Note: all dream-like scenes, thoughts and visions (past, present, and future) are in Italic.
Note: all writhing, spells and noises are in bold.
I still don't own anything except ghost, spirit and phantom.
Chapter 8 – Old wounds
Raven's POV
Whenever I looked at his motionless body, I could not forget that look of total shock that he had when he was suddenly shot in the chest. And I cannot forget the massive spike of emotions that suddenly flowed though my body when I saw him fall towards the ground. Nothing that I have ever felt compared to that, and whenever I asked my emotions what had happened they all replied that "I will soon understand".
As I stare at his body, I wish that he would just sit up suddenly and shout out "I got you good, Rae!"
But I know that he won't. Cyborg explained to me that because of the amount of blood that Beast Boy had loss; that he would likely be in a 'vegetable' state for another three weeks, at the least.
Three more weeks. Three more weeks of cyborg working furiously to ensure that Beast Boy is fine. Three more weeks of Robin working furiously at the computer to try and hunt down Ghost and his minions. Three more weeks of Starfire flying around the tower aimlessly. Three more weeks of Beast Boy fighting his wounds to wake up. Three more weeks of me regretting every insult and back-lash that I gave him, because I may never have the chance to apologise.
As I continue to look at his limp form, I couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking about; and if he was thinking about us in whatever world he had created for himself to live in alone. Then again, how will he be able to live with himself for another three weeks? He usually can't go an hour without telling a joke or complaining that he's bored or...
But why does he usually tell ME the jokes or that he is bored? Why not anyone else? Unless... unless he wanted to spend more time with me! But why would he want to spend more time with me, of all people? Unless...
"I see that you haven't left for a drink or anything. So it's a good thing that I decided to make one for you." Mumbled Cyborg as he walked into the room, carrying a tray of gadgetry and a tea-cup filled with green tea. He walked towards a small table that he had cleared before he left, and he then placed the tray onto the table before passing me the cup of tea. I nodded in acknowledgement as I grabbed the the cup and placed it onto a nearby table. I turned to look at cyborg, and I saw that he was in a terrible state. His human eye was slightly bloodshot from the lack of rest; his usually bright robot eye was dull from running on a low amount of energy; and his metal body-work was dull and unlaundered. After looking at Cyborg for a moment, I asked "How are you feeling?"
Cyborg turned to face me, and I could see that his human eye was void of any emotions. Just like me when I was younger. I thought. He replied "I'm doing fine, Raven. I'm just tired." in a emotionless voice; before turning back to Beast Boy's limp form.
I thought for a moment; before asking "Do you want me to look after him for a while?"
Cyborg turned back to me, with a look of confusion written across his face. "What do you mean?" he asked.
I looked him in the eye and said "I'm not planning on leaving for a while, so you better go recharge yourself for a while; while you have this chance. And don't worry, if anything happens; I'll call you over immediate." I looked at Cyborg as his mentally fought with himself, before he gave up and he started to drag himself towards; while muttering "OK, Raven, I'll go rest; but come get me if Anything happens, no matter how trivial." And with that, he had dragged himself out of the room and towards his room to recharge.
I turned my attention back to Beast Boy's limp form as I levitated the cup of tea to my hands and taking a small sip; as I started to wonder how Robin was getting on with his 'information retrieval' mission.
Robin's POV
As I jumped across the rooftops of the docks, I started to wonder if there would be anything relating to Ghost's gang. However, after three and a half hours of searching for evidence of Ghost's whereabouts; I was starting to think that this was a wasted effort. He landed softly on top of the three-story bar, and looked out at the sea and towards the titan tower. I lightly sighed as I remembered one of the last conversations I had with Beast Boy. Why did I blame him? I thought, as I stared at the tower.
Suddenly, I heard a familiar voice behind me say "To protect your image as a leader, and to protect your ego?"
I spun around quickly, and I saw that I was alone on the rooftop. As I slowly walked towards the middle of the roof, I heard the voice say "Is it because you are Jealous of the power that he has access to; or could it be the fact that you both suffered similar tragedies, and that he grew up to be 'normal', while you started to slowly become mentally disturbed?"
There was no mistaking the voice now; It was the exact same voice that I heard at jump city's international jewellers. It was Ghost's voice. I started to reach for my belt to alert the rest of the titans about my whereabouts; but I heard Ghost say "Don't bother trying to communicate with the rest of the titans. By the time they get here; I would have gone."
I thought for a moment about what I should do while watching my surroundings for anything suspicious; and then I said "What do you want from me, Ghost?"
There was a moment of silence, and I was starting to think that the voice was symptom of my lack of sleep; but then I surprised when I heard Ghost say "I want nothing from You, robin.", as he harshly empathised the word 'you'.
I hardly though, before I quickly replyed "Then why are you here, Ghost?"
As I waited for a reply, I reached down to grab my bo-staff but I was suddenly interrupted by Ghost, who took me by surprise by saying "I was just leisurely strolling down the sea-front, and I saw you jumping across rooftop to rooftop; so I decided to find out some information about the green guy's current condition. I think he name was Beast Boy or something..."
