Chapter 9-You're Not Alone
A year passed; with every day Beast Boy grew more and more quiet and reclusive, hardly ever leaving his room and never daring to venture outside the Tower. The Titans understood; he had seen her die, which is a hard thing to live with. They couldn't, however, tell if he actually believed she was dead. He would have to—eventually.
He was running—just a little further! Only a little ways left—he would be free. Forever! Nothing could hold him back; not the darkness around him nor the shouts of Slade as he ordered him to stay. Through the inky blackness around him he could see a light, shimmering before him—the outside! Just a little ways left—he would be free!
It was a scream—one scream—that stopped him dead in his tracks. "Beast Boy!" she cried, "Help! Please!" He turned, spinning round and round, but could see nothing in the depths around him. The sound came—the horrible sound of bones cracking—crushing—splintering his thoughts. It possessed his mind, and he groaned with sundering pain. No…he couldn't think…he couldn't breathe…he couldn't move. He fell to his knees, crumpling as her screams sung in melody with the dizzying sound of snapping bones, tearing flesh, pouring blood, and cruel gears that refused to pause, the orchestras together hissing in harmony, confirming his fears.
Tears filled his eyes as he moaned. He could hear Slade's footsteps as he appeared out of the pitch black around him, his mask splattered with blood. Beast Boy gazed up at Slade as he towered over him. Slade reached for him…he grabbed his shoulder…
Beast Boy jolted upright. The dream…continually it haunted him, leaving him with nothing but sleepless nights to pass away. He climbed down the ladder at the end of his bed, still shaken from the frightening reality that filled every corner of his mind. He leaned on the window sill, looking at what he wished he was brave enough to stare out at.
Snow had begun to cover the January-chilled earth around them, leaving a white blanket behind. Beast Boy stared out at the beauty of the land as the moonlight reflected off of it for hours, thinking. He had not gone to her funeral. It was too hard to think about her, much less see her funeral. Her death…as far as he was concerned, it was his fault. As far as he was concerned, he was guilty of murdering her.
Beast Boy tore his gaze reluctantly away from the shimmering blanket, walked over to his door solemnly, and opened it. He walked into the darkened, hollow main room. Where was everyone? It was then he remembered it was still very early morning—three o'clock, maybe?—and decided not to care about the void of a room, or the people who weren't inside it.
After staring into the dark room for a few moments, he left, walking down the hallway. He tried to remember what he had been like over a year ago. Nothing came to him. He could only remember Slade—his voice hissing in his ear, the torture, the despair—the lies…he had forgotten everything else. What it was like to be outside, to have friends—to live.
Beast Boy's eyes fell upon the door of what had been Raven's room. He started to open the door, but, remembering how it upset Raven for someone to enter her room, decided better of it. He stood there, his hand on the smooth door, leaning himself against it, his face suddenly cold from the coolness of it. He shed his tears in silence, alone—no one in the world there to comfort him. It seemed as though the world—including the Titans—had turned against him, casting him out.
No one cares anymore, he thought, I'm alone now. No one will help me—even hardly speak to me. They just…they don't understand! He sank to the floor, still leaning against the door. I wish they would kill me now, and let my dying mind rest. They say I'll be okay, but…I'll never be able to live again. How can I live when I'm already dead?
Somewhere, a door opened. Beast Boy was jolted from his thoughts and he stood. Letting curiosity get the better of him, he walked down the lonely hallway. Another door opened—just around the corner. He rounded the corner just in time to see the door of the main room close. He waited at the door, debating on whether or not to follow. He could sense the violent feeling in the air and knew something was wrong. Dead wrong.
Finally he decided to see who had gone into the main room. As Beast Boy opened the door and gazed in, he felt the aura of the room and suddenly, as if by magic, the room fell from its semi-black of the moonlit night to a strange, pitch-blackness.
Beast Boy stepped cautiously into the room. He squinted into the darkness, and, seeing nothing, sigh and turned away.
