Haunted
Part of the Aftershock Series
A/N: This is part of the small series of stories I'm writing. I suggest you read 'Aftershock' before this so you sort of understand what's going on. Otherwise, this is just the version of Haunted if Terra had lived. Here's the first half!
Part I
I've never been so happy. I've never felt so free. So in control. I've been a Titan for about two months now. Slade has been dead for almost three. Even when I was a Titan before, I still felt that twinge of guilt every night before going to bed. Before I betrayed them. But now, there's none of that. I sleep without guilt, without the nightmares that haunted me in the night and even in the broad day light.
But, you know, there is still something haunting me... It makes no sense to me, to this day. Beastboy always tells me I'm just being silly, and I shouldn't worry about it. But I wonder how I killed Slade, when the entire team of Titans hadn't been able to.
Maybe it was because I knew so much about him. After all, he had taught me everything I knew about fighting.
But it still doesn't make sense.
Maybe... maybe he isn't dead.
No, I'm being paranoid. It's just the weather outside... The darkening clouds hinted a long night of thunder and lightning.
I walked down the basement stairs - and although it's pretty creepy - I know nothing would stand a chance against me if someone attempted to attack... Again, I'm being extremely paranoid. I turned on the light, the entire basement flooding with a hazy glow. I knew, down here, there was an old mask of Slade's. It was an old cracked one. Robin told me it was the mask he had worn when he was Slade's apprentice.
When he had turned on his friends.
Like Beastboy, Robin and I have grown to become great friends. I think it's because we share a common trait... We're both weak in our own way, and Slade found that weakness. Of course, no one's conversation has drifted anywhere near Slade. Any conversations the Titans and I have are usually about Brother Blood - and we tend not to speak of him near Cyborg.
I had still been too weak to fight the time Cyborg went undercover to H.I.V.E. Academy. So I stayed home, even when the other Titans went for a full on attack. But the story they told me was pretty scary. If Cyborg had really been fighting the other Titans, not just doing it to trick Brother Blood, I probably would have flown to the H.I.V.E. and knocked the half-man half-robot with multiple chunks of rock (even though I still have a few problems with my powers) until he saw his mistake.
Luckily, that didn't happen.
I looked at the old dusty shelf, carefully pulling a cardboard box down.
"Terra? Is that you down there?" Robin's voice came from the top of the staircase.
"Yeah," I called back, not bothering to glimpse up. I heard him walking down the stairs, and suddenly felt a bit embarrassed for coming down just to look at the mask. I heard Robin heave a quiet sigh as he came closer, seeing what was in my possession.
"It's weird, isn't it?" he asked, kneeling across from me.
"What's weird?" I questioned, looking up at the Boy Wonder.
Robin lifted the mask from the box, a cloud of dust following, causing the both of us to cough. After the dust had settled, he spoke again, "Not fighting Slade."
I nodded, "Well, maybe it's for the best. After all, we've got a whole bunch of new enemies..."
"Yeah," Robin sighed again, setting the mask down. "But I just can't help and feel..." he trailed off.
"...that he's still out there somewhere?" I finished for him. I picked up the mask, tracing the crack with my finger.
He smiled slightly, "Yeah."
"Robin? Terra?" Cyborg called.
"Down here!" I shouted.
Cyborg made his way down the stairs, shaking his head. "Come on you guys," he said, his voice showing pity. "The guy is dead."
"I know," Robin said.
"It's just hard to accept it, I guess," I said, placing the mask in the box, then setting the box back on it's shelf.
Suddenly the familiar alarm started to go off, and I heard Starfire yell out something to the other two Titans.
Cyborg prompted a screen on his arm, letting out an irritating, "Ugh."
"What is it?" Robin demanded, ready for battle as always.
"Cinderblock. He's broken out of jail," Cyborg said.
My stomach flipped, once or twice, as I gaped at Cyborg. Cinderblock had been put in jail after I had killed Slade and he had been separated from Plasmus and Overload. Usually, an attack by Cinderblock was led by Slade...
With the foreshadowing weather - and the fact that I had just come down the stairs to look at Slade's mask - it was hard not to assume Slade was behind this.
"Come on Terra! Let's go!" Robin ordered, already halfway up the stairs.
I exhaled, repeating in my head, 'Slade is dead!' then running up the stairs after the other Titans. I knew the drill for battle - but I was still getting used to my own way of controlling my powers. I sprinted out the door, lifting a rock to serve as transportation as Starfire and Raven flew out the door. I jumped on as Beastboy flew past me in the shape of a bird. I grinned weakly as I sped off after Star and Raven, Cyborg and Robin - in their respective vehicles - not far behind.
We arrived in a park, where Cinderblock was busy causing his normal ruckus. I didn't hear what Robin yelled at him - all I heard was the familiar, "Titans! Go!" and I smashed my transportation rock into Cinderblock. If there was even the slightest chance he was doing something for Slade - who I continued to repeat in my head was dead - he wouldn't get far in his mission.
"Terra! Give me a lift!" Robin yelled.
"Right!" I used my terra-kinesis to lift Robin up to Cinderblock's height. I lifted myself up as well, binding Cinderblock's feet to the ground so Robin could attack.
I wasn't ready, though, for Cinderblock's aggravated yell as he slammed his weight into my rock. I lost control of my power, and both Robin and I went flying down a weedy hill.
"Terra, you all right?" Robin asked.
I let out a groan, letting him know I was okay. I felt small scrapes and bruises on my arms and legs from the tumble as I stood up. "Yeah," I grumbled. I faced Robin, who rubbed the back of his head. The air was redolent with the aroma of rain, and I felt cold drops hit my face as I groaned again. Cinderblock was going to--
"Hello Robin."
