Chapter 2! Enjoy! I think this is longer...
The teen was already in the infirmary by the time the others came.
"Did he get worse?" Robin questioned.
Starfire sighed, "I believe he has. I can feel how cold he is from here."
Robin faced Raven. "Can you see if he's become worse for wear?"
The sorceress nodded, crossing her legs and floating in the air. After a moment, she opened her eyes and frowned.
"I can't tell. It's either his powers messing up my telepathy, or…" She didn't finish the sentence.
"Try to do everything you—" Robin was cut off as the teen on the bed jerked and sat up.
His eyes burned with green fire as he looked around. "Who are you?" he said in a low voice. "Why am I restrained? Where have you taken me?" The Titans noticed his skin pale as he struggled against his bonds.
"Calm down," Robin said. "You collapsed in battle. Do you remember anything?"
The teen froze, the look in his eyes distant, as if his mind was somewhere else than in the room. After a moment, he shuddered and his eyes refocused. His electric gaze was fixed on Robin.
"You're Robin, aren't you?" he said. His voice held a dark menace in it, and Beast Boy sensed dangerous emotions rolling off the white-haired teen.
"Yes," Robin answered. "Who are you?"
The teen began to answer, but sudden, harsh coughing racked his unnaturally thin body. He struggled against the chains.
"Release him," Robin ordered. "He'll hurt himself otherwise." Beast Boy unfastened the shackles. Almost immediately, the boy threw his long legs over the edge of the bed, doubling over as he continued to cough. Robin noticed his brush something that looked like green blood away from his mouth.
"Phantom," the teen choked out. His green stare shone through his white hair as he looked up. "Why am I in Titans Tower?"
"How do you know about us?" Robin said.
Phantom let out a quiet laugh. "How could I not? You're practically legends."
"We are?" Beast Boy became excited. Cyborg placed a hand on his shoulder before he could explode.
"Where do you live?" Robin continued.
Phantom startled them with a scowl. "Where I used to live was Amity Park."
Robin nodded. "You've come a long way. How did you get here, and who came with you?"
Phantom growled and stood, advancing on Robin. "Who are you to question me? Why do you want to know?"
Robin, seeming unfazed by the teen's anger, stared up at him. "You already know who I am. You're going to answer my questions if you don't want to be held prisoner."
To their surprise, Phantom laughed bitterly. "Do you think a little jail cell can hold me? You've no idea what I'm capable of."
Robin crossed his arms. "No, we don't, but I know why you're here."
Phantom's growls were deeper and quieter. "Why?"
"You need an escape from grief. Everyone you ever cared about is gone," Robin said.
What happened next occurred in a few seconds.
Phantom had the leader by his shirt front and held him against a wall. His teeth—dangerous looking fangs—were bared. The others forced him back on the bed with some struggle. Robin rubbed at his throat and approached the teen with menace in his stride when Phantom doubled over again. The coughs were harder and more green blood came up.
"What is that, snot?" Beast Boy said in a disgusted tone.
Phantom shook his head. "Ectoplasm," he whispered. His hands shook and his breathing was ragged. Robin saw his eyes glaze over. Raven knew something was wrong and mentally put Phantom into unconsciousness.
"Robin," she said. "Isn't ectoplasm—?"
"—what ghosts are made of? Yes."
I woke on the bed again. My body ached and I realized I was still restrained. My first instinct was to go intangible, but that idea was quickly obscured, as it would sap my strength.
It won't fuel your anger, though. That is its own story. I scowled and shook my head, making it pound. Out of the corner of my eyes, a shadow moved. I narrowed my eyes.
"Relax," a low female voice said. "I'm not going to do anything." She stood. I realized that it was the Goth girl I'd seen before I passed out.
"You're the one that forced me into unconsciousness," I said. Her aura was easily recognized as one of Azar.
"How did you know?" she said.
I felt my mouth curve into what I hoped was a smile—my grins weren't that encouraging anywhere, with my fangs—but the girl was unfazed. She came closer and I could see her features better in the moonlight. She had shoulder-length purplish-black hair and grayish skin, with dark purple eyes. She wore a dark blue cloak, and its hood was down.
"So you're Raven." My grin vanished as my body nearly went intangible, and Raven felt my pain.
"This should help," she said, loosening the restraints. "They limit their captive's abilities." Her dark gaze found me. "I'll try to talk Cyborg into lowering their force." She was suddenly closer to me.
"How long have you been sick?"
"What makes you think—?"
She shook her head. "Don't lie; I can tell. You've passed out twice in the past four hours; you are pale and have irregular breathing." Raven stared harder at me.
She knows something, the voice in my head said. Be careful and choose your words wisely. But Raven continued.
"Were you ever going to tell us that you were dead?"
Raven knew she shouldn't have said anything about Phantom's death, but she couldn't restrain herself around the strange boy. Before he could answer, though, the door opened. It was Beast Boy.
"Your shift's over," he said. "It's my turn."
"Where's Robin?"
The changeling's eyes locked with hers. "Where do you think he is?"
She sighed mentally. Phantom, on the bed, went into another coughing fit.
"Shouldn't we give him something for that?" Beast Boy asked.
Raven shook her head. "He's obviously not human. He could be affected by anything we give him."
Phantom stopped coughing. "I can take anything. I don't have allergies."
The door opened. It was Cyborg, carrying a tray laden with food and unrecognizable pills. "You left this in the kitchen," Cyborg said to Beast Boy. Phantom looked up at the Titan, his lips pulling back to expose his fangs. Beast Boy felt the anger and wariness Phantom gave off.
Cyborg did as well, and he became cautious as he entered the room. "This is for you," he said to the ghost, putting the tray on the table near the bed. Phantom said nothing, but continued to glare at Cyborg. Phantom stood slowly, towering over Cyborg. He looked ready to attack until a black barrier appeared in between the two.
"Stop it, both of you," Raven said. Her eyes were glowing white. "Cyborg, leave. Phantom may be unwell, but he is strong enough to disrupt my magic." Cyborg hesitated, but Raven's hair blew wildly as she hissed, "Go!" making him leave.
"Dude, what was that all about?" Beast Boy demanded. "You nearly attacked my best friend!"
Phantom snarled and fixed his green-fire gaze on the shapeshifter. Despite his anger, Raven and Beast Boy noticed the ghost's even paler skin and shaking hands.
"Phantom, Robin still needs to ask you some questions," Raven said. "You need to be awake in order for him to do so."
To their surprise, Phantom didn't growl at the mention of Robin.
"Fine. Let's get this over with."
Yes, I know Phantom's kind of temperamental, but what would you expect after having everything you loved for destroyed?
Also, Phantom has more abilities than he did in the series. They will be explained later on.
Review, pleaze! :)