"Why am I all alone?" Beast Boy thought aloud. He turned and stepped toward the door, which closed in front of him, concealing him within the depths of the ominous room. For a moment all was quiet. Then a poisonous laugh shattered the silence, followed by a mocking, deadly voice.
"Dear child—you are anything but alone." He knew it was Slade.
Author's Note: Sorry! I don't mean to keep making chapters short—but this was the perfect leave-off! I love cliffhangers. I'm sick (again; this is the third day of school I've had to miss this week :( I despise missing school—I get waaay behind…) Don't ask about the ". Dead wrong."—it's an inside joke that became my "writer's trademark"…it's a really retarded story, actually…Sorry I lied—there will be a few more chapters. I promise I it won't be over twelve, though. New chap soon!
Chapter 10-No One's There
Beast Boy turned at the sound of the voice, but saw nothing. His eyes shifted nervously across the black abyss. He had heard Slade—he was sure of it. There was no other explanation—unless he had finally been driven to the point of insanity (which was a definite possibility). He was waiting for Slade to appear—to do his worst—perhaps he would kill him, and relieve his pain.
Inevitably an icy hand was placed heavily on his shoulder, chilling him to the bone as he was spun around to face Slade. Beast Boy's eyes were wide with terror as he stared up at the masked creature that loomed above him. Slade's eye was glowing with an angry rage that Beast Boy could only cower below in a quivering reverence.
"Hello again, Beast Boy. It's been a while, hasn't it?" Slade queried in a calm, casual tone.
"What do you want from me?" Beast Boy voice through the lump that had formed in his throat.
"You know exactly what I want." Slade thrusted him away; Beast Boy bent backward awkwardly as he hit the sofa. He toppled over it painfully, hit the coffee table with a dull thud, and fell to the ground face-up. Slade walked over to where he had landed and lifted him by his shirt collar, pulling him close to his face. Beast Boy gaped at him, wide-eyed and trembling.
"You swore to serve me; you did not. Did you think you could just walk out the door without a backward glance?" Slade's breath was warm and heavy on Beast Boy's face as he spoke, adding to his terror as he struggled to break free. He felt his shirt collar loosening from the mammoth grip (Note to Self: Or, as Kelly would call it, his "Kung-Fu Grip!"). Suddenly he broke away and jumped back. Tension accompanied the silence that hovered around them as they stood, ready to fight.
It was Beast Boy who finally moved. Without warning he swiftly punted Slade across the face, sending him to the ground. Beast Boy towered over him, feeble and broken, and pinned him so that he couldn't move. Through his anger he was strong enough to hold him there as he spoke.
"You killed her. You promised you wouldn't hurt them. You—" Slade overthrew him, and Beast Boy was sent flying across the room. Slade grabbed him once again by the shirt collar and slammed him against the wall.
"I did nothing—it was your fault, after all. Don't you remember it, Beast Boy? It was you who agreed in the first place because—"
"—because you said you'd hurt them."
Behind the mask, Slade smiled—Beast Boy knew it, because of the smile in his eye, and because of the laugh in his voice. "But before that? You believed a lie—a lie that anyone with common sense could have predicted. You walked into a trap, Beast Boy. Is it my fault you're so gullible?" He didn't answer, and Slade continued, "I cannot help that you are oblivious, child. I cannot prevent you from being deceived. I cannot teach you truth from lie. It's your fault, Beast Boy, that she's dead. It's always been your fault—everything—it's all been your fault." Slade released him, and he fell to the ground. Slade was silently smiling behind his mask as he stared down at Beast Boy, who could only cover is face with his hands and sob.
"I killed her…it was my fault…I deserve to die…I'm worthless…"
"Yes, Beast Boy, you are a wretch who can't be cured—can't be saved." The evil anticipation in Slade's voice grew as he spoke. Beast Boy was believing him—believing his lies—once more.
Beast Boy looked up at him, staring at the demon who had turned him into this miserable creature that he was so ashamed of. He wished that looks could kill—it would be the only way he could kill Slade. Finally he spoke softly and angrily to the monster.
