Thanks a lot for all of those who reviewed
Chapter Two. Hope you guys like it. Haven't been able to put it on any earlier because life does get in the way, and homework.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans…I don't own time…
One of my favorite quotes (Unknown):'There are never strangers, only friends you haven't met.'
Once again, thanx to all those who reviewed!
Chapter 2Cyborg didn't know how long he had waited for Robin. It felt like an eternity to him, but it could have easily been just five minutes. This whole time thing freaked him out and confused him. Time has stopped… time…. Has ……….stopped. How can time stop?
He leaned against the strange building, patiently waiting for Robin to come out. The building had an unusual shape to it, and it was green. The color green you might see to your discomfort when someone is throwing up. Who would live in a building that looks like a million people's throw up? Three people stood in the room where the clear doors led into. They seemed to add onto to the bizarreness of the building.
The weirdest part of it…was that it was an orphanage.
Only seconds before, Robin followed the unusual girl up the stairs that lead up to the second story of the building. What was taking him so long? All he had to do was ask her what was going on, see if she had anything to do with this menacing old man (he personally thought it just wrong to have an old man causing these weird things, and with his hands. What happened to the canes?) That was all he had to do, not stay up there and chit chat.
"Cyborg," called Robin from upstairs.
"Yeah?'
"I think we have a problem."
"Yeah we do! What else do you think this whole time thing is? Unless-"
Cyborg stopped as Robin came from the stairs towards him with something in his arms. A body of, and when Robin came closer, he saw that it was the girl. She either was dead, and Robin wanted to cover up his murder by probably throwing her in a dumpster (though he knew Robin wouldn't do such a thing), or she was unconscious. Either one, it didn't look good.
"Whoa, man. What did you do? Beat the information out of her?"
"No…something was wrong with her and…"
"And then you beat the information out of her?"
"No. She just...fainted." Robin's voice sounded peculiar. Before Cyborg said anything else, he said, " She just fainted. I found her on her hands and knees crying…I think she was in some kind of pain or something."
"That's weird."
"Yeah, it is. We should take her to the tower, and ask her some questions once she is conscious again."
"What?" Cyborg said. "We don't know who she is, man. There is no reason to bring her into the tower. We can't trust her!"
"We got to."
"No we don't. Who knows what she could do. What if she has those magical powers like that old fart?"
"Something about her is telling me she isn't part of a magical source."
"How can she not be?"
"Maybe she is…fighting it somehow."
"Alright. Fine, let's take her to the tower, but the others wont like it,"Cyborg said, feeling defeated. He didn't like the idea at all, and planned to keep on his guard. He didn't like the feeling of the girl. It was…creepy.
Robin started off in the direction of the tower, careful not to bump or knock over any people on the streets. Cyborg followed him, and began to mumble to himself.
Robin's feet felt like led. The scorching sun that hadn't moved stared down on him. The tower seemed too far away, too far of a distance to walk to, maybe just to stay where we are and let the master mime find us so we don't have to bother to look for him…Robin shook the thoughts out of his head. He had never thought things like that, of giving up. But they were so…enticing…so…welcoming…
A chill walked up and down his spine. He didn't like what he was feeling. His thoughts took him away to an unforgettable world full of hatred and sin…no trace of love in sight. His thoughts overlapped each other making him enter this world…No. These weren't his thoughts. Yes, they are…. they are what you have always thought…. No…. no they aren't….
"Yo, Robin? You all right?"Cyborg asked, freeing Robin from the world of hate.
"I'm…fine," Robin said. It was all just a hallucination, he said to himself. It's the sun…dehidration…wait…what if-
"Robin? Robin? Are you there?'' A voice came from his communicator, interrupting Robin's thoughts. Cyborg reluctantly took the girl from his arms.
"I'm here, Star," Robin said into the device.
"Robin! I am so happy to hear you. Have you found any clues of this man of old age?"
"No, nothing. Have you?" Cyborg gave him slight glare and gestured to the girl he held in his arms.
"No, we have not found a single trace of anything of importance. Shall we meet back at our lovely home?"
"Sure, Star."
"Alright. And shall Raven and I bring our friend Beastboy?"
"Good idea. I'm sure Beastboy would appreciate it."
"Why didn't you tell her?" Cyborg asked. He tried to hand the girl back to Robin, but he made no move to take her back. Robin just shrugged. He himself wasn't sure why he hadn't told Starfire. Those thoughts of giving up were still roaming around in his head, making his body want to listen, but his mind forbid it.
The Titan's Tower came into view and so did the ocean. It was weird to see an unmoving mass of water. Robin thought it possible to walk on it, like that Messiah guy walking on water. Or he would sink deep within and be stuck in the ocean like being stuck in a big thing of Jell-O.
Cyborg abruptly stopped. Robin stopped a little ahead of him, and looked behind him at Cyborg. His eyes were wide open, and his mouth was slightly ajar.
"Cyborg, you ok?" Robin asked worriedly.
Cyborg didn't answer right away. He stood as still as everyone else around him. He sighed heavily, and said, "Did you…feel that?"
