From sclark@best.com Tue Jul 28 11:40:11 1998 Date: Sun, 12 Jul 1998 19:08:59 -0700 From: clark To: fkfanfic@merlin.darkmage.net Subject: It's Lonely When You're Young and Alone This is a follow-up to two other stories I've written, "All the Lonely People" and "Another Night in the Lonely City." If you need a copy of either or both of those please let me know. Love it/hate it/whatever, feedback is always welcomed and greatly appreciated. Permission given to archive at fkfanfic website as well as FTP site. No other permission is granted to repost/reprint/reuse. If you're interested drop me a line. This story is based on characters and situations that aren't mine. Thanks to TPTB for their use. It's Lonely When You're Young and Alone by S. Clark She walked through the streets of Chicago. Once upon a time she would have been warned about traveling alone through streets like these. Once upon a time she would have followed that warning, heeded the concern. Now she was the hunter. Little did those she passed know she was the one they should fear. She could sense them. Many of those from the streets, huddled into doorway, down alleyways, into the relative safety they felt the night could offer. But she could sense them all. She heard their breathing. Heard their heartbeats. She could hear their whispers as they clung together for warmth and companionship. Their hearts sang to her. Their blood called to her, beckoning her approach. But she resisted the urge. Each night it became a little easier or so she told herself. Even so, each night it was there. Still she enjoyed the walks. Enjoyed the time away from what was now her own kind. They may have been her own kind but only one of them could be considered family. Even that relationship was strained. She was a reminder of her master. A mistake. She remembered waking up. She was scared. And hungry. But mostly she realized she was alone. He was her master but he wasn't there. He wasn't with her. Someone had been there anticipating her creation. She had survived. Now she was here. New life. New city. Away from all she knew, those whom she had loved. The life she had left behind. She now worked in a bar that catered to her kind. It had helped her to fit in. Helped her to meet others. Helped her to learn. She sometimes laughed thinking that she had all the answers before, that she knew everything. She didn't even come close to knowing anything. Even now, now that she reasoned her humanity had been shed along with her old life, she still found herself ignorant in the ways of her own kind. So much to learn. So much to absorb. When the initial feelings of abandonment departed she began to meet the others. Some were transients, just passing through. Departing old lives, arriving to begin anew, or just never settling anywhere long enough to consider it a home. But she was learning there were those with knowledge and skill. She sought them out desiring to learn what she could. What they would allow. Whatever lessons they would avail of themselves to impart. And she accepted whatever companionship they could offer. There were others she had met who had stayed until the point of recklessness. Even she knew they should be moving on. She now saw how foolish he had been for doing that. How dangerous it could be. After she'd arrived in Chicago she'd witnessed the death of one that had become too suspect within the community. One that had sought the chance to live as a mortal, with a mortal. But that wasn't the crime. The crime had to do with books, with papers. These told too much. Told enough that certain questions were starting to be asked. She knew she'd been made to witness the enforcement as a lesson. As instruction on what happened to those who were unable to keep clear distinctions between the hunter and the prey. On those who hoped to build understanding of the community with those outside. Of course the few basic rules weren't all that difficult. Stay away from sunlight, fire and sharp sticks. Past that there was still so much to learn. And so much to discern. So far, so good. The subtleties of keeping hidden among the masses. That was becoming easier. Staying anonymous. Also becoming easier. Sure there were those who might look at her. But how many actually recalled the next day or the day after who they had seen? She was learning well. This pleased her sister. Even if she was seen as another of their master's mistakes. But it was a new life tinged with sadness. Now that she was in a place to be with the one she truly wanted he was no more. That ache would eventually abate, become dull with time. All things considered Tracy Vetter was poised for a long existence.