The Divergence

───

Ever since the Divergence...

Governments around the world had been forced to adapt at a pace few had ever imagined possible.

Some reacted quickly.

Others...

Not nearly quickly enough.

Within hours of the Divergence, preliminary directives had begun spreading throughout numerous nations.

Law enforcement, emergency responders, and military personnel received temporary guidance emphasizing one point above all else.

Avoid unnecessary confrontation.

Vampires and werewolves had once been human.

That fact alone changed everything.

The transformed retained memories.

Families.

Employment.

Citizenship.

Bank accounts.

Homes.

Lives.

They hadn't appeared from some distant land.

They had awakened in apartments, houses, dormitories, hospitals, hotels, and countless other places occupied by ordinary people only moments before the Divergence.

Officials understood another reality as well.

The applications of transformed individuals were almost limitless.

A creature capable of effortlessly lifting over a thousand pounds.

One that could sprint faster than speeding traffic.

One capable of surviving injuries that would instantly kill a human.

Governments had little interest in creating enemies possessing such abilities.

Fortunately...

Many transformed individuals willingly cooperated.

Doctors.

Scientists.

Psychologists.

Military advisors.

Biologists.

Every interview added another piece to an increasingly complicated picture.

Perhaps the most surprising conclusions came from psychologists.

After hundreds of interviews across multiple countries, one phrase repeatedly appeared within internal reports.

The transformed were still themselves.

Changed...

Certainly.

But not replaced.

One psychologist summarized it simply.

"The individual remains psychologically continuous with their former identity. Existing personality traits appear to have been reinterpreted rather than erased."

A timid person often remained timid.

An outgoing individual generally stayed outgoing.

Confident people retained confidence.

Reserved people often remained reserved.

The difference...

Lay in emphasis.

Werewolves appeared closest to ordinary humans.

Their emotional responses, interpersonal boundaries, and social behaviors remained remarkably familiar.

Vampires...

Were different.

Not emotionless.

Not detached.

Simply...

Further removed.

They smiled more easily.

Moved with effortless grace.

Displayed far less hesitation toward one another.

Their emotional focus seemed subtly redirected.

Not away from humanity entirely...

But unmistakably toward fellow vampires.

One government report described them as possessing "heightened in-group affinity."

The phrase spread quickly among researchers.

Heightened.

Not exclusive.

Psychologists repeatedly warned against portraying vampires as inhuman.

Doing so simply wasn't supported by available evidence.

Yet...

Another issue proved considerably more difficult to solve.

Appearance.

Werewolves looked unusual.

Wolf ears.

Tails.

Golden-green eyes.

Sharper physiques.

Yet...

To most people...

They still appeared fundamentally alive.

Warm.

Familiar.

Vampires inspired a different reaction.

Their motionless beauty.

Their flawless skin.

The complete absence of pupils.

Their stillness.

The way their eyes occasionally reflected light.

Even cooperative vampires often triggered instinctive unease simply by standing quietly.

Researchers eventually began referring to it informally as the uncanny response.

Nobody believed vampires intentionally caused it.

Humans simply reacted.

Unfortunately...

Not everyone reacted with caution.

Some reacted with violence.

Across several nations...

Individuals convinced they were protecting humanity began confronting transformed citizens.

Some called them monsters.

Others called them demons.

Predators.

Abominations.

Many carried knives.

Some carried firearms.

Others...

Simply brought friends.

Government responses varied.

Several countries attempted to suppress reports involving transformed individuals.

Officials feared public panic.

Feared retaliation.

Feared civil unrest.

The result...

Rumors filled the vacuum.

Online...

Every story became five.

Every photograph became proof of something.

Every confrontation grew larger with each retelling.

Reality itself proved much simpler.

Just like humans...

Vampires and werewolves varied.

Some incidents began with frightened humans attacking transformed individuals.

Retaliation followed.

Other confrontations emerged between vampires and werewolves themselves.

Researchers weren't entirely surprised.

Both species instinctively recognized the other as dangerous.

Even cooperative meetings often included heightened alertness.

Growls.

Hissing.

