One Week
Raven was sitting in the bathroom, shaking. A butcher knife clutched in her hands and a terrified expression on her face. The sounds of someone moving around and breaking things could be heard in the next room. Her room. There was a brief moment of silence, interrupted by the jiggling of the locked doorknob. "I know you're in there!" the person shouted. Tears began to fall down Raven's face as she started to cry. Suddenly, a blade of an axe appeared through the door. Again, the blade smashed through the door, taking more of the door with it. Soon, the hole was big enough that the person on the other end of it could reach in and open the door. As the hand turned the door, Raven brought the knife down to meet the person's wrist. She watched in horror as the gash she left on the hand vanished. No. The door swung open quickly, revealing Chris holding an axe. "Hello Raven," he said softly, grinning maniacally. He raised the axe and Raven let out a blood-curdling scream.
Raven woke up in a cold sweat. She looked at the just now shattered clock next to her bed. 6:30 am. Chris should be getting ready to go to school. She walked out of her room and walked to Chris's. She knocked on his door. He answered, looking a bit groggy. He wasn't wearing a shirt and his jeans loosely fit around his waist because he wasn't wearing a belt. "Morning," he mumbled wiping the sleep from his eyes. "What's up? You look terrible." She didn't say anything, but she wrapped her arms around Chris. "Please be careful!" she cried. Chris lifted her head up. "Don't worry. I know what I'm doing," he said, very reassuringly. She smiled and went back to her room. He got dressed in his new clothes and messed with the pant legs a bit to make them look worn.
He went downstairs and ate a quick breakfast. He went back upstairs and got his stuff together. He borrowed a copy of The Queen of the Damned from Raven. It was written by Kristen's favorite author. He brushed his teeth and put on his eyeliner. Okay, he thought. Go out there and sell it. He said his goodbyes to the Titans as he walked out the door. Raven stood by the window, feeling great unease.
Chris stood in front of his old stomping grounds. Gotham High School. Well, here goes. He walked into the school. The sights and sounds of the years previous greeted him. He saw people he recognized and they stared at him as he walked by. He knew who they were, but they didn't know him. He looked at the clock. Half an hour before school started. All he needed to do was introduce himself to Kristen and then get to know her all over again. He'd go away before school starts and come back right before it ends. Then he saw her. Kristen. She was wearing her black trenchcoat with the zebra stripes on the inside and a plain black fitted shirt. Oh God, he thought. The stripe is green. My favorite color. SNAP OUT OF IT! That's not what you're here for. He shook his head and continued to walk towards her. He took out the book from his bag a couple yards away. As he walked in her direction he "accidentally" bumped into her, causing him to drop his book.
"Oh, I'm sorry," she said bending over to pick up the book. She looked at the cover. "You know this is my favorite book," she said getting up. She looked at the boy who dropped the book. Kristen was momentarily stunned. She had never seen anyone like this boy. Chris was going nuts in his head. This is like last year all over again, he thought. "My name is Kristen Vanness," she said, holding out her hand. "What's yours?" For a brief moment, Chris saw an evil glint in her eye. He held out his hand and said the first name that came into his head. "Hi, I'm Jack Torrance. I just moved here from Jump City," he added. "Oh Jump City? I know some people there." Yeah, I'll bet you do.
She introduced him to the other people she was talking to. I already know these people, he said to himself. The bell rang. "Time for class," Chris said. "I want to hang out after school, though. You can show me around the city. I'm trying to find a Hot Topic in this place. I'll meet you here in the cafeteria after school." She nodded. "Sure. Sounds great." Kristen walked off to her class. He walked off towards the arts classes. When no one was looking he dashed out the door and got his car and drove off.
At around ten after two, Chris got back to the high school and waited by the portables. When the bell rang and the kids let out, he mixed in with the kids and walked back to the school. He walked into the cafeteria and saw Kristen waiting for him. She walked with him out to his car. A blue Escort. "I went out with someone whose mother drove a blue Escort," she commented. "Really? What happened to him?" Chris asked through slightly gritted teeth. "I broke up with him because he was cheating on me." No, I wanted to introduce you to someone from work, he shouted in his head. Let it go, he heard Raven's voice utter. "We'll have to do this date thing some other time," said Chris. "I forgot I've got a lot of unpacking to do at home." Kristen nodded. "Alright. You can just drop me off at home."
Chris pushed play on the player and the Kittie CD was playing. "Oh my God! This is my favorite group!" "Yeah, mine too," Chris lied. Oh I can't believe I just said that, he thought. "Really?" Kristen asked. He nodded. As soon as this is all over, I'm selling this bitch on eBay. He drove up to her house and saw the familiar SUV with an Autism bumper sticker. (Her little brother was Autistic.) "Well thanks for the ride, Jack," she said as she got out. "No problem. I hope we see more of each other." She leaned into the car and kissed him on the cheek. Oh God. "I'm sure we will." And on that note, she walked up to her house and waved goodbye.
Chris drove back to the tower as fast as possible. He walked into the tower at a fast pace and ran up to his room. He wiped the make-up off and put his Titans uniform on. He looked at the calendar. One week. He had one week to kill this girl otherwise he'd go insane or die. He put in his Coldplay CD and looked up at the ceiling. A knock came from the door. "Come in," he said as the song Clocks was playing.
