Chapter 1: A Creeping Shadow
Raven sat at the couch; one leg crossed over the other, her cloak held loosely around her, its hood hanging by her neck. She busied herself with reading 'the Raven' while Robin explained to Starfire how a fridge stayed cold as she interjected with cooing noises of wonder, "…and the motor generates the energy that…" Beastboy fought violently over the remote with Cyborg while the smell of leftover pizza wafted past her. Raven was starting to get annoyed, typical; she didn't know why she bothered staying with the Titans.
"Please be quiet, I am trying to concentr-" Raven stopped in the middle of her complaint as she dropped the black, leather-bound book to the floor, her eyes widening as her breath got caught in her throat. Four baleful eyes stared back at her from the darkness, engulfing her vision; she clutched at the arm of the chair as fear coursed through her.
"Friend, tell us what is wrong," came Starfire's voice, a mere echo to her ears as her vision blurred, several shapes moved around her as she faded away.
Beastboy's voice rang out through the silence, "what just happened? She's freaked out on us before but she's never fainted like that", the four Titans stared at Raven's unconscious body sprawled over the couch, Cyborg lifted his arm as sensors ran an analysis of her.
"My system says she's fine, just blacked out", he turned to Robin with a questioning look, Robin was obviously thinking over what to do while Starfire's eyes gazed back at Raven with obvious concern.
"Take her to her room, she needs some rest, we all do," was Robin's final reply, Cyborg carefully lifted Raven in his arms and moved off towards her room. Beastboy stretched his arms and yawned loudly before wandering limply towards his door.
Starfire's main concern finally came from her bas Robin stepped away from her, "what if Raven does not wake?" Robin looked at her for a second before smiling.
"She will, if she doesn't, we'll get some help," Starfire nodded in response and they both left to go to their separate rooms, though Starfire wasn't truly convinced.
Raven lay in her bed, tossing slightly as clod sweat trickled down her head; a cup suddenly flew across her room and smashed against the wall. Raven awoke suddenly, jumping up and gasping breathlessly, her eyes wide in panic, she took a look around her room before sighing and slumping back to bed, and still not sure of what had happened.
She was awoken again by a strange sensation, as if she was slowly being lowered into icy water, as she looked across her bed, she saw her body disappearing from under it, she tossed the covers over to see arms coming from her bed and slowly pulling her down. Raven screamed loudly but soon had a thin, pale hand clasped tightly around her mouth, she tugged at it as her face disappeared slowly.
Starfire blasted the door apart, her hands and eyes glowing a bright emerald, casting light about the room as she looked to Raven's bed. All Starfire saw was Raven's hand sinking away, she flew across the room and grabbed it, and tugging against the force that dragged Raven under as best she could. A hand whipped out from the shadows and flung inch-long claws across her arm, she screamed in pain, tears streamed from her face as she crashed in the opposite corner, cracks scoring their way across the walls.
The boys entered to find Starfire whimpering in the corner as she clutched her bloody arm and Raven, gone.