"Feel what?" asked Robin.
"You heard it right? You heard it?"
"No Cyborg. Everything is quiet."
"No, there was something. You must have. It was yelling…screaming some language I didn't understand…dude…don't tell me you didn't see it. It was…as clear as day…right…there…"
"See what?" Robin didn't know what was going on with Cyborg. He never acted paranoid like this. Something was wrong…. A thought came into mind again, but it disappeared as soon as it came, covered by those thoughts of giving up…
"This is too freaky…. I guess I was…. just seeing things…"
Cyborg shook his head, grinned, and continued on. He still held the girl in his arms as if it was a burden he was had to carry all of his life. Robin followed him slowly.
As they reached the water they smelled the never changing smell of salt. Robin gently walked onto the water, and found out that it was as hard as concrete.
"Walking on water," chimed Robin to himself. Cyborg didn't say a word.
As soon as they had entered the tower, Starfire came to greet them and tell them how happy she was to see them. What stopped her was the sight of a pale skinned girl wearing all black in Cyborg's arms, who looked pretty much dead. Cyborg didn't look too good himself.
"Friends, may I ask who this girl is?" Star asked.
"We don't know," Robin answered.
"Then why have you brought a stranger here to our home?"
"That's a good question," Cyborg mumbled.
"She might have answers," Robin said.
"Right, answers…so she isn't…. somewhat dead?" To Starfire she looked dead, and wondered if she would ever wake up, as she remembered a movie that had something to do with a girl who didn't wake up, and white snow. She didn't remember the ending.
"No Star. She just fainted."
Cyborg led the way to the medical room, where he set the girl down on one of the tables. Trying to erase the thoughts of a dead girl, Star asked," What shall we do while we wait for this girl to wake?"
" Wait I guess," Robin said. Star nodded, and floated out of the room silently. She didn't know why, but it made her uncomfortable to be in the room with that girl. She laughed a little at her foolishness. She was about to pass Raven's room, when a quiet voice whispered her name, making her stop.
"Yes, what is it, friend Raven?"Star smiled at her friend who stood in the doorway. Her face was half seen.
"What did Robin and Cyborg bring back with them?"
"A girl…who they say might have answers. Why hadn't they told us they found her?''
Raven didn't answer.
"Does this trouble you?'' Starfire saw a slight pained look in Raven's eyes. She did not like to see her friends sad or in some kind of pain.
"I don't like it. They shouldn't have brought her. She shouldn't be here."
This startled Starfire. Why shouldn't she be here? She knew Raven was right. A stranger we do not know anything about should never be in our tower. Raven crept out of her room and went the way Star came from. Starfire followed her, not sure what else to do.
The dead looking girl was the same when she entered, and the same eerie feeling that she felt before weighed her down, forcing her to stay in the doorway. Cyborg sat in a chair, mumbling and fiddling with his robotic thumbs, Robin was pacing, and Raven stood next to the girl.
"Where did you find her?" Raven was asking.
"I don't know," Robin said. He felt pretty clueless, and felt the three words race in his head, the only thing he ever knew…that he doesn't know.
"An orphanage," Cyborg said. Raven didn't ask anything more, and stood staring at the girl. The same pained look Star had seen earlier was in her eyes. She didn't like it.
"Rae, you alright?" Robin asked, who stopped pacing.
Raven didn't answer and gradually stepped away from the table.
Cyborg began mumbling under his breath again, and Robin hastily started pacing.
Anielle wasn't sure where she was or if she even existed. All she remembered was blackness. All she knew was darkness. All she was…darkness. What was life? What was death? What am I? Who am I?
Questions echoed around her. She felt blind, and helpless, trapped in an alternate reality where nothing ever existed except the mere thought of existence. She felt chained down, controlled by some kind of magic she didn't know the meaning of. She struggled away from the unknown control. It was worthless, she knew. She could never escape it, because it would always be there…
A figure appeared in a dim grayish light in front of her. The figure was a young man, not her age…not older than her , or even younger. He seemed ageless to her. He seemed familiar, so real. Anielle knew him from somewhere, she was sure.
"It does not matter who I am," he said. His voice sounded soft, as if he was reciting a deep poem with lots of feeling. Than she realized his lips weren't moving, that the voice was coming from the darkness around her.
"Isn't it confusing? This, what you might call it, an alternate reality?'' The young man grinned, partially showing his white teeth. Yes, yes, it was confusing. Anielle didn't know what else to think of it except of what the man had said. To her, she felt that he was controlling her in some way, controlling her thoughts. She felt trapped.
"Please, relax. There is nothing to worry about. Nothing at all….'' His voice was so soothing. She relaxed and let the tight grip around her tighten, almost making her feel like nothing. No! No… No, I won't let this happen…no…
"Maybe I shall tell you who I am? I believe it would comfort you."
No, nothing would comfort her. Only to have control of herself would comfort her. Just then she wanted to die, let her life be taken away by the unknown. 'Death is not…the answer. You have much to see and live for. Very much, I must say. I am Billy. I am your brother, dear sister." The man took a slight bow, and his grin widened. My brother? But…how? He is dead! Long forgotten! Never born in this cursed world.