I felt myself grab my bo-staft tightly as I glared around the area for any signs of the murderer; before demanding "Why are you so interested in Beast Boy's condition, you heartless monster?"
I waited for a moment for Ghost to reply, when I suddenly felt myself being lifted off of the floor and being slammed into the side of a warehouse next to the bar. I attempted to struggle against the invisible force; but then I saw Ghost standing in front of me, watching me struggle from within the comfort of his shadowy cloak.
After a few moments of Ghost staring at me, he asked "What makes someone a monster, Robin?"
I stopped struggling, and stared at the cloaked figure for a moment, before saying "What?"
Ghost seemed to sigh in frustration, before asking "What makes a perfectly normal person into what society classes as a 'monster'? Is it the appearance and and how someone acts? Is it the things that a person wishes to do to another?"
I attempted to grab a birdarang from his belt, but I found that I was unable to move my arms due to the invisible force: so I looked to Ghost and shouted "Stop playing mind games with me, Ghost; and tell me what you are planning to do!"
Ghost looked at me for a second, before sighing and looking up to the gibbous moon. After a awkward moment of silence, he started to talk again. "You may think that I am just another 'villain', who wants money or power; but I'm not. You may also think that I am just another lunatic who just wants chaos and destruction, like the joker or the scarecrow; but I'm not that either."
As Ghost started to ramble on , I could feel myself becoming more interested about this strange person and how their mind worked. It would come in handy for our next confrontation. I thought as watched Ghost. But suddenly, Ghost stopped talking and stared at me though the shadows of his cloak; before turning away and stating "I would appreciate it if you gave me your full attention when I am talking to you, orphan."
I almost winched at the mention of that word. Orphan. The exact same word that lead me to meet Bruce Wayne, Alfred pennyworth, the Teen Titans, and almost every current criminal in Gotham city and Jump city. I stared at Ghost bitterly and said "What did you just say?"
Ghost turned towards me and said "Well Robin, or should I say Dick Grayson, I said that I wanted you pay more attention to me." He then turned away, lightly chuckling, before saying "And you were meant to be the assistant for batman. You really must have been a disappointment; most likely why he kicked you out of his team."
I stopped care about what I said to this thug at this point, I just wanted to defend myself from his vocal onslaught. I spat "You know nothing about me, monster! You're just another criminal, who will eventually end up being locked up!"
I felt a small piece of pride inside of myself at the sight of Ghost physically winching at my statement. He slowly turned his head towards me and asked "I'm the monster?"
I was about to make a witty comeback but I made eye contact with Ghost, and saw that his eyes were a dark crimson colour. Then I suddenly felt the force that has holding against the wall increase immensely, and all the breath was forced out of me. As I looked at Ghost I saw him slowly walking towards me asking "I'm the Monster?!"
Before I could react, he suddenly appeared a couple of inches in front of me, before bitterly whispering "I am not the monster here."
Suddenly, a window near me on the wall opened and a middle-aged man in a bathrobe stuck his upper body out. "Will you keep the noise down? I'm trying to..." he shouted, before a sickening Snap Echoed throughout the silent street, as the man's body limped over the windowsill. As I started to re-gain my breath, I quickly turned my attention back to Ghost; who seemed to be unfazed by the sudden interruption. However, his eyes were no longer visible though the shadows of his cloak's hood. He seemed to stare though my mask fro a moment before he whispered something. "I don't enjoy killing humans."
I thought for a moment, before asking "What?"
Ghost turned away from me and walked a few steps forwards, before looking up to the star-lit sky. After a few moments Ghost sighed , and then he said "I do not enjoy killing, Robin. I do not like the sound of tearing flesh, or the sight of dripping blood; I have just grown accustom to it. And I hate myself for the actions that I have taken. However, I have a important job to complete; and the end results will justify the means that I have to use."
He then turned back to me and walked a few steps forwards, so that he was only a few inches away from me again. He then stated "There is a big difference between me and you, Robin."
I stared at him for a moment, before asking "What is that difference, then?"
He suddenly grabbed my left hand and placed something in it, before forcing me to clench my hand; and cover the pointed object from my sight. He then backed away into the shadows of the building opposite me, while saying "The difference between you and me, Robin; is that I don't like violence or brutal methods to resolve my problems. You do."
And with that, there was total silence.
After a moment of silence, the invisible force that was holding me to the wall suddenly disappeared; and I was dropped onto the floor on my hands and knees. I instinctively sprinted towards the shadows that Ghost has when into; but there was nothing there. I was about to punch the wall in anger for letting Ghost escape again, but then I remembered that Ghost had left me something in the palm of my hand. I gingerly unclenched my fist and saw that there was a note wrapped around something. I quickly unravelled the note to read it; and I was confused by what it had said. You Are Not The Only Orphan In Your Team.
In my confusion, I looked at the object that the note had hidden from me; and I was shocked to see that it was the Titan Ruby. Then looked towards the sky as I attempted to make sense of the situation that Jump City may be in.
Thank you all for your support of this story, and I am sorry about the amount of time that this took to writ; but I have been busy with lots of work that need to complete right now.
Anyway; Review this and whatever. And don't expect an update soon.
