Haunted
Sequel to Aftershock
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 second half!
Part II
I stared at the Tamaranian with wide eyes. My jaw was down, and the silence between us was deafening until Robin's T-com went off.
"What?" Robin rudely answered. I understood his anger though.
"I'm at the bridge, I don't see any kind of generator," Cyborg said.
"Nothing here either," Raven said, shielding herself from the rain with her magic.
"Nothing at the..." Beastboy stopped, his sentence interrupted by a multitude of sneezes and animal forms. When he stopped and became human again, he finished, "...pier..."
I shook my head, "It makes no sense! Why would Slade say there's something and there isn't..."
"There has to be," Robin growled. "I'll have to look for it myself."
I was cold, and I didn't want to argue. I was upset and scared. Slade was alive. Yet somehow, Starfire couldn't see him... Nothing was making any sense. "Well, I'm coming with you."
"No, I'll go alone Terra. I don't want anything bad to happen to you," Robin said, shutting off his T-com.
"But Robin," Starfire said gently, "Terra saw Slade too. Perhaps it is better if she comes - we all will."
"Fine," Robin muttered. "Just don't get in my way." He stalked off back toward the road, leaving me with Starfire.
"Terra..." Starfire seemed afraid I would also hurt her, or become upset with her. "Are you positive you saw Slade? You and Robin seemed to be fighting with some invisible creature..."
I nodded. There was no mistake. That was Slade... Not even one of Slade's robots would be able to block both mine and Robin's attacks. He just wore a cloaking device of some sort... 'Yeah.' That was it. I began to follow Robin, a suddenly shy and quiet Starfire behind me. I reached the road, seeing Robin jump on his motorcycle, and he zoomed off into the rainy night without us. "Hey!" I yelled. I didn't know where he was going, but I had to follow. Leaping on a rock, I yelled back at Starfire, "Tell the other Titans to meet at the tower! I'll bring Robin!" I just hoped she heard all I said as she became a small dot behind me. I had to catch up with Boy Wonder or I'd never be able to find him...
The familiar roar of his motorcycle reached my ears as I saw him at an intersection. Up ahead was the warehouse - definately his destination. I knew he'd try to send me back if he found me at the entrance, so I decided I had to get there before him. I took a shortcut, flying above the buildings then weaving down into the barren warehouse. I figured it was inside - outside was too obvious and absolutely un-Slade-like. I steered my rock into the entrance, keeping it low so I'd be a harder target to hit.
The halls of the warehouse were dark and eerie, a faint yellow glow from a single bulb the only source of light. I was still a bit afraid, but I put my fears aside. I had to find Slade and I had to defeat him.
And make sure he stayed that way.
I stood up, leaving my rock lift and walked into a giant storage room. A sonic generator would give off some light or noise, wouldn't it? I walked through the large room, sighing. Maybe Slade really was dead... "This is pointless," I said, reminding me of something Raven would say. I jumped, gasping as I heard glass shatter, and the light went out.
"Pointless, is it?"
I spun on my heel, my heart skipping a beat or two when I heard Slade's voice. As I spun, I saw the hated man, and his fist connected with my jaw. I let out a pained cry as I was sent into a large metal cabinet.
"Now, my dear apprentice," Slade stood above me, and I knew if he wasn't masked, he'd be smirking, "You couldn't have weakened that much while I was gone - could you?"
I clenched my fists, summoning my boulder that I had left in the hall. "I'm a lot stronger than you ever taught me to be!" I yelled, bringing the boulder toward me. It hovered behind Slade, but he didn't seem to notice it.
"Then maybe you'll succeed at killing me today."
An angry yell escaped my lips and I let the boulder fly at Slade while I leapt at him, my emotions getting the best of me. Like Raven, my powers do act upon emotion - but only the strongest of emotions. Now, my powers lifted me up, giving me more speed as I attempted to hit Slade.
But Slade was better.
Another fist of his connected with my body, and my rocks fell from the air.
"Terra!" I heard Robin yell.
The Boy Wonder leaped in the air, swinging his bo-staff at Slade - but he too missed. Unfortunetly, Slade didn't. Robin was thrown against a wall...
More and more of our attempted - even as a team - attacks failed, but Slade's hit us easily.
I stood parellel from Robin, Slade in between both of us. Robin's clothes were torn and his left eye was black, visible even though he wore his mask. I knew my nose was broken, and my skin was bruised and cut.
"You've become weak while I was gone Robin. And Terra, everything I taught you..." Slade taunted.