"Your…our parents didn't swerve off a bridge into a likely death of deep water. They were taken. No, not kidnapped in any way…saved lets say. They are still alive, and wish to see you again, after these long eleven years."
Still alive! She believed him, she believed that it could be true, she believed it, because she was forced to, but deep inside she knew that it was all a lie, deep down inside she was still fighting against whatever magic was working against her…deep down inside…
"We are in your mind, so I hear all your thoughts. Do not worry, for there is nothing to worry about. Please, just listen. What I will tell you may be strange, but you will understand…"
A sudden ripple shook the ground. Noises from the town came flooding in the medical room where the four Titan's stood…waiting…in silence….
"Is there anything we can do for this girl who is not conscious?'' Star asked, breaking the silence.
"No,'' Raven said.
"Why is this?'' Starfire tried as hard as she could to remember the end of that movie…how did it end?
Robin stopped pacing, and looked in Raven's direction. An idea sparked into his head. "Raven, can you go into her mind?"
"Yes, can you do this, friend Raven?'' Star said.
Raven, not liking the idea, nodded slightly. She didn't like the force of magic that came from the girl. It was some kind of dark magic, a blocking spell…she had felt it before. Many times before, but she couldn't piece the puzzle together. Something clouded her memory.
Raven concentrated on the girl, and closed her eyes. Clearing her mind, she focused all her energy on the girl's. Let me see her thoughts…her feelings…her every love or hate…Her life. Her wishes…her every desire… Raven felt that she was getting closer. She was almost entirely in her mind. Blackness surrounded Raven. Everything was quiet. The strange feeling of magic appeared stronger.
Two figures appeared. One, a young man, the other, the pale-faced girl. She was almost there…in her mind… she was almost close enough to them when…
A sudden force flared up against Raven, shoving her away from the two figures…farther and farther away until they weren't to be seen by her vision. It was the barrier that blocked her out of the girl's mind. Away from what there was to see, and what they were saying. That man, he was the answer. He was the dark magician that caused paranoia to everyone who was around the girl. That dark magic…she knew it from somewhere….
Raven tried once more time to get into the girl's mind, to break the barrier. Yet again the two figures came into view. The man was laughing, and the girl was just staring at him. There. Something was controlling her, a green substance surrounded her, and she was trying to fight it. Deep inside she was trying to fight it…but how did Raven know?
Raven saw the dark magic surround the girl and almost overtaking her. Why would they want her? What was so important about her?
She tried to reach out to them…to join them…to destroy the barrier…to find the answers…
The man, still laughing, turned towards Raven's sight, his grey eyes opened wide so that the whites of his eyes took over her vision. Staring her down. She felt him grabbing her, and throwing her away, farther than he had done before. Raven fought against him, trying to be free from his control. He was stronger than her, and finally pushed her far away again, farther perhaps…
A red hazy image appeared in front of Raven in the blackness. It was a demon, but she wasn't sure what kind it was. It's mouth opened and a hideous voice screamed, "GT UGHZ UMPHF GHE ASHEEUFT! UPHT WERDCH GHU XDEEWA!" and repeating the chant over and over, making Raven's head hurt.
Raven opened her eyes; her vision lay upon the ground of the medical center. Her breath came out in gasps. Sweat rolled down her forehead, into her eyes, making them watery. Feeling shaky, she looked around at the others. What she saw mortified her. A deathly feeling took over her feelings, knocking her to the ground, her emotions running wild.
The others weren't there.
The room was burning, heat as hot as hell…
Flames dancing around her body, making her choke on what little air she could grasp…
She was alone…
In a burning room…
Alone…burning…lost…
A red demon grabbed her wrist, and lifter her up. He was the same red demon she had seen before. He was perched on the table where the girl was. He wasn't there a second ago…or was he…
The beast had tiny greasy hands, long green claws going deep into her skin, a red chunky body that danced with the fire, black horns that was long and sharp. The demon of…
It was smiling at her, all its shiny white pointy teeth glistening in the firelight. It's eyes as yellow as the blazing sun forced her to look deep within the shadowy pits of his deadly mind…deeper….deeper…
"What…what have…you done…with my…friends…"Raven asked, her lips parched and her throat, burning. The heat was killing her, making her sweat uncontrollably, more than she ever had in her entire life. Her vision was barely anything, her ears plugged with the terrible sound of the heat, but it was enough to know that the demon was laughing at her.
"Never play with fire, young one,'' the beast said. Its voice was hideous, a dying cat screeching for its life, suffering…a millions screams of dying burning people screaming for life…suffering…suffering…
"It was either you or her for the end…" the demon, said, whispering in Raven's ear. "But it is her…your soul is nothing…"
Everything became silent. A loud buzzing sound filled her ears, making her head ache more than it already was. Raven saw a glimse of death…
She felt that she was nothing.
The ringing noise slowly dissolved in itself. In its place came the soft sound of Jump City…honking…
Raven slowly opened her eyes, and there…laid the pale faced girl…