Chapter 4: Smile, Scream and Blood

The police car came past the house, its lights filtering in through the window. Kagan got up and swore angrily. He had been beaten by a teenager, a nearly dead alien and the love of his life had gone missing. Rage boiled in his blackened heart as he went over to the window still. The cool night breeze wafted his hair lazily and in the distance, Kagan could see Titans tower. Another blow from anger his mind and he growled. It was not over, not by a long shot.

Starfire slept for four days straight, her chest rising and falling. Robin slept by her and was there when she had a bad dream or the fever got worse. He was exhausted, dehydrated and he kept on dropping off. Raven came in on the fifth day and sighed as she saw him.

"Robin." She said. Robin snapped his he head up, looking dazed and slightly confused.

"What's up?" He asked.

"You've been staying here for four days. You need rest and at the most a wash. Cyborg will look after her and will tell you if anything happens." She said, concern flickering in her eyes. Robin shook his head fiercely.

"No, I am not leaving her again." He growled.

"Robin, you never left her in the first place." Raven snapped. "She was taken and that had nothing to do with you." Robin glared up at her.

"You don't know how it feels." He hissed. "To watch one of you best friends die slowly. Do you know how close she was? I nearly lost her and I am not leaving until I know that she will be ok." Raven glared back and suddenly she phased through the floor. Robin knew that he hadn't been so hard on her. But sometimes that was the only way to get through to her. He looked over at Starfire. She was worse. After they had kissed, so had gone back under and since not awoken. It made Robin stressed and frustrated. Suddenly his communicator beeped. He flipped it open to see Beast Boy.

"Robin, something has happened. Kagan has blown up half the city!" He screamed and ducked as a large piece of rubble came shooting past him. "We need you!" Robin hesitated. He would have to, or else it would give more threat on Star.

"I'll be with you in three minutes." He said and snapped the communicator shut. He stood and kissed Starfire gently on the forehead, before rushing out, his cape blazing behind him.

Kagan stood above the bank, a large bazooka totted on his shoulder and firing at whatever he could. It was enough to make the Boy Wonder sick as he saw the scene.

"Ah! I wondered when you would get here. This is payback to what you did to my precious plans!" Kagan yelled.

"Thanks to your so called 'precious plans' Starfire is laying almost dead!" Cyborg yelled. Robin was too angry to speak. Suddenly he let out a cry and charged forward, bow staff ready and rage pulsing through his blood. Kagan was taken by surprise and Robin threw a powerful punch at him. It caught him by the jaw and he was sent spiralling backwards. He recovered, however, and rose up above Robin. He lashed out with his foot and caught Robin in the stomach.

"What is wrong with you, Robin? Why stand up for a girl when she can't even to it herself?" Kagan cried as Robin rolled over on the ground, wheezing.

"Shut up, you psycho! Starfire can stand up for herself!" Robin retorted, back on his feet. It made his blood boil with rage as he drew out five electric discs and threw them at Kagan. They exploded, but Kagan jumped gracefully and laughed again.

"You heart is true, just like I was to my tamerainian girl, but you aim is way off and your heart is about to be broken!" He roared. Beast Boy morphed into a rhino and charged forwards, looking menacing as he tossed his horn. But Robin cut across him and twisted his body as he did a sidekick in midair. It caught Kagan of guard and it slammed into his chest. He smacked into the piping that surrounded the bank. Robin towered over him as pulled him up by his shirt. Suddenly there was a soft click and Robin froze as he felt cold metal placed against his temple.

"Want to do that again, Boy Wonder?"

Starfire thoughts were jumbled. Her mind was on fire and her screams were being played over and over in her head. She jolted awake, sending white hot pain down her spine. She drew breath sharply and she looked around. Where was everyone? She moved her legs only to receive yet more vines of pain.

"Friends?" She asked, her voice cracking. There was no reply. She heaved herself out of bed. She was still in her clothes. She hobbled out of the medical room and collapsed. The fever had taken its toll on her and had left her weak. She grabbed the door frame and pulled her herself up, pain blinding her. She leant against the cool wall and tried to call to her friends again, but no one seemed to be in the tower. She got into the main room and looked up to see the screen was still on. Her vision was blurry but she got the message. The gun was placed on Robin's head and her kidnapper was ready to pull the trigger. Panic replaced pain instantly.

"ROBIN!" Starfire screamed and with all the strength she had left, flew out of the main room, the cuts bleeding profusely.

Robin was frozen. He willed himself to grab and snap Kagan's neck, but knew the odds were against him. He could see the team were tense and worried.

"Now, unless you want a bullet in your skull, I suggest you keep quiet and stay still." Kagan breathed. Robin was piling on the rage. His eyes blazed behind his mask and his fists were balled. Kagan got to his feet, smiling evilly.

"Good boy, Robin. You have obviously been trained. Now, I want the city to be mine and the Titans to leave, got that?" He growled. Robin braced himself, but then saw something that made his heart stop. A flashed of red hair disappeared behind a building. No! He thought. He looked at Raven, whose eyes were wide. He tried to get her to read his mind, but Raven was too worried. He looked hopelessly at the building. Kagan was too busy smirking to notice. There was a cry and Starfire shot out of nowhere, punching Kagan in the side. The gun flew out of his hands and slid across the roof. Robin leapt back as Starfire shot past, firing starbolts madly. Kagan was pelted with them and the gun skidded across the roof. He looked petrified as Starfire sped towards him, eyes blazing green angrily. She fired her eye beams at him and they smacked into his shoulder, dislocating it instantly. He cried out with agony as Starfire landed. She shook, her power dwindling fast. Robin looked on, fear clouding his brain. Kagan dived for the gun. There were cries from the team as he aimed at Robin. The trigger was pulled and the bullet sped out. Robin was stuck to the ground, his legs not willing him to move. He let out a yell, but felt himself being pushed out of the way. There was a smile…

Then a scream,

Then blood.