How was Slade so strong? Both Robin and I ran in for an attack, but failed. I was kicked into the cement wall and Robin was slammed to the ground.
"Robin!" Starfire's high pitched voice shrieked.
"Terra!" called Beast Boy - even in his nasal voice.
"Slade!" Robin cried hoarsely. I could tell he was weakening - and I knew I was too.
Starfire lifted her hand, emitted an eerie green light as Cyborg lit up more of the room with his own mechanical light.
Slade was gone. Vanished... I cursed under my breath. He must have escaped when we were distracted by the Titans.
"There is no one else here," Raven shook her head.
"And what? We did this to ourselves?" I snapped, the light illuminating each of my wounds.
Robin walked over to me, gently helping me up. His eyes were narrowed, even though one was large and swollen. "Slade is alive."
"But how?" Cyborg inquired. "We all saw Terra kill him. We burned his body."
'Burned his body...?' Why hadn't I been told of this? And... how was it possible he was alive...?
"I don't care!" Robin screamed, "Slade is alive! I'll stop him and anyone who gets in my way!" He pulled out a birderang, his tone threatening.
I clenched my teeth, seeing the shocked faces on the others. "Don't think we won't." My hands gave off a golden aura. I hated to fight them - especially after what I had done to them before... But this was Slade. We had to defeat him. For good this time.
Suddenly, I heard the familiar 'chink' of Starfire's powers, and everything became black.
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"What's wrong with them?" I heard Starfire's gentle voice.
I opened my eyes, my body shivering. I realized I was in the infirmatry, then realized I was also strapped down to the bed I was placed on. Struggling against my bounds, I winced as each bruise caused tears to sting in my eyes.
"What I don't get, is how they both saw Slade, yet none of us could..." Cyborg sighed.
"There seems to be nothing wrong," Raven spoke.
"There has to be!" Beast Boy yelled angrily and nasily.
"Yes!" Starfire pounded her fist against something, emphasizing her emotions, "Robin would not be upset with me if something was not wrong!"
"Calm down Starfire," Raven ordered.
Starfire sighed loudly, "But why must we do this?"
"They threatened us Star," Cyborg
I groaned, trying to concentrate my power. I had to get out. I had to find Slade.
I had to kill him.
"Don't worry Robin," I heard Slade speak. I craned my neck to see past the curtain seperating Robin and myself, but I couldn't. I had to rely on the silouttes to see what was going on. "You're never alone as long as I am here."
"His heart!" yelled Raven.
"No human can survive that!" Cyborg said, obviously panicked.
"This won't hurt a bit..." Slade spoke cooly.
I saw something electrical through the curtain, and gasped. He was going to kill Robin! I squeezed my eyes shut, summoning my powers. I heard Starfire let out a surprised shriek as a giant boulder smashed in through the infirmatry's door. Using my power, I broke the boulder, and sharpened each softball sized rock so it would cut my binds. Not bothering to wonder why I hadn't thought of it before, I jumped up, sending the jagged rocks flying at Slade's silloutte.
Robin jumped through the curtain, grabbing my wrist, "Take us up there!" he ordered.
I threw a rock into Robin's hand and one into my own, "Hold on!" I yelled as the two rocks lifted our bodies up into the vent he had directed me to.
We landed near a large fan, and he quickly pulled out a small computer, his fingers flying across the keypad.
"What are you doing?" I asked, bewildered at the thought of playing games at a time like this. I heard a loud whoosh and the loud caterwaul of the other Titans.
"Lockdown. No one can get in - or leave the tower. Not even Slade," Robin said.
"You must think you're clever," Slade hissed, punching Robin in the back.
I clenched my fists, realizing my powers were of no use. I'd have to rely on my physical strength, but it was draining quickly. I watched as Slade hovered over Robin, readying an attack, and I prepared to slam all my weight into him - praying to knock him into the fans...
I stepped back, hearing a loud cry. "Terra!" Raven's voice spoke in my mind.
"Raven?" I spoke, not with my voice, but my mind. "What are you doing...?"
"Terra, your body is on the verge of breaking down. You're still too weak!"
I shook my head, "But SLADE!"
"Terra, none of us saw him. Let me in your mind..."
I felt like Raven was pushing me - pushing inside me - and I sort of sat back... letting Raven control me, at least for a moment. She was right... I was... so tired.
"See Terra, there is no Slade..." she used my eyes to look around... She was right... He wasn't there. "It's all in your--" she was interrupted by a powerful blow into her - rather, my - jaw.
