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It is the dawning of a new morning, and I feel like crap. And I should, lying on a concrete floor, huddled in front of a peeling painted wall and shivers crawling up my back with my awakening. It is fairly early with the sunrises' rays peeking in through the broken window. In a abandoned building, I was mostly expecting a quiet street, yet a gun bullet ripped the sound barrier, a loud echo crying out all around. Of course, I had to see what had happened. I leaped out of the window a slight glass prick against my skin, and my rugged spell book still inside of the room. It was only a split second before I landed on the street, now an isolated horror land. Two figures stood in the middle of the scene, one holding a caliber pistol, jet black dirty hair that was spiked into a greasy mess, having black clothing on and a twisted, cunning grin. And the other was dead, a once police officer had a bright opaque uniform on splashed with a dark crimson red, and three bullet holes around his chest, his mouth hanging in a gaped, hollow mess. The insomnia villain continued to shoot everything in his wake, trashcans, lampposts and parked vehicles sounding their beeping alarm. Wordless, I reached for my small katana, holding a sharp knife, and grabbed its handle. The thug noticed. Grunting loudly, he pulled the trigger thence holding it in, producing more bullets to fly out. Still holding my weapon, I leaped out of the way to the left, transfixed on the guns' position. I already knew I was going to be hit, one piece ripping through my shoulder all the way, and some blood splurging out.
'god..' I cursed slightly, almost giving in to collapse. Throwing the knife with my right hand, reaching out for the gravel with the left, the man didn't expect what would happen next. The knife sank into his knee, causing him to throw his head back, yelling to the skies as he let go of his prey. After he had fell to the ground still in anguish, I rose to my feet, the wound no matter to me. Drawing in a sigh, I approached the crippled thug.
"…god…forsaken…" He groaned miserably, giving me a hideous look. Despite the scowl, I grabbed him by the shoulder and hoisted him upwards.
"…unh…put me down…" I didn't. Close to asking a question, I was abruptly interrupted by a metal bo-staff coming down hard on my arm. I let go of the shirt, jerking backwards from the blow. Rubbing the spot, I looked to where the staff had come from, to see a group of five teenagers like my own; one was the attacker, a tall boy with eyes hidden by a mask, a brilliant red chest plate with a green leotard and a golden utility belt that held it up. A cape matching flashed in the wind next to another male. A half cyborg and other humanoid stood in a bulky posture, a cannon aimed at me. Next to him was a scrawny, green fellow with a purple-black jumpsuit and messy light hair. Two girls were levitating in the air, one a peach-skinned alien with bright orange hair and a cut-off pair of violet clothing. Lastly was the other girl, a hidden one with gray skin and a dark blue tint cape, strangely resembling the one from yesterday. The apparent leader pointed a gloved finger at me as he spoke,
"Hands off the villain, he's ours…" His white eyes turning into an annoyed slit with the other three matching this description, that is, excluding the one that I almost knew.
"Wait! Johnny's getting' away!" The android shouted, now looking past me. Taking my chance, I ran after him, following into the alley. Another cry was heard, and next all I heard was the pounding footsteps of my bounty hunters. The villain was already about a few yards ahead, but thanks to the knife still lodged in, he was weak in running. Near his back, I grabbed him by the shirt, and shoved the body into the brick wall.
"Ahh!" He yelled out in pain, but I still didn't hesitate as I kept on driving his neck into a trash bin. A sudden rush of black energy broke in-between, burning my hands.
'They are still there.' I stated dryly, resisting the urge to fall. The crook was out now, but obviously being chased by the four. Running in another direction, I didn't pause with another shower of black rubbish piling around me. The last one pursued recklessly, I planned to lose her. I dived head first into a broken window, looking for the stairs up. Finding the first one, I started sprinting; she was practically on my heels now.
"Stop, now!" She called, but I ignored her, nearing the door out.
'short building…' I noted, now outside on the roof. The only way out was down. Dodging her attempted attacks, I reached the end. At the edge, I made my decision. Closing my eyes, I brought my hands down, breathing out shortly. Everything around me was now only a blur, and I heard nothing. I jumped, expecting to fall a short yardage down, planning to disappear whence halfway.
"Wait!" Came the shrill cry again, following this, a hand grabbed mine, desperately trying to keep me from my escape.
'Tsahn…' I chanted, allowing my feet to plant onto the brick wall, then utterly baffling the girl. Looking over at her, I could see her transfixed gaze, staring mostly at my feet with a face that read 'How the hell did you do that?'. I sighed, letting go of her grasp,
'Why are you following me?' Came the echoed voice. She stopped her bewilderment to answer,
"Di-didn't you kill the officer? And almost to Johnny Rancid?"
'No, of course not. The buffoon got to the officer first, I only stopped 'Rancid' before he could blow off the entire metropolis.'
"Hm. Well, your powers are very...interesting"
'Likewise…' I replied, walking up the horizon to her. She backed away, letting me step back onto the roof,
"What is with—"
'—my voice? Lost it. I only have a voice in penetrating from my mind. Surely you could have realized that earlier?'
'Well heck you didn't even try to explain yourself back there…" Stopping at the last word, she blushed from embarrassment, cleared her throat, and stuck out her hand.
"Raven…"
" Number 000…" I answer, shaking her outstretched palm.
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000?…
"000?" I asked, repeating what my mind exclaimed.
'Yes…I do not really have a name…'
He has to be lying…
"Why not? Everyone has a name…"
'Not me.' He answers flatly. I could sense he seemed a tad annoyed as he turned away.
'Anyway…I am leaving…if you don't need to arrest me.'
"I…well…" I pursed my lips, I already recognized him, so I only tried to stall his departure, "…I wanted to ask you something…" He didn't answer, only continued to look at me with his black pupils. "Follow." I say, leading him down the stairs.
A few minutes later, we were both back where the chase started; Starfire and Beast Boy shared deep breaths of air, Cyborg held an unconscious Rancid by the neck, and Robin was seeming to be recollecting the evidence from a passerby, when he noticed our return.
"Raven? You okay?" The leader asked, motioning the witness to leave.
"…fine…" I responded in my usual icy tone. Cyborg stepped forward, eying 000 suspiciously.
"He isn't with Rancid then?" He guessed. I nodded a 'no' and the android went back to Kori and Garfield.
"Tim…I think he should join…" I offered, nudging 000.
"I don't know, he would have to be asked certain questions back at the tower…" Tim Drake said, starting to tell the others to head for the T-car.
'I'll walk…' 000 stated quietly, his fierce face drawn down. 'I can see the 'T' from here…'
I watched him take each step down and over the roads,
He sure isn't normal… I thought, climbing into the car.
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