I froze in place, seeing nothing but the mix of emotions on Robin's face. Hatred, anger, hostility, and fear. That... It couldn't have been Slade's voice... I heard it though. I knew it was his voice.
"Slade," Robin spat, the name venomous to my ears. He pulled out his bo-staff, running past me as I turned.
My body shuddered as I looked at the man dressed in black and red. Lightning struck across the sky as Robin neared him, and I felt a sudden hostility grow inside myself as well. "No!" I screamed, lifting a rock that probably weighed over a few hundred pounds. I let out a cry as the familiar golden aura appeared in my eyes, and the rock sped toward Slade. I felt a smile creep on my lips, knowing he wouldn't be able to dodge such an object... I watched it slam into the tree as lightning struck again, thunder crashing in my ears. 'Yes!' I had to have hit him!
"You've lost your touch Terra," Slade taunted. He was behind me! "Come, let's see how you two have weakened while I was away." He jumped up into a tree, watching our every move.
"Come on Terra!" Robin screamed at me, leaping after Slade.
I lifted myself up with a rock, weaving through the trees. I didn't have enough control yet to fly and fight at the same time, so all I could do was keep up as Robin attempted to fight our nemesis. Had we really gotten this much weaker? Robin couldn't even hit him! And the rain was getting worse - I could feel the rocky dirt I was using to fly become muddy, and I began to fear losing my grip.
"What are you planning Slade?!" Robin demanded, yelling over the thunder.
"Sonic generators, Robin. Three of them. Placed at the city's fault lines. In three hours they will go off, causing an earthquake large enough to destroy your entire city," Slade explained.
"I'll stop it!" I voiced, wondering why Slade would do a project like that when he knew exactly how strong my powers were. Maybe I wouldn't be able to stop it...
Slade laughed, each chuckle making my blood boil with anger. "You aren't strong enough."
'No!' I had to be strong enough! "Then I'll stop you now!" I screeched, landing on a branch. I threw the rock at Slade - but he dodged again! This time he landed on the forest floor, Robin diving after him, throwing his bo-staff at an immense speed.
Lighting continued to rip across the sky as I watched the staff fall and land... on the ground! No! Why could neither Robin or I hit Slade?! I let a rock catch me as I jumped down, Robin and I silently scanning for Slade...
But he had disappeared as easily as he had appeared.
How was this all happening?
I looked at Robin, his teeth grinding together and his eyes narrowed angrily. His hair was matted down on his head, unable to stand up with the weight of the rain water. "I can't believe he's alive."
I was silent, not understanding it myself. I had killed Slade. I watched that rock pierce through his body. I had heard each one of his ribs shatter. Why was he still alive?!
"Hello?!!!" Beastboy's irritated voice yelled.
"What happened to you two?" Cyborg called out.
I looked up, seeing the other four Titans make their way toward us. I was still speechless...
"We had to fight Cinderblock on our own! We could have used your help!" Beastboy accused. "And now, I..." he inhaled a few short times, then sneezed, changing into a mouse. He changed back into his human form and groaned, "Great," he said in a nasally voice, "Now I have a cold."
"Slade's alive!" Robin snapped.
The four Titans froze, "Alive?" Starfire echoed, her lime green eyes widening.
"But how?" asked Raven.
"Are you sure?" Beastboy questioned.
"Yes, we're sure," I said, my voice hardly heard over the rain and thunder.
Robin seemed to be more upset than even I was. "I don't know how but he's already got trouble planned for the city. He's planted sonic generators on the fault lines of the city, and in three hours they're going to cause an earthquake!"
"Well, that's what we have Terra for," Beastboy said simply.
I shook my head, "My power isn't enough to stop it."
"Exactly." Robin began to take charge again, "Cyborg, I want you to check the warehouse. Raven, check the center of town. Beastboy, check the pier. If you find them, deactivate them. Starfire, you're coming with me and Terra. We're going to find Slade."
The other Titans nodded, and began to search for the generators. Starfire looked at Robin and I with a strange, puzzled face as we began to venture through the forest. "I cannot believe that Slade is alive still," she said quietly.
"Me either," I agreed. But I knew he was...
"We're going to find him and--" Robin stopped.
Slade stood in a clearing, "Good Robin. You've found me again."
Robin let out an angry yell, and ran with great speed at Slade.
I followed him, feeling more strength and confidence that we had another member to help us fight. I threw more rocks at Slade, who smashed them with his own staff identical to Robin's. Somehow, he managed to block my rocks, and Robin's constant attacks.
Where was Starfire? I didn't have to think about it as I saw Slade evade Robin and slip past me, sprinting toward Star. "Look out!" I yelled at her. I hoped she had enough to stop Slade in his tracks.
Starfire heard me, and strained her vision to see him, but as lighting continued to cut the sky, Slade ran right past her.
"What are you doing?!" I shrieked.
Robin sprinted up the small hill toward Starfire. Angrily, he grabbed her arm, "Why didn't you stop him?!"
Starfire's eyes widened more, and she let out a quiet whimper, "Robin, you are hurting me!"
"Slade ran right past you!" he screamed.
I ran up the hill, clenching my fists. I couldn't believe the alien girl! Yes, she's quite the ditz at times, but to be staring right at Slade as he sped past her?! "What's your deal?" I demanded.
"I saw no one..." Starfire said, her hair dripping from the rain.
A/N: Part II coming in the next few days! Please review!