Prologue

The truth is, good and bad, dark and light, pure and evil, I've never really been good at finding that line, that boundary you can't cross.

The original members of the team, minus one, stood together, eyes watchful and obviously scared. Horror was clear as day on their faces, but their intentions were darker than night. They were grouped together, looking around cautiously. The five walked forward, two watching the back, two watching the sides, and one at the front.

I've done a lot of bad things, though, that I know are right on that boundary. I've lied. I've cheated. I've nearly killed. Like I said, I've done a lot.

"Where is he?" One of them asked, perspiration dampening his forehead.

"I-I don't know." Whispered back another who walked at his side. She wouldn't deny her fear. After everything she had heard that he'd done since she saw him last . . . . She was extremely worried.

"Just keep moving." Commanded the leader, a sharpness to his words.

I'd bet my friends from childhood are thankful they didn't turn into me. All those who laughed at me, bullied me, hurt me, I'll bet have nightmares about me. They're probably worried they'll become my first kill.

They moved a bit faster. The group hid their tracks by moving through the warm stream, but they couldn't help the bad feeling that welled in the pit of their stomachs. The moonlight cast an artificial brightness on the water and the night. As they walked, the feeling only grew stronger.

They came to a small bank. Something there felt familiar. It should have. It resembled a bank from one of their first missions with him playing the part of leader. He had taken this place for his own as a messenger to them, his friends.

They were still his friends.

They were still his friends . . . .

But, you see, I didn't plan on this. None of it. I was sucked into this by good deeds if you could believe that. It happened, because I was doing the right thing. And I ended up attracting unwanted attention. Now, now I-we are paying for it.

The group looked around. The gloom, yet somehow comfortable area, made it that much more uncomfortable. The adults were silent as they split up to search. They didn't exactly know what they were looking for, but they knew they needed it.

They needed it to find him and maybe, just maybe, he would be there.

And to prove to themselves that they were good enough. They needed to find something. Anything.

This isn't how I wanted to spend the rest of my years. But now that my life has turned into a bloody nightmare, well, I've lost a lot. And losing a lot means more than my reputation and my friends and family.

A girl knelt down by the water, noticing something strange. She took a hand and let it sift through the murky, beautiful waters, searching for whatever it was that she was sure she had seen. A strong hand fell beside hers in the search for the object.

She looked at him as he paused.

Then his hands moved over slightly to dig up what she and he had seen. When he pulled it out, he felt someone come up behind him to stare in shock.

"That's . . . . That's . . . ." The male choked.

I lost her. And the only way to ensure that she stays alive is to keep doing what I'm told.

"What is it?" The leader asked as he reached the scene. His intent stare found itself on the object before he understood. He looked away, a small sign of respect that he could give for his comrade, now understanding that it wasn't his fault.

The others just stared in confusion at the object.

They didn't understand the seriousness of the situation.

My friends . . . . I sent them a message, but I only told a few since it's only been a week, but I hope they figure it out. I don't like to fight. I won't kill, but I don't want to fight. Especially not them.

"What does it mean?" Asked a female as she appeared silently behind them.

The first male that understood looked at her, his hands shaking in tight fists. At one point, the female might have tried to take his hand or shake him out of it. He looked at her darkly.

I hate doing this, but I know I have to. I have to keep moving forward. She wouldn't have wanted me to do this for her either way, but . . . I can't let her die.

The male took the object and placed it in the female's hands. She held it for a moment, staring at a ring. It had a silver band with small details in gold. A ring of small, sparkling diamonds were forefront, barely coming any higher than the rest of the ring. She stared at it, knowing what it was by the exquisite designs while the other two still had no clue.

Her lush lips parted in a silent gasp.

I didn't know how to tell my friends what was going on, so I gave them the thing that made me realize in the first place that she had been taken. It was delivered to me by an assassin who gave me a time and place to discuss how to get her back, how to keep her alive.

"No." She stated, looking up at them.

"What?" Asked the only male not knowing quite what was going on.

"He-He . . . ."

I'll admit I'm scared. But not for myself. For her.

The leader, seeing her shock and inability to speak, stated, "He proposed."

The two blinked in shock. Now they understood what it was, but . . . .

"Why did he leave this as a clue?" The girl asked, shock still evident on her face. She just didn't understand why he would want to let them know this. He was never one for pity. He usually liked to keep to himself, actually.

The boy who first understood looked at her, knowing in his unmasked eyes.

I have to do what they want, but they don't. They don't have anything being held against them. So I just hope they can help her. I've never been one for help, but for her . . . I'll do anything. I admit it. I'm desperate and I need help.

"Because they're using her as blackmail against him. They probably kidnapped her or something and threatened that if he didn't do whatever they told him to, they'd kill her. He's probably been being controlled this entire time!" The man exclaimed, his voice growing alarmingly loud.

The leader looked at him for a second. "How can we be sure of this theory?"

"You could ask." A chilling voice claimed behind the group that had been too busy with the find to watch their backs.

I just wonder if they'll understand. What if they don't help? When the team fell apart and I went off to become a Teen Titan, well, we weren't all best friends. I've only just rebuilt the relationships between my best friend and I and the leader, the real leader.

They all spun around to stare at their youngest, shock and surprise evident on all their faces. He just walked forward, smiling at them as if it were all those years ago. His eyes flitted between them as he walked forward to greet them, talking as brightly as day.

Our friendly Martian and I have been working on it, but it's still hard. Our not so evil clone and I, well, that's been easier somehow. When we lapse into silence, it's comfortable.

"How have you all been?" He asked as if it were some high school reunion. "Haven't seen you in a while. Anything new happen lately?"

"Bats got the team back together." One of the girls said. He looked at her calmly for a moment.

And she . . . . Well, I haven't seen her in years. I pray that they all will help me. I can't do this much longer. I can't hold out, and I'm admitting it, much to my distain.

"Yeah?" He asked smiling. "The mission?"

"To capture you. Figure out why you went rouge." She stared at him, taking in everything. He'd grown. "Why did you go rouge?"

He smirked as a darkness interrupted the light where he stood from a dark storm cloud passing through the sky in front of the moon. "I figured you might have figured it out." He looked pointedly at the ring.

"She's been kidnapped, hasn't she?" The leader asked.

"Yes." His smirk faded before, after a slight pause, his face brightened with a fake smile. "Sorry I have to run, but I have a beating to get to."

He turned to walk away, but three of them made themselves block his exit while the others moved to the back.

"We can't let you do that to someone." His best friend called, a look of sadness clear on his face.

I hope they help, but I have to do what I have to do. The sooner they find her the better. I can't hold out much longer. But I have to for her.

The surrounded man gave his friend a charming smile, "I never said who's beating."

The boy who hadn't been able to say anything since the other arrived finally spoke. "Who's?"

He smiled brightly at the other as if discussing the weather. "Mine."

The present telepath gasped in horror. "But you can't!" She exclaimed. "You-You have to escape or something!" She said.

The boy easily looked at her. "Well, I have someone to protect. And besides, I went against direct orders to be here. Bye!" He waved before they realized they were looking at one another rather than him.

His best friend cursed under his breath.

Barbara.

FudoTwin17: Yay! Done. :D

Cat: Slightly depressing, wasn't it?

FudoTwin17: Yeah, but that's what happens. For those of you who don't know, my goldfish died. He didn't deserve to die so young!

Dog # 1: He was seven years old. No need for that.

FudoTwin17: Whatever. Yeah, I don't own DC. Review. Bye.