Okie dokies people! Here's the ninth chapter of Titan's Shadow! I want to give a personal thanks to everyone who reviewed for my last chapter! You guys are awesome, since everyone else seems to have withered away... or something... O.o
Oh, the person who was calling Phantom's real name in the last chapter was Raven, with 'telekinesis.' Since she's the only one who could have reached her at the moment... O.o And--NO!—this is NOT going to be a 'slash' fan-fic! -.-x Just thought I'd say that. –sigh- Sheesh. You people think I have a sick mind or something...
Anyway, the disclaimer-er for this chapter is... well, April. -.-; Only because she requested about... -thinks- well, two chapters ago. Okay, here it goes:
April: Wingyness doesn't own da Teen Titans. She can hardly even RP them. She only owns notebook upon notebook of piccys and Phantom.
Wingy: Thank you April, for that wonderful disclaimer. And by the way, I only drew one picture of Phantom. Gah.
Note: In this chapter, the italicized words indicate a flashback. Continue! :)
The IV machine inside the hospital sector of the Tower slowly fed out a constant stream of beeps, indicating that life was still inside the frail body of the part cat, part human creature dubbed Phantom.
Her chest slowly raised and lowered, her breath fogging up the inside of the breath mask over her mouth.
She was deep in a coma, and no one knew if she would ever come out of it.
"Cyborg, grab Phantom. Gently, gently!" Robin roared. "She's the only witness we have to figuring out the key to Slade!"
"Dude, relax! Aren't you a little bit more concerned for her life? She was just electrocuted with like a million bolts!" Beast Boy snapped back at the one-track-minded-boy-wonder.
"About five thousand actually." Raven piped up, her violet eyes clouded with thought. Her last mind attempt had failed. She was gone. Phantom was absent. Her mind, vanished almost.
Robin furrowed his brow, then spoke again, "Starfire, Beast Boy, take those goons," he gestured with his head to the fallen figures of Jinx, Mammoth, and Gizmo, "to jail, and DON'T let them out of your sight. Cyborg, Raven, and I will take Phantom back to the Tower. Titans, go!"
The titans were scattered about the tower, doing things just to keep their mind off what had happened. It wasn't working. Cyborg sat in the main room, tapping away on the gamebox's controller, as the words, 'LOSER! LOSER' flashing on the screen. Raven levitated on the roof, the setting sun casting a bloody glow across the entire city. She chanted slowly and calmly her three famous words, her dark blue cape fluttering slightly in the breeze, her hood down. Starfire was anxiously twisting a strand of hair around her finger, laying down on her bed. Beast Boy sat, alone, on a chair beside the still body of Phantom, his head down and his hands together, twiddling his thumbs restlessly.
Robin was the only one focused. The only one concentrating. The only one uncaring about Phantom's health. He was still thinking of the last time he had seen Slade, as he angrily punched the targets in his training session. 'Wake up...' he thought irritably as the last target was kicked in fury. As a buzzer sounded indicating the end of his training, he glared angrily up to where the hospital area was, willing with all his might that the thief would wake up soon. And give them more answers about Slade.
Beast Boy sighed and put his head into his hands. He didn't know why he was so worried about Phantom; Arianna. It was weird. Everything changed when he first learned her name. Arianna. It was beautiful, just like... just like.
He shook his head. "Dude, what are you thinking?! This is Phantom, the evil, cold hearted thief! The chick that gave you those horrible scratches and cuts!" He stood up, his fist clenched, glaring at the beaten and broken body of Phantom.
Then, his face relaxed, still staring at Arianna. Her body was covered in casts and bandages, slings and tubes that were feeding her. Yet... it was peaceful, her shimmering black hair cast around her face, her ears lowered gently at the side of her head. She looked... so peaceful when she was asleep.
'I wonder what makes her so cruel when she's awake. What is she driven by? Why does she do such horrible things...? She says she's all alone. Who's there to protect? Who was there to protect her? And why are they gone now...?' Beast Boy thought. He sighed and sat down by her bed again.
"Don't worry Phantom. I'll protect you. I'll protect you... Arianna."
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Deep in sleep. Deep in slumber. Deep in mind. Deep in the dark voids of her mind, Arianna Pawsone stuttered. She was walking, alone, on a white path to nowhere. Blackness curled in around her. She stumbled, and looked around. Her ears flicked this way and that for a moment. Her grey tail swished.
