city too? Would he and Jill be okay? She had to know.