Disclaimer: See first chapter

The Slightly Bizarre Challenge: Part 2

Raven and Beast Boy watched Slade start the timer at zero. Immediately, the seconds started adding up.

"Let's see if our friends can get out in time," he said maliciously. "Of course, as always during the game, we can see them, but they can't see us. So long, Teen Titans." The television turned off, leaving only a timer, synchronized with the one Slade and his audience were watching.

"So... how do we get outta here?"

Raven looked around their dusty prison. "I could try to ghost through the walls."

"Is that what you call it?"

"That's one term for it," she answered absently. After a short perusal, Raven chose a wall and began to focus. Her body seemed to disintegrate into an obscure mass of dark energy, roughly in the shape of a large black bird. The figure flew quickly toward the wall, straight toward it, and...

"Ugh!"

Raven, back in tangible form, fell to the floor and clutched her head.

"Raven! You okay?" Beast Boy kneeled next to her and tried to examine her head for a cut. "How many fingers do you see?"

Raven focused on his hand. "Six."

Beast Boy sighed in relief and turned his hand back to normal from the mass of squid tentacles. "You're fine. But what happened?"

Raven stood up unsteadily. "I'm not sure." She walked over to the wall she had failed to pass through and gave it a closer look. Carefully, she changed her hand into the ghosting mass and tried to push it through. It was as though her hand was still solid.

"Chrystium," she said, dropping her arm.

"What?"

"Chrystium. It's an element not of Earth. My powers have no effect on it."

"Not of Earth?" Beast Boy shook his head. "But, how could the walls be made of the stuff? Where could Slade have gotten it from?"

Raven looked at him. "What makes you think Slade got it?"

"Well, this is his show. He probably found out your weakness and got this element from wherever it came from just to keep us from escaping."

Raven clenched her teeth. "But it's impossible for a human to get at."

"Why?"

"Because chrystium only grows in hell."

Beast Boy was silent with shock. "How do you know?"

The look she gave him was withering. "My father is a demon. Hell is his native land. He once sent me a piece of chrystium. It's impossible for a human to get anywhere in hell and stay alive."

Beast Boy thought this over. "Then what's your theory?"

Raven walked to the other side of the closet slowly, a frown of concentration on her face. "The only possible way for Slade to get chrystium is if he had a contact in hell. Some demon ally."

"Your father?"

Raven shook her head. "My father doesn't do anything for anyone. Ever. Not even Satan."

Beast Boy rubbed the back of his neck. It was one thing to know his friend was a half-demon. It was another one entirely to know her father not only knew Satan, but openly defied him. "Well, any idea who it could have been?"

She shook her head. "There are millions of demons. Any one of them would help a human, for the right price."

Beast Boy sighed. "Well, I guess it doesn't matter. Knowing who Slade's cronies are won't help us get out of here." He tapped at the wall. "Steel. I could probably break through."

"Except that it's inlaid with diamonds."

Beast Boy looked at her. " 'Scuse me?"

"The walls are inlaid with diamonds as well as chrystium. Pretty thick layers, if my guess is correct. I doubt any creature could break through."

Beast Boy sat down on one of the three crates in the room. "So, we're stuck."

Raven looked bleakly at the wall. "I guess so."

The clock read, "1:03:45"

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