Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans! Gosh, I'm getting really bored saying this all the time…

Title: X's and O's

CHAPTER 11

Slade did not even turn around as Ria fell to her knees when he pulled the knife from her body. Red X started forward towards the wounded Ria, but Slade stopped him, "Do not even bother. She is far gone. I did what you did not have the courage to do." Red X stared at her as Ria looked at her blood stained left hand.

"There is nothing more to do. She will be dead by the time the Titans find her." –Slade. And they both left Ria to die alone.

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

I should have helped her! Why couldn't I help her? That damn, fucking, idiot Slade! He can go to hell! My heart said yes to helping, but my mind wouldn't let me. I wish I could've done more… I love her… But I can't love her anymore…

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Ria got to her feet and noticed Red X and Slade fading into the darkness of a side passage. She staggered over to the wall and placed her right hand on it. Using the wall for guidance, Ria followed Red X and Slade through the passage. Although her left hand stopped most of the blood from her side wound, some of it dripped down her leg and left a dark trail of dots along the ground.

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

"Titans, split up!" –Robin. This was the fastest way to find Ria. And Robin knew that this was time that they couldn't waste. Ria's life could be in danger! And I can't let her die!

Each of them took a different passage because there were five different converging tunnels. Robin took the one directly in front. Starfire flew down the left tunnel. Raven took the one on the far right. Cyborg took one of the remaining two.

Beastboy changed into his bloodhound form and followed two scents down the final tunnel. One scent was Ria's, the other's seemed to be Red X. Although the bloodhound's vision was poor in the dark, its sense of smell was perfect for tracking. The trail was easy to follow because it was fairly fresh.

After a long time, Beastboy reached a large cavern. Here, a third scent reached his nose. It smelled vaguely familiar. SLADE! Beastboy changed back into his human form upon finding a chair. He wiped his finger along the seat and some dust came up on his glove. Ria… He almost sneezed because of the dust.

Beastboy noticed three more tunnels branching off from the cavern. He changed into a wolf and searched the room for the direction the three scents had moved. The first two told him nothing but over by the third… Beastboy had his nose so close to the ground that he accidentally ran it through a pool of dark liquid on the ground. He abruptly sat down in surprise and looked at the liquid. That looks kinda like… blood? And it smells sorta like… Ria! Oh Fuck!

A few yards away, a trail of blood spatters ran into the tunnel, over by the wall. Beastboy didn't bother calling rest of his friends. I have to save Ria!

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

There's Chapter 11, peeps! Hope you like it! Do you think Ria should live or die? Let me know in reviews, please.