'Where am I?' She asked, her voice echoing out before her. She knew she had been walking, but for what purpose? What was her reason for slowly plodding one cat-like foot after the other? Why was she mindlessly pounding the 'ground' in front of her? Why was her whole body repaired? The last thing she remembered was pain, and now it was gone. Her hand slowly went up to touch the left ear, and gasped. A large chunk was missing, exactly where she had ripped the GP had been. And why was she in this long creepy tunnel? Shouldn't she be in the sewers... or something? Unless... she was gone. Deceased. Six feet under. Kicked the bucket. Dead.
'NO!' Arianna yelled, and fell to her knees, her head in her hands. Voices were heard. Strange voices, familiar in their own way. Where had she heard them before...?
'Hey there Ari, c'mon! Lighten up! It's JUST a little party. What could go wrong?' An adolescent voice. Somewhat bratty.
Arianna lifted her head out of her hands, and saw a vision. No, not a vision, a memory. Of her past.
A tall, brown haired girl, her emerald eyes sparkling, twirled in a circle before leaning down to a younger girl.
Arianna gasped. It was her sister, Lily.
Lily playfully squeezed the cheek of what could only be a younger version of what had become Phantom.
The mini-Phantom wore a pink barrette over top her jet-black hair, two mysterious looking points stuck up from inside the French hat. She crossed her arms over her chest, an equally pink scarf thrown haphazardly around her neck. A tiny black cat tail swished, poking out through a hole in brown cargo pants. Mini-Phantom wore a pink shirt.
Phantom snorted, tears brimming in her eyes from the nostalgia of it all, was she really such a girly-girl?
'I dunno Lily. You know what Mum and Da said! They'd kill me, no BOTH of us if they found out I was using my... well... 'power' again.' Mini-Phantom sounded worried, as though others might overhear her and her sister.
Lily pouted in a similar way to what her little sister looked like. Her forest green tank top ended at the top of her midriff, revealing a small cat head belly button ring. A mini skirt showed her daring at revolting against her parents, with brown lace up boots to top it all off.
'C'mon Ari, just ONE more time? I promise I'll take ya out for ice-cream later!' She crouched down to her sister's level.
'Papaya flavour?' the mini-Phantom asked.
'Papaya flavour,' Lily winked and picked up her sister, 'So, let's go! Through the wall!'
'Through the wall!' Mini-Phantom laughed, and she and her sister phased through the wall laughing.
The image faded, and tears began running down Phantom's face. She sniffled, holding her bottom lip to keep from sobbing, but it was no use. "Why... did it have to end this way?!" She raged, getting up, tears streaming down her face, she began running. Running, running, running down the white path as images began flashing by her again, memories of her long-forgotten past and family. Laughter rang in her ears, yells, and choruses of happy songs and piano concertos.
They began running faster, and faster now, flashing by at the speed of light. Memories came and memories left, clinging to Phantom's mind on this Hell Hole of crazy lights and images.
"AHHHHH!" Phantom roared, her legs padding faster and faster now, jumping from piece to piece of the path, which was now breaking up into smaller pieces.
A lady's scream, shrill and afraid rang in her ears as a hat similar to the one Phantom wore fell slowly to the mucky, dirty, street ground.
Phantom leaped off of one of the ledges, and into the light. She was getting out of here, no matter what.
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"BEEP BEEP BEEP!" The life support machine for Phantom began beeping and clicking furiously. Papers were flying out of the machine, readings going off the chart.
Beast Boy leapt out of his chair, running over to the machine, his eyes gazing over report it held. His eyes grew wide.
"All Titans, report to the hospital room! NOW!" Beast Boy's voice shook the through the tower on the intercom system.
Raven opened her eyes as the annoying teammate's voice shook her out of the synch she was in.
Starfire floated up off her bed as the door swished open and shut for her.
Cyborg dropped the controller, the TV screen now flashing, 'YOU WIN! YOU WIN! YOU WIN!'
Robin stopped, his breath heavy, as he started sprinting towards the tower. He was going to get some answers. Now.
Beast Boy leaned over Phantom's racing and sweating body, holding her hand without second thought.
"C'mon! C'mon! Wake up! What's wrong Phantom?!" He yelled into her un-damaged ear.
The other Titans burst into the room as Phantom's eyes fluttered open.
...Like it? Good. :) Review! I think I liked this chapter 'da best!
Chapter Ten: Robin wants answers. And he'll do anything to get them. Phantom still has no idea what's happening, as more images of her past come flashing back.