Starfire came into the room. "Friend Pretender I see you are distressed. Is it anything you wish to speak about?" Chris still stared up. "I don't think you can help me. I'm sorry Star." She nodded and walked over and gave him a hug. "If ever you need help, I will always be there for a friend." He smiled. "Thanks."
Starfire nodded and walked out of the room. Wait a minute. I know who can help me.
The next day, he and Raven drove down to Arkham Asylum. He was going to try to talk to Eric. They pulled into the parking lot and walked inside the Gothic-inspired building. This looks more like a prison than an asylum, he thought. They walked up to the receptionist. "Excuse me, I'm looking for Eric Leonard's room," Chris said. She looked up and saw the two of them. She looked at her records and pointed behind her. "Third floor, fifth cell on your right." Raven and Chris got in the elevator. Raven noticed his right arm was twitching again. He sated at the door and felt her arm wrap around his, which made him feel great relief.
The doors opened and the two of them walked out. They walked down the hall and stopped in front of Eric's cell. A shadowed figure was hunched over on a bench. "Eric?" No response. "Eric, it's Chris. Remember me?" The figure looked over at them and walked over to the door. A boy about Chris's age with glasses, looking very bedraggled came into the light. "Chris, it's been a while. Five hundred and thirty-seven days." Chris was feeling really uncomfortable. "Right." I better get to the point. "Listen Eric. I've been having some… disturbing dreams." He looked at Chris dead in the face. "About her?" he asked starting to develop a tic. "Y-y-yes," Chris stammered. "What should I do?" A grin appeared on Eric's face. "There's nothing you can do, my friend." Suddenly, Chris snapped. He reached through the bars and grabbed Eric's clothes. "Listen, I have a good life! It just got better for me and I'm not about to throw it away like you!" He threw Eric back and stormed out of the building. A window shattered as he walked past. Raven jumped a bit. "I think you already have, my friend," Eric said quietly. Raven looked at Eric before following Chris out of the building.
He was walking rather quickly back to his car. "Chris!" He didn't hear her. "Chris!" she shouted again. He turned around. "What?" he asked. "What was that back there? I've never seen you like that before." she asked, worry in her eyes. Chris took a few deep breaths before he responded. "I don't know." He broke down and cried on Raven's shoulder. She patted his head and looked back up at the asylum.
"Pretender! You in there?" asked Cyborg, knocking on Chris's door. "We're gonna play some video games. You want in?" Beast Boy turned into a fly and crawled under the door. A moment later he crawled back out. "He's not there," he replied. They thought maybe Raven would know. They walked to her room and knocked on her door. She opened the door, looking irritated. "I'm meditating," she said in her usual monotone. "Have you seen Pretender?" asked Beast Boy. Raven was silent for a moment, before her eyes grew wide in fear. "Oh God. The roof!"
Chris stood on the roof of the tower and stared ahead of him. This is pointless he told himself. I can't do this anymore. He took a deep breath and bolted for the edge of the tower. Tears flew off his cheeks as he ran. He reached the edge and made a great leap. While in midair, he felt large talons grip into his shoulders. HE looked up and saw a green eagle flying him back to the tower.
Beast Boy let him go on the roof and Chris collapsed in a heap and began hyperventilating. "Give him some air!" shouted Robin as he ran to Chris. Chris looked around, the view becoming clearer, and saw Robin looking at him. "Are you alright Pretender?" he asked as the other Titans came into view. But Chris soon looked as if nothing had happened. "I feel fine Robin," he responded in a this-happens-all-the-time fashion. Starfire spoke up. "I do not think you should continue going through with this!" Chris got up. "No, Star. This is something I have to do. No matter how it affects me."
Five days remaining. Chris arranged a date with Kristen. They were going to tour Gotham City and go see the movie White Noise. He picked her up at her house at about five and they drove off to the city. He parked in a garage and they decided to walk around the city. They talked all the while, getting to know each other better. He already had a bit of a head start since they already went out. He just had to create a new persona. She showed him all of the great Goth hangout spots in town and they ate dinner in a small café. God, she's beautiful, he thought. No, I must concentrate on my goal.
After dinner, they walked to the theater. They still had a few minutes, so they sat in the theater and waited. There were only a few other people. And they were in the back of the theater. The lights dimmed and the movie began. Suddenly Chris felt a hand on his leg moving slowly closer to his waist. He took a sudden breath and eased her hand away. He leaned close to her and said simply, "Not now."
The movie ended and they walked back to the parking garage. Chris drove Kristen home, but he was silent the whole way there. He pulled into her driveway. "Thanks for the evening Chris," she said, smiling. "No problem." She started to get out of the car but stopped. "My family is going to be out of town Friday night. Do you wanna come over and listen to some music or watch a movie or something?" she asked. Or something indeed. Say no, he told himself. But this may be my only opportunity to be completely alone with her. "What time?" he asked. "Around seven," she replied. "I'll be there." She smiled and gave Chris a kiss. A kiss with tongue. Mmmm I missed this. She got out of the car. "See you then Jack!" she called as she walked to her door.
Chris drove back to the tower with a smile on his face. But the smile soon faded. Oh, no. What have I done?
(A/N: Just FYI: the R part comes in the next Chapter)