Defensive posture.

Not necessarily hatred.

Awareness.

As one behavioral report concluded...

"The transformed appear biologically predisposed to recognize one another as credible threats."

Further observations revealed increasingly obvious social differences.

Werewolves gathered naturally.

Not randomly.

Into packs.

Most documented packs contained between five and fifteen members.

Some formed among friends.

Others appeared composed almost entirely of strangers.

Pack structures remained surprisingly fluid.

Leadership changed.

Members came and went.

Yet...

The tendency persisted worldwide.

Vampires displayed something else entirely.

They sought one another almost immediately.

Distance scarcely mattered.

Whether through scent...

Chance...

Or simple determination...

Vampires consistently attempted to locate others of their own kind.

Once together...

They rarely separated willingly.

Even formerly introverted individuals displayed dramatically increased sociability toward fellow vampires.

Personal space nearly vanished.

Hugging became commonplace.

Touch occurred constantly.

Resting against one another seemed entirely natural.

Researchers initially misinterpreted these behaviors as romantic attachment.

They quickly discovered otherwise.

Among vampires...

Physical intimacy no longer carried the same implications it did for humans.

Two vampires might embrace for several minutes without embarrassment.

Hold hands absentmindedly.

Rest together while sleeping.

Even kisses appeared startlingly casual under certain circumstances.

Not necessarily romantic.

Simply...

Comfortable.

Perfectly ordinary.

Many human observers struggled to understand.

Psychologists cautioned against interpreting vampire behavior through entirely human social expectations.

Different instincts had produced different boundaries.

Elsewhere...

Violence continued.

Several smaller nations experienced direct clashes between transformed individuals and law enforcement.

Official investigations generally reached similar conclusions.

Both species possessed overwhelming physical advantages.

Both were fully capable of killing.

In nearly every confirmed fatal incident...

The transformed had been attacked first.

Whether with firearms.

Bladed weapons.

Or overwhelming numbers.

Retaliation proved devastating.

Even governments attempting to conceal those events privately acknowledged an uncomfortable reality.

Conventional policing methods required significant revision.

Within the Unified Sovereignties...

Federal authorities repeatedly emphasized restraint.

Every briefing repeated nearly identical guidance.

Do not initiate unnecessary hostilities.

Attempt communication first.

Escalate only when absolutely necessary.

Most officers complied.

Not entirely from policy.

Many had already watched body camera footage.

Read preliminary reports.

Seen concrete cracked by impacts.

Witnessed injuries healing before their eyes.

Yet...

Governments couldn't control everyone.

Individual citizens continued acting independently.

Some confronted transformed neighbors.

Others attempted vigilante attacks.

Several organized online groups openly advocated violence.

The precise death toll remained unclear.

Investigations continued.

Reports arrived faster than officials could verify them.

Meanwhile...

The internet descended into chaos.

Millions discussed the Divergence.

Many found vampires fascinating.

Others adored werewolves almost immediately.

Artwork appeared overnight.

Forums multiplied.

Videos analyzing transformed physiology accumulated millions of views.

Some people openly admitted they wished they'd transformed themselves.

Others expressed envy.

Curiosity.

Excitement.

Yet another portion of humanity reached an entirely different conclusion.

Across countless websites and anonymous forums, one sentiment repeated again and again.

"They're predators."

"They aren't human anymore."

"If we don't eliminate them first..."

"They'll eliminate us."

Calls for organized resistance spread rapidly.

Some demanded extermination.

Others urged governments to seize transformed citizens for experimentation.

Still others insisted coexistence remained impossible.

Equally numerous voices argued the opposite.

"They're still people."

"They didn't choose this."

"They were our neighbors yesterday."

"They're our family."

Between those two extremes...

Humanity argued.

Watched.

Prepared.

And wondered what the next night... and the next... would bring.

───

Adelaide stood outside the apartment building with both hands tucked behind her back.

She looked up at the familiar windows for a long moment before letting out a slow sigh.

"...Well."

"One last time."

The entrance door clicked shut behind someone leaving for an early shift, allowing her to slip inside without a key.

