Thunder rolled across the sky, and a blanket of light briefly cloaked the city below. Only to crack and disappear once more, skyscrapers reached toward the sky in mans fruitless attempt to reach the Gods. The city streets were empty, except for the cloud's tears dotting the earth one by one. The crystals of water shattered like broken glass, on windowsills, and shingled roofs. Ribbons of electric fire shot from the sky, illuminating a room looking over the Jump City bay from a T shaped perch. A scream echoed through the room. A figure in a round bed hidden under a raven shaped canopy, sat up fighting with snakes made of blankets and sheets. Thunder clapped, drowning out the sound of the scream to the rest of the tower, the figure's breathing was heavy and labored. The room was dark one wall filled a bookcase, neatly arranged. The lightning flashed illuminating the walls, they were painted a deep purple, with grey accenting. Vines and bewitching pictures were etched on the wall painted in shades of grey, mounted shelves held bottles both decorative and purposed. A purple dresser sat against one wall across from a door, with a large mirror mounted above it. The bed sat in an alcove that hid a large window that would look over the bay, but large curtains were drawn across its clear surface. The figure disentangled from the covers and walked to a door across the room, and entered a bathroom. The bedroom was flooded with light, and plunged back into its shadow as the bathroom door closed again.
Eyes squinting against the bright whitewashed bathroom, a face reflected back in the mirror. She had short violet colored hair, and matching eyes. Dark circles detracted from the shinning violet, making them dimmer, and her face seemingly colder. She wore a dark blue long sleeved shirt with a small v-neck, and black pants that folded once at the floor her skin was pale almost grey. She turned on the water and stared down into the drain watching the water rushing. A stray tear joined the multitude headed down the drain. It was the same every night for the past month, an inescapable darkness that would envelope everything. Haunting and cold filling her with a loneliness that suffocated her, squeezing her lungs until she could barely breath, a chill ran down her spine. She would wake up drenched in sweat feeling like she had been running all night. Which in some dreams she was, this time the shadow had talked; it taunted her with her worst fears. Her hands squeezed the edge of the porcelain sink, the shadow had threatened death, to her everything. She was powerless and afraid, in her dreams she couldn't fight back. A knock sounded at the door.
"Raven are you awake?"
Raven left the bathroom and walked to the door. She tapped the button on the door frame, and the metallic door slid into the wall. On the opposite side of the door stood a green boy, he had jade colored eyes and grass colored hair. With darker green skin to match, he had on white and blue plaid shorts with a white shirt covering his chest. On the center of the shirt was an animated green monkey. He was just barely taller than her. Beastboy. Raven leaned against the door frame she was tired, but too tired to sleep. Beastboy rocked from heal to toe, unable to stand still like a little kid waiting in line at a theme park. Raven kept a face of indifference, as she always did. There was no way for her to control her emotions, and intern her powers if she did not. In her usual monotone voice she addressed the boy at her bedroom door.
"What do you want Beastboy?" her voice came out hoarse but she coughed correcting it. Beastboy looked at her a little concerned then shuffled once more.
"The storm is keeping everyone up; we thought you might want to join us for a movie"
"No thank you." Raven turned on her heal and the door slid shut once more.
"Rae is everything okay." Beast boy's muffled voice came through the door. Raven slid her back along her side of the door. She was just so tired.
"I am fine Beastboy." Her monotone remained but her voice showed her exhaustion. She could not remember the last time she had slept for a full night; sitting on the floor leaning her head against the door she exhaled a long breath, crossing her legs. After a few moments of silence, Beastboy spoke again.
"Goodnight Raven, we're in the common room if you change your mind."
Raven listened to his light steps disappear down the corridor. Pulling her knees to her chest Raven evened out her breathing. In, out, in, out. She chanted her mantra, hoping for clarity for peace. Laying her head on her knees, Raven squeezed her eyes shut.
The dream was different. The darkness had already swallowed everything, it was just Raven. Nothing else. Her blue boots didn't touch the ground, and her dark blue cape rippled in a nonexistent wind. Raven looked deep into the darkness and saw only black, the air began to tighten, and her cloak wrapped around her torso squeezing. She was paralyzed. Faces began to take shape in the darkness, and a shrill voice chanted from the darkness like a sick nursery rhyme
"We're going to get you."
Raven screamed, and plunged into the darkness.
In a world with far more light, a skilled hacker opened a sliding metallic door into a forbidden room. A green boy ran through the door way with reckless abandon. The room was empty. His knees hit the floor, his eyes searching the room.
"Raven was just here, I just…"