I heard her cry out, as did I, as she was forced out of my mind, and I was forced to the ground. But Slade quickly turned back to Robin. Fatigue was tugging on my powerfully, and I didn't know how much longer I could go on. I saw Slade throw Robin through a wall, and winced. "Robin!" I yelled, getting up weakly and chasing after Slade who was now knocking Robin down the basement stairs.
Robin, too, was losing energy, and I saw the pain in his face with each hit he took from Slade. But Robin couldn't get back up. He layed on the ground, mumbling.
"Leave him alone!" I screamed at Slade. I jumped from a decent height, readying to slam my foot into the man who ruined my life - but he once again dodged! He grabbed my waist, tossing me against the wall. I cried out in pain, feeling blood trickle in my mouth.
"Please... stop this Slade..." Robin begged as he was kicked again by the villain.
"No. I'll never stop, Robin," he hissed. "I'm the one who'll always be one step ahead... I'm the shadow that haunts every dark corner of your mind..."
I watched Robin slowly stand, using the wall for support. I spat out blood from my mouth, glaring at Slade who inched near Robin. "Stop!" I yelled, my voice wavering because of the blood. I supported myself up on the wall as well, "It's me you want... I killed you... not Robin..."
Slade faced me, then quickly threw a punch at me, which I somehow dodged, but ended up on the ground. "After all you did to them... The Titans still accepted you. They're just fools to accept a sneaky witch like you..."
"Shut up!" I warned, my body shuddering violently as my eyes began to glow yellow. I knew I was too weak to use my power - but there was the chance that Slade didn't know.
"After all this..." Robin heaved difficult breaths as he spoke, "...you don't even have a scratch..."
I suddenly came to his realization. Even Slade was human... but he never took a hit from any of us. Starfire didn't see him when he ran past her... No one saw him in the warehouse... and...
I killed him.
I know I did. They burned his body. He's dead...
"Only in the dark..." Robin continued to put the puzzle together, "You're not real!"
"I'm real enough to finish you off!" Slade growled, leaping at Robin.
I watched it, my jaw falling as I saw Slade reach to attack him... then suddenly disappeared. Robin had turned on the light... and Slade had... disappeared...
"Lights out, Slade," Robin sighed, half in relief, half in exhausion, and collapsed to his knees.
I felt my eyes closing, and fear washed over me that I wouldn't wake up... but I didn't care... I just... wanted to sleep... I could hear Starfire zoom down the stairs, comforting the half-conscious Robin. I felt Beastboy and Raven shaking me awake, but with a quiet groan, I fell into the dark.
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"...Slade pulled off one last trick," Cyborg said quietly. "Chemicals in the mask made you believe he was real."
I opened my eyes, greeted by the light of the infirmatry that shone like empyrean above me. I could hear other quiet murmurs of the Titans, and a sneeze or two from Beastboy. I groaned, a slight pain shooting through my body as I sat up. Everyone hushed, looking at me.
"Hey Terra," Robin spoke finally. He looked worse than ever, black and blue and bloody. I knew I was too.
"Wh-what happened?" I asked, my mind a jumble after a long night.
"Remember when we went downstairs and looked at Slade's old mask?" Robin asked.
I nodded slightly, the event seeming like an eternity before.
"And the dust that made us cough?"
I shrugged, not remembering that as well. "Maybe." My voice was hoarse, and I still tasted blood.
"Slade put some chemical in his mask, and it made us see, hear, and feel that he was real," Robin said.
It made sense - I guess. It's something only Slade could pull off. "S-so," I asked shakily, "he really is..."
"Yes. He's dead," Raven answered, "You made sure of that months ago."
"It is all right now friend. You may rest," Starfire smiled, patting my hand.
Each of the Titans, except Robin, exited the infirmatry, and I exhaled. "I really... had thought he was back... you know?"
Robin gave a crooked smile, "You aren't the only one."
I looked at my hands, not wanting to remember Slade anymore. "I'm sorry," I whispered.
"For what?" Robin asked, puzzled.
"Everything I did..." I said softly.
"Terra," Robin sighed. "You know we forgive you..."
I nodded, "Sometimes... I just forget..."
Robin set his hand on my bruised shoulder, and I winced. He gently took it off, then walked out, saying nothing.
I think it's best left at that... Slade is dead.
He can't haunt my thoughts anymore.
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A/N: Sowwy. I meant to get this up a lot earlier but with school and other crap I've been busy. Hope you liked it! Please, oh please review! -Letselina