Her boots made almost no sound as she climbed the stairs.

The building smelled exactly as she remembered.

Cleaning chemicals.

Old carpet.

Someone cooking bacon several floors below.

And...

Home.

She stopped outside her apartment door.

The scent of her family drifted faintly through the wood.

Without really thinking, Adelaide smiled.

She reached for the handle.

Click.

Locked.

"...Of course."

She wasn't particularly surprised.

Her relationship with her parents had been strained long before the Divergence.

Becoming a vampire had simply widened a crack that had already existed.

She knocked.

No answer.

She knocked again.

Then again.

Nearly a minute passed.

Finally...

She heard quiet footsteps approaching.

One heartbeat.

Smaller.

Faster.

Her smile softened.

The lock clicked.

The door opened only a crack.

A familiar face peeked through.

The moment her younger brother saw her...

His eyes lit up.

"Addie!"

The door swung fully open.

Before Adelaide could say anything, he wrapped both arms around her.

"I was so worried!"

She laughed quietly.

Her own arms slipped around him.

He was warm.

Wonderfully warm.

His heartbeat thumped steadily against her cheek as she rested her head lightly against his chest.

For just a moment...

She simply stood there.

"...I'm glad you're okay."

He said it so quietly she almost missed it.

Adelaide smiled.

Then flicked his forehead.

"Ow!"

"What danger could I possibly get into?"

She raised one slender arm and flexed dramatically.

The motion revealed very little muscle.

Her brother stared.

Then burst into laughter.

"You look ridiculous."

"I know."

"I'm terrifying."

"You look like you'd lose to a shopping bag."

Adelaide placed a hand dramatically over her chest.

"...You've wounded me."

He grinned.

She grinned back.

Together they stepped inside.

Her dress swished softly around her legs as she closed the door behind them.

Immediately...

The apartment unfolded itself through her senses.

The refrigerator humming.

Pipes inside the walls.

The ticking kitchen clock.

Two slower heartbeats farther down the hallway.

Her parents.

Still asleep.

Or mostly asleep.

It was nearly four in the morning.

She felt absolutely no desire to greet them.

Instead...

She caught both of her brother's hands.

"Guess how my night went."

He blinked.

"...How would I know?"

Adelaide's smile became positively radiant.

"I met six other vampires."

His eyes widened.

"Really?"

"Mhm."

"They were all adorable."

She nodded confidently.

"I'd introduce you..."

She tilted her head thoughtfully.

"...But you're too young."

Her brother immediately shoved her shoulder.

"I don't want to meet your girlfriends!"

Adelaide burst into laughter.

"Oh?"

"So defensive."

"They're not my girlfriends!"

"I didn't say they were."

"You implied it!"

"I absolutely did."

He groaned.

She laughed even harder.

Finally, she patted his shoulder.

"...I'm moving."

His smile faltered slightly.

"I figured."

"I'll be staying with them."

She shrugged lightly.

"I'll still visit."

"I'll call."

"Probably every day."

"But..."

She glanced toward the hallway.

"I don't really want to stay here anymore."

Her brother looked down.

"They're still..."

"...Yeah."

He sighed quietly.

"I don't know why they have to be like this."

"The news said you're still the same person."

"The government said it."

"The doctors said it."

"So why..."

His voice faded.

Adelaide gently ruffled his hair.

"Our relationship wasn't exactly sunshine before all this."

He gave a tiny nod.

"...I know."

"You know better than anyone."

He didn't answer.

He didn't have to.

Adelaide walked into the kitchen.

She grabbed one of the dining chairs.

She could have lifted it effortlessly.

Instead...

She dragged it.

Scrrrrraape.

The harsh sound echoed through the apartment.

Her brother looked over nervously.

"...You're doing that on purpose."

"Mhm."

"You want them to wake up."

"Mhm."

"You know they'll yell."

"They usually do."

Another scrape.

Louder.

Her brother sighed.

"...You're impossible."

"I've been told."

The footsteps came only seconds later.

Heavy.

Quick.

Angry.

Adelaide didn't even need to look.