"You bastard…" Beast Boy said through gritted teeth. (Note to Self: Sorry—couldn't resist!) The tension grew stronger over them as the anxiety filled the air around them once more. Slade seemed startled; the smile disappeared from his eye, which was filled with rage once more. Neither of them moved.
"You killed her, you bastard!" Beast Boy yelled. He stood to face Slade, who threw a punch at him. Beast Boy ducked; the punch landed above him, and his fist easily plowed through the wall with a horrible screech.
Slade brought his hand out of the wall, which had caved into a horrible crater. Beast Boy stared at the cavern in wonder, and then turned to look at Slade, only to see the fist hurdling toward him again. He didn't have time to evade the blow, and it nailed him on the nose, leaving it maimed and bleeding.
Beast Boy could feel himself about to fall, dazed by the blow. He slid down against the wall, trying to recover from the impact. Soon enough, he stood in front of Slade. The smile appeared in Slade's eye once more as he round-house kicked Beast Boy. He made no effort to dodge, and it landed on the right side of his face—beside his lip, and Beast Boy fell sideways, landing hard on the floor and sliding across it.
Slade walked apathetically to where Beast Boy had landed. He looked wearily up at the towering beast, and, briefly, gave up. But, against his better judgement, he stood once again, glaring at him in rage, panting and bleeding. Slade chuckled, his eye twinkling with laughter, intrigued in the battle that he would surely win.
Mustering all the strength he had left, Beast Boy threw a punch at Slade, who dodged and slung him across the sofa. Beast Boy flipped hard onto the coffee table once more, landing on his left arm, which emitted a horrible crack in response. The sound pleased Slade, and he turned to leave, satisfied. He no longer wanted Beast Boy as his apprentice; he would recruit someone stronger, better—someone who wasn't as gullible as Beast Boy.
Miraculously Beast Boy stood. He hastily walked toward Slade until he was behind him. He faltered quick as he could, and reached the door. He stood there, spreading his arms out despite the pain of his broken limb, blocking Slade's path. Slade stopped dead in his tracks, and stared in disbelief before smiling. They lingered there, and Slade's excitement awaited Beast Boy's next move.
"This isn't over Slade—it won't be until you're dead," he said rashly. Silence. Finally Slade chuckled as he threw a final punch, which Beast Boy caught. Mustering what little strength he had, he threw Slade across the room. Slade flipped painfully over the sofa onto the coffee table, snapping it in half easily. (Note to Self: Don't you feel so sorry for the coffee table? It keeps getting battered by them!)
Slade stood and walked toward Beast Boy, anger fuelling his steps. Beast Boy threw another punch, which landed on the side of Slade's face. Slade seemed to teeter in mid-air for a moment, as if someone had paused him. Then he flew across the room, ramming head-long into the wall. He simply sat there where he had fallen and waited.
Beast Boy stood in rage, panting and bleeding, lingering the doorway. Slade stared, and his eyes twisted into a wry grin. He spoke casually.
"Good work, apprentice. I've taught you well—haven't I?"
Beast Boy's anger released its grip on his mind, and he came to realization. Falling to his knees and staring down at his blood-splattered hands, he spoke quietly: "I'm no better than you—fighting for revenge—I've stooped to your level now…I'm like you now…I…what have I done? God…"
"You're pathetic; worthless; insignificant; unimportant. No one cares—and neither do I." Slade left, leaving Beast Boy on his knees, crying and bloody. He acted as if nothing had happened.
"No one's there…" Beast Boy said quietly as he wept.
Author's Note: I wasn't planning on bringing Slade back in this story, but…I did anyway! I like this fight scene, but I don't think the description worked out right. Oh well…Yes the title is from "My Last Breath" by Evanescence. It was originally "No One Cares", but it sounds like "No one's there" from the song, and it was in my head so I added the last part with Beast Boy talking so I could use that as my title. Anyway, the next chapter should be the end of the story (not counting the Epilogue), but you never know where inspiration will take me ;)