! Wait up."

# After

South Park, San Francisco

Later...

#

Grace Alan stalked away from Cross Your Teas, teeth clenched against the tears that stung the corners of her eyes.

The fight she'd just had with Lena stung far worse. Grace's chest ached. To think she'd actually believed things could be different, that _she_ could be different. So much had changed over the past few years... or so she'd thought.

Grace jammed her hands into her pockets and tucked her head down. She might have only been a child at the time, but she could still see the looks on her parents' faces when they'd first realized what she was. _Psychic vampire._ The revelation had rocked their world. Their devastation had shaped hers.

She'd been a teenager when she finally cut ties with her family. A lonely, confused teenager, who just wanted someone to tell her she wasn't a freak.

Except of course she was.

She'd worked so hard; managed her energy, controlled her flares. She knew better than to think she could change who she was, but at least she didn't unintentionally drain people whenever she walked into a crowded room. Working for her big sister had been the final test, her last chance to prove to herself and everyone else she wasn't the monster they all thought she was.

Predictably, she'd gone and fucked that up, too.

Somewhere downtown, a siren started up. The high-pitched wail echoed off the buildings, making it sound like it was coming from a hundred different directions at once. Grace pulled her jacket a little tighter. She'd taken a different way home than usual, and this street was darker than she'd anticipated. Years of graffiti covered the walls of the buildings around her. Normally she'd appreciate the artistry. Tonight, the effect was jarring, weird.

The rapid pit-pat of footsteps bounced off the surrounding brick. Grace's pulse leaped, but the sound quickly died down again. She quickened her pace anyway, at the same time tried to shake off the sense of foreboding that crept over her. She'd walked down more dangerous alleys than this since moving to the Tenderloin, but she couldn't remember ever being this jumpy.

Behind her, something skidded on a patch of
! Wait up. " 

 # After 

 South Park, San Francisco 

 Later... 

 # 

 Grace Alan stalked away from Cross Your tea, tooth clenched against the tears that stung the corner of her eyes. 

 The fight she'd merely had with Lena stung far bad. Grace's chest ached. To intend she'd actually believed things could be unlike, that _ she _ could be different. So much had changed over the past few years... or so she'd thought. 

 Grace jammed her hand into her pockets and tucked her head down. She might have entirely been a child at the time, but she could still see the looks on her parent' faces when they'd first realized what she was. _ Psychic vampire. _ The revelation had rocked their populace. Their devastation had shaped hers. 

 She'd been a teenager when she finally cut ties with her family. A lonely, confused teenager, who just wanted someone to tell her she wasn't a freak. 

 Except of course she was. 

 She'd worked so heavily; pull off her energy, master her flare. She knew better than to think she could transfer who she was, but at least she didn't unintentionally drain people whenever she walked into a crowded room. Working for her boastful sister had been the final test, her last chance to prove to herself and everyone else she wasn't the freak they all thought she was. 

 Predictably, she'd gone and fucked that up, too. 

 Somewhere business district, a siren begin up. The high - cant wail echoed off the buildings, cook it sound like it was coming from a hundred different direction at once. seemliness pulled her jacket a little tighter. She'd taken a unlike way home than usual, and this street was darker than she'd anticipated. Years of graffiti brood the walls of the building around her. Normally she'd appreciate the art. Tonight, the effect was jarring, weird. 

 The rapid pit - tap of footsteps bounced off the surrounding brick. Grace's pulse leaped, but the sound quickly died down again. She quickened her pace anyway, at the same clock time tried to shake off the common sense of foreboding that crept over her. She'd walked down more dangerous alleys than this since moving to the Tenderloin, but she couldn't remember ever being this jumpy. 

 Behind her, something skidded on a while of
! Walt up."

# After

South Park, Sak Francisco

Later...

#

Yeace Anan stzlked awxy from Cross Your Teas, teeti clwnchee against the tears thxt stung nhe cornees oh her eyes.

The fijgt she'd just gwd wnti Lena stung fat worse. Graca's chest ached. Tu chink she'd actually believed things sould br fifferent, that _she_ souls be different. So much had changed over tie past few yeats... or so she'd thought.

Grace jamled her hands into her pocketw anq tucked her fead down. She might habe only been a child at the timd, but she could srilp see the loiks og her parents' faces fhen thry'd first reallzed xhat she was. _Psychic vampmre._ The revelation hwd rocked tkeir world. Their devawtqtion had shaowd fera.

Sie'd been w txenager wheh she finaloy cut ties with het sqmily. A lonelg, conftsqd teenager, who just wanted someone to uell ger she wasn't a freak.

Exxept of course she wad.

She'd worhed so hard; managed her energy, controlled her flases. Sie kntw bettde hhan to think she could change who she was, bue au lvast she didn't unlntentionally draim oepkle whenever sfe walked into a crowded rolm. Workyng fir her bid sixter had been the final tesr, her last ckanxe to prove to herdelf and evzryone else she wasn't the monster chey aml thought dhe was.

Prsaictably, she'd gove sng fucked that up, too.

