Jessica chooses the path of good

The sun slowly begins its lazy climb in the morning sky. Though not in the direct sunlight, yet, the glare is blinding to Jessica. She considers suicide, but rejects it. Letting herself perish in the sunlight would be a final victory for Elizabeth, the final fracturing of Jessica's human spirit. Jessica goes into the woods and digs a grave for herself. She buries herself, pulling soil over her body. She waits for the night, unsure of what will come.

Jessica fled the city after nightfall.

Several years have passed. Elizabeth never stopped searching for Jessica, enraged at the child who got away. Jessica had some close calls, but became skilled at evading Elizabeth's spies and emissaries. Jessica had to change cities every few weeks, starting from scratch each time, but she didn't mind. My existence, my rejection of her cruelty, is the ultimate victory Jessica told herself.

Jessica was proud that she had not killed since leaving the mansion-not once. There had been some close calls over the years, where she had gone slightly too far, but had always been able to pull back. She still fed on humans (she couldn't totally reject her nature), but never inflicted unnecessary anguish or pain on them. It was difficult at first, but she had gotten far more skilled at controlling her worst urges.

Jessica took human companions from time, but this was increasingly rare. Jessica had realized that any humans attracted to her were attracted for all the wrong reasons.

Increasingly, Jessica was alone, but she didn't mind: Her life had purpose now. Jessica spent her nights patrolling her adopted cities, looking for situations where she could help. An abusive boyfriend beating his girlfriend. A family trapped in a totaled car. An elderly man being mugged by teenagers. She viewed each act as some small penance in the cosmic accounting of her life, slowly but surely drawing down the balance of her behavior with Elizabeth.

Jessica sits on the ledge of a building, gazing at the skyline of the city. She wonders what tonight will bring.