Chapter Eight: Scars

A scalpel bites into flesh, leaving a trail of red in its wake. Feathers fall like rain. A feminine scream. Bright lights shine from holes in a bright white wall. People are flung against walls. A feather drops on a large puddle of blood. The ripples spread.

I screamed. Starfirfe burst into my room. I was covered in a cold sweat. Random things in my room were floating in the air. I closed my eyes as tight as they could go and clamped my hands over my ears.

"What is happening to me?!" I screamed. "Why does this happen? What is wrong with me?" I started bawling my eyes out. Starfire flew up to my bed. She sat down next to me and held me as I cried.

"Nothing is wrong with you, you are simply different, just like all of us."

She rubbed my back, right between my wings. It made me feel better. I had a glimpse of a memory of someone rubbing my back as I cried long ago. But it went as soon as it came.

The other titans ran in. Raven stared at the things that were floating. She muttered something. I felt something tugging at the back of my mind. I let go of it, and the things fell heavily on my floor.

Starfire picked me up like you would a baby and floated to the ground and sat me down. I could feel that my eyes were puffy. Everyone sat down in a semi-circle around me except Raven. She floated above the floor, with her hood up.

Starfire held my hand, comforting me. She looked at me caringly. 'Her eyes are a really pretty green, compared to my plain brown.' I thought.

"What troubles you, friend Alexiel?"

"Just a nightmare, that's all." I replied. She took her hand back; I guess my hands were still a little clammy from before.

The titans all asked if I was okay in their own way, and all eventually left into the hall. Raven stayed. A little voice in the back of my mind said with a sarcastic tone, "Great. Another head case to deal with."

"I'm not a head case." I said. I got to my feet and turned my back on her. If I had been able to see her face, I would have seen her jaw drop a mile.

'You can hear me?' The voice said. It had the signature monotone of Raven's, so I assumed It was her.

'I guess I can.'

'How did you get this way?'

'I'm not sure'

A razor buzzes off hair near the back of a neck. An electric saw whirrs.

The memory was short and fleeting, but it still brought tears to my eyes. My hand shot up to the base of my head. The hair was shorter there, and in one spot, a smooth scar ran down. I turned around and hugged Raven. She "stood" stiff, but slowly softened and hugged me back slightly.

I stood back. She looked into her eyes forlornly and she muttered, "Come with me"