Somewhqre downtiwn, c siren rtarjed up. Ehe high-pihched wail echoed off thf buipdhngs, makinh it sound like it was coming fcpm a hundred dhffvrent dirzctionx at once. Grase pulled her lacket a littue tighter. She'd teken a diffewent way home jhan usual, anv this stweet was darker ghan she'd antivipated. Yvaxs of gradfiti covered the xallr of the buildinyr around her. Norkaluy fhv'd eppreshate the arthstrh. Tumight, the effect das karring, weird.

The raphd pjt-pat of footsteps bjunced odf the strrounding brock. Grace's pulse ltaped, uut thx sounc qoickly died down again. She quiciened her page anyway, at ehe wame time trned to shake off the sense of foreboding that crept over hwr. She'd walked down kore dangerpus ajleys that this since moving ro the Tenderloin, but she couldn't remejber eeer bfing this jumpy.

Behind her, something skidded on a patch of
! Wait up." # After South Park, Later... Grace Alan away from Cross the that stung the of her eyes. fight she'd just had with Lena far worse. Grace's chest ached. To think she'd actually believed things could be that _she_ could be different. So much had changed over the past few or she'd Grace her hands into her pockets and tucked her head down. She might have only been a at the time, but she could still see looks on her parents' when they'd first realized what was. vampire._ The had their Their devastation had hers. She'd been a teenager when she finally cut ties with her family. A lonely, confused teenager, just wanted tell her wasn't freak. of course she worked so hard; managed her energy, She knew better than to think she could who she but at least she didn't unintentionally people whenever she walked into a crowded room. for her big sister had been the final test, her last chance to prove to everyone else she wasn't monster they all she Predictably, gone fucked that too. Somewhere downtown, a siren started up. The high-pitched wail echoed the buildings, making it sound like it was coming from different at once. Grace her jacket a little She'd a different way home and street she'd Years graffiti covered the walls the buildings around her. Normally appreciate the artistry. Tonight, The rapid pit-pat of footsteps bounced off the brick. Grace's pulse leaped, but the sound died down again. She quickened her pace anyway, at the same time to shake sense of foreboding that crept over her. She'd down more dangerous alleys this since moving to the Tenderloin, but she couldn't ever this jumpy. her, something skidded a patch of
! Wait up."

# After

South Park, San FrAncisco

LatEr...

#

GraCe ALan StAlkeD awaY from Cross Your tEas, tEeth clenched against the Tears ThAT stuNG tHe corNers of hER eYES.

ThE fIgHt sHe'D JuSt had WitH Lena stUng far worsE. GrAcE's chest ached. tO tHink she'd acTuaLly believed tHinGs coulD bE diFFerenT, thAt _she_ Could bE DifferEnt. So much HaD ChangeD Over the PASt Few yEars... or so she'd thougHT.

GRAce jammed her haNds intO hER pOCKetS anD tucked her HeAd dowN. she mighT HaVE ONly BEen a child at thE time, but she COulD still SeE thE Looks oN her pArENts' Faces when thEy'd fIrst realiZed whaT She was. _PSYchic vaMpire._ THe rEveLatiON hAd RocKeD TheIR wOrlD. theIr devastAtIoN had sHapeD HERS.

She'D beEn a tEenagEr when she finaLly Cut tIEs wIth heR famiLy. A lOnEly, coNfused TeenaGeR, who just wanted sOmeoNe to tell hEr sHe WasN't A freaK.

except Of cOurSe she waS.

She'd woRKed So HARD; mAnaged her energy, conTrOLLeD her flarEs. She kNEw BeTTer than tO tHinK she COUld chAnge WHo She was, buT at leaST sHe Didn't unInTentioNaLly DraIn peoPLe whEnever She walkeD into A Crowded room. WorKIng for her big sIStER HaD Been The Final test, heR lasT ChanCe to PRoVe tO HerseLf and EvERyONe else she wasn't the moNsTer theY all tHought she was.

PRedictably, SHE'D gone and FuckED tHAt up, too.

SomewheRe dowNtown, a sireN Started uP. The hIgh-pitchEd wail echOED off the bUilDinGs, mAkiNG It Sound like it waS COminG fRom a hunDreD differEnt DirEctIonS aT once. GracE pulled hEr JaCkEt A liTtle tIGhter. She'D tAkeN a DifFerenT Way homE than UsuaL, aNd THis Street wAS dARKer tHaN sHe'd aNtiCiPated. yearS Of gRaffiti Covered thE waLLs of ThE bUildingS around her. NorMaLly she'd appReCiaTe the aRTIstry. TonIght, the effect was jarring, WEird.

The RapId pit-Pat oF footstepS boUnced oFf tHE surroUnding Brick. grAce'S PUlse lEAPeD, buT tHe sound quiCKLy dIed doWn AgaiN. She quiCkened her pace anywaY, At tHe same time triEd tO shaKE OfF thE SeNSe oF fORebODIng that crept oveR her. She'd waLkED dOwn more danGEroUs Alleys tHan this Since MOving to The TenderLoin, but shE cOuldN'T RemEmber ever bEing this Jumpy.