Her mother's heartbeat had accelerated dramatically.

The bedroom door slammed open.

"What did I tell you?"

Her mother's voice echoed down the hallway.

"I said don't open the door for that thing!"

She pointed toward Adelaide's brother.

"If you do it again..."

Her expression twisted.

"...Do you need another beating?"

Silence.

Adelaide's smile disappeared.

Completely.

Her crimson eyes slowly shifted toward her brother.

He looked away.

His shoulders had instinctively tensed.

Something cold settled inside Adelaide.

She stood.

Walked calmly down the hallway.

Her mother only noticed her properly when Adelaide stopped directly in front of her.

The angry expression vanished.

Fear replaced it.

Adelaide smiled.

Not warmly.

Not playfully.

Simply...

Smiled.

She placed one hand on her mother's shoulder.

"...Excuse me."

Then walked forward.

Her mother stumbled backward into the bedroom.

Adelaide entered after her.

Bang.

She slammed the bedroom door shut so hard the wall trembled.

Inside...

Her father jerked awake.

"Wha..."

He blinked repeatedly before finally focusing on Adelaide.

His face paled.

Adelaide never looked at him.

Her attention remained entirely on her mother.

"I thought..."

Her voice was calm.

"...I told you not to lay a hand on my brother."

Something in her tone changed.

Not louder.

Lower.

A faint growl threaded beneath the words.

The room suddenly felt much smaller.

Much darker.

Her crimson eyes glowed faintly beneath her thick green lashes.

Her mother opened her mouth.

"I..."

Nothing came out.

Adelaide stepped closer.

Placed one hand gently against her mother's stomach.

Then pushed.

Lightly.

The bed frame groaned as her mother flew backward onto it.

Not enough to seriously injure.

More than enough to demonstrate the difference between them.

Her father scrambled farther back across the mattress.

Adelaide paced slowly toward the foot of the bed.

Hands behind her back.

Looking almost relaxed.

"I'll be leaving."

She spoke almost conversationally.

"I'm not taking my brother."

"I'll call him every day."

She stopped walking.

"If..."

Her smile returned.

Bright.

Gentle.

Beautiful.

"...He ever tells me you hit him again..."

The smile never changed.

"...I'll come back."

A long silence followed.

Then...

"I'll tear you apart."

The words were spoken with exactly the same pleasant tone.

No shouting.

No anger.

Just certainty.

Her father swallowed audibly.

Her mother stared without blinking.

Adelaide tilted her head.

"You raised me."

She nodded once.

"Poorly."

"But you did."

"So I'm extending you a little courtesy."

Her fingers slowly flexed.

Perfectly manicured nails lengthened several centimeters before sliding back again.

A tiny demonstration.

Nothing more.

"You are not..."

She pointed toward the hallway.

"...Doing the same thing to him."

Her mother finally found her voice.

"You..."

"You wouldn't..."

Adelaide laughed softly.

"Try me."

"If you call the police..."

She shrugged.

"They'll probably come."

"They'll probably talk to me."

She smiled again.

"But afterward..."

Her crimson eyes met theirs.

"You'll still die."

Silence swallowed the room.

Even the apartment itself seemed quieter.

Adelaide turned toward the door.

Her dress fluttered gently around her legs.

She paused only once.

"I'm staying one more day."

She looked back over one shoulder.

"I don't want to hear another word from either of you."

"And don't fill his head with any more of your nonsense."

Her expression flattened.

"Your expectations."

"Your insults."

"Your pathetic little speeches."

"I'm done listening."

She opened the bedroom door.

Then added one final sentence without looking back.

"...You're fortunate he's kinder than I am."

The door closed quietly behind her.

She walked back into the hallway.

Her brother stood exactly where she'd left him.

Eyes wide.

"...Addie?"

She looked at him.

The coldness disappeared as though it had never existed.

She smiled.

The same confident, playful smile she wore when teasing him only minutes earlier.

"So..."

She clasped her hands behind her back.

"...How about breakfast?"

He stared at her for another second.

Then...

Despite everything...

He laughed.

An unhappy Adelaide,