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 fueling 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 ;)