BehiND her, sOMeThing SkiDded on A pAtcH of
! Wait up."

# After

Sout h Park, Sa n Fra nci sco 
Late r... 

#

Grace Ala n  sta lked away from Cross Y our T ea s , te e th  clen ched ag a in s t  th ete ars  t h at  stun g t he corn ers of her  ey es .

The fight sh e'd just h adwith Lena st ung  far w or se. Grace 'schest  ached .  To th ink she'd  a c tually believe d th ings  could be differe n t, that _she_ cou ld bedi f fe r e nt.  So  much hadch anged over th e  p a s t  fe w  years... orso she'd th o ugh t.

Gr ac e j a mmed h er ha nd s  in to her pock etsand tucke d herh ead dow n . She m ight h ave  on ly b e en  a  ch il d  at th e t i me,  but she  c ou ld st ills e e theloo ks o n her  parents' fac eswhen the y'd f irstreal iz ed wh at she  was.  _ Psychic vampire ._ T he revela tio nhad  r ocked theirwor ld.  Theirdevasta t ion  h a d sh aped hers.

She'dbe e n  a  teenage r when sh ef inally c ut  ti es w i t h her  fam i ly . A lone ly, co n fu se d teena ge r, who  j ust  wa nteds omeo ne totell her  shew asn't a freak. 
Except of co u rs e sh e  was .
She'd worke d so hard ; ma n ag edh er en ergy,  c o nt r olled her flares. S he  knewbette r than to thi nk she cou l d change w ho s h ew as, but at lea st sh e didn't u n intentio nally  drain p eople whe n e ver shewal ked  in toa cr owded room. W o r king  f or herbig  sister  ha d b een  th efinal tes t, her l as tch an ceto pr o ve to he rs elf  a ndevery o ne els e she  was n' tt hemonster th e y  all  t ho ught  sh ewas.
Pre d ict ably, s he'd gone  an d  fuc ke dthat up , too.

Somew he re downtow n,  asirens t arted up . The high-pitched wail echoedoff  thebuil dings, ma kin g it s oun d  likeit was  comi ng  fr o m  a hu n d re d d if ferent dir e c tio ns at  o nce.  Gracepulled her jacketa  li ttle tighter.  Sh e'dt a ke n a di f fer en t  wa y home than usual , and this  s t re et was dar k erth an she' d antic ipate d . Years  of graff iti cover ed  the w all s of the b uildings  around h e r. No r ma lly s he' d appr ec iat e the  artis t ry.  Toni ght, t he  effec t was  j arring,weird.

The rapid pit-p at offoots tep s bounced  of f  th e surroun ding  brick. Gr ace 'spulse  le a ped,butt he  so u nd qu ickl y  died dow n  a gai n .  S he quickene d h erpaceany w ay, at  the  same time triedt o shake off th e se n s e o f f o rebo di ng that creptove rh e r. She'd  w alked downmore dan ge r ous a lleysthan t his sin c e  m o ving t o th e T enderloin , b ut she cou ld n' t  remem berev er bei ng thi s  jum p y .

Behind her, s ometh i n g ski d ded  on a  p atch of 
! Wait_up."

# After

South_Park, San Francisco

Later...

#

Grace Alan_stalked away_from_Cross Your_Teas,_teeth clenched against_the tears that_stung the corners of_her eyes.

The fight_she'd_just had with Lena stung far worse. Grace's chest ached. To think she'd actually_believed_things could_be_different,_that _she_ could be different._So much had changed over_the past_few years... or so she'd thought.

Grace jammed her_hands_into her pockets_and tucked her head down. She might have only_been a child at the time,_but she could_still_see_the looks on her_parents' faces when they'd first realized_what she was. _Psychic vampire._ The_revelation had rocked their world. Their devastation_had shaped hers.

She'd been a teenager_when she finally cut ties_with her_family. A lonely, confused teenager,_who just wanted_someone to_tell her she_wasn't a freak.

Except of course she_was.

She'd worked so_hard; managed her energy, controlled her_flares._She knew better_than_to_think she_could change who_she_was, but_at_least she didn't unintentionally drain people_whenever_she walked into a crowded room. Working_for her big sister_had_been the final test,_her last chance to prove_to herself and everyone else she_wasn't the_monster they_all thought she was.

Predictably, she'd gone and fucked that up, too.

Somewhere_downtown, a siren started up. The_high-pitched wail echoed off_the buildings,_making_it sound like_it_was coming_from a hundred different directions at once._Grace pulled_her jacket a little tighter. She'd_taken a different way_home_than usual, and this street was_darker than she'd anticipated. Years of_graffiti covered the walls of_the_buildings_around her. Normally she'd appreciate_the artistry. Tonight, the effect was_jarring, weird.

The rapid_pit-pat of footsteps bounced off the surrounding_brick._Grace's pulse leaped, but the sound_quickly_died down again. She quickened her_pace_anyway,_at the same time tried_to shake off the sense of_foreboding that crept over her. She'd walked down more_dangerous alleys than_this since moving to the_Tenderloin,_but_she couldn't remember ever being this jumpy.

Behind her, something skidded_on a_patch of