Let Me Die

by worthlessdeath

Anielle, a depressed orphan, is in a city where the Teen Titans live. When something strange happens, she must join up with the Titans to stop this mad man. But what will happen when the villian is more than what he seems?

8. Crimson

Hello one and all. Next chapter is up, and all is good. Well…of course nothing is good in this world (except for summer time, and chocolate…and…other…stuff…), but maybe this chapter will bring a smile to your face.

Beware, this chapter is longer than the others.

Thanks to all those reviewed! Reviews at the bottom, just so you don't get distracted before the chapter has started. Distraction can be very distracting…enough said.

I thought about it some, and thought that perhaps you guys would like to have a bit of a pronunciation lesson. (Distracting enough?) Hah, you aren't going to get quizzed or anything. Just something to keep in mind while you read these chapters. These are some of the words that may be confusing how to pronounce (names, etc.), so I will lend you a hand and show you how I say them as I do. Only a couple, so do not worry your pretty little head about it. You may say them however you like. Don't matter to me.

Anielle: Anne yell (just those two words…and that's how I imagine its said)

Ramka: Rawmkaw (crappy way of showing you, but it works. Kind of like Raw…then the mmm sound… the a bird like 'kaw'.)

Aushi: Awshee (remember from last chappie? Hehe…not really important anymore, I guess, but all the same.)

I won't insult your knowledge of all the other places and names.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans. Add it to the list of things I want. And the things I will never get.

Chapter 8

It all happened too fast. All the events played in order in their depths of their minds, yet it did not make sense, leaving them standing on the hard pavement wondering nothing but this: why and how. Why and how?

All five wondering what kind of madness this was, how they could have prevented it (if they possibly could), and one seen and another unseen, wondering why they had to live to see pain in their friend's eyes.

They had put their trust in the wrong person. In the wrong person, indeed.

It was night, a darker night than usual in the eyes of those five. The constant image of their friend disappearing in a flash without their eyes seeing (but knowing) and her captor along with herself, leaving no trace if they even existed in this harsh cruel world. Of course they knew she was there. She was there. She was here standing beside them..…but she was not. Not anymore.

Only one day had begun of this so-called 'long' journey of theirs; only one day, and it had been the beginning of unfortunate events. And only in less than ten seconds the journey seemed to be nothing but what they wish not to know, even though they would know soon enough. Sooner than they thought.

Ramka did this, they were sure. One knowing of course, but knowing was enough. The other four thinking it, yelling it in their own selfless and unknowing minds with other selfish eyes listening to what they shouted with delight. Ramka was part of this, the master mime in taking their friend. That they knew, and that was enough.

While the sun was setting, the Titans quarreling with Beast boy about his lack of silence, and while Robin listened to the voices that sung, a man about the age of twenty stood in front of a broken mirror, combing his slick red hair back. He had an assignment. His boss had not given him one for months counting, -about 73 days to be exact since this man was tallying the days off- for some reason since his last one. That last one had gotten a bit messy, and the man would have been in serious trouble, if it were not for his boss's place in society. He ended up killing the assigned person.

The man's job was to capture humans (and sometimes other creatures), his boss had said this when he first started his job, and with a bit of disgust when he had spat out the word 'humans'. He had said the word as though it were poison. Obviously, his employer was far from the definition 'human' himself, since he seemed to despise the human race. The man and his boss had special abilities that they found plain normal, but knew were strange to others. These abilities made them both far from human, but they, of course did not look like it.

The man looked pretty much human, but who would not, after living on this cursed planet the humans call Earth for twenty years? Twenty long years breathing the polluted air and most of all, and being distracted by human interests without knowing what truly was out there.

Now, that was a curse.

His boss had shown him the stupid ways of the human race, and opened his mind into a whole other reality. The true and exact reality that all should know, if they were worthy. It was his boss who showed him the real ways of the cursed world. The boss he would forever serve.

Thinking back to his conversation with his employer an hour earlier, he remembered the specific details that were needed. There were always these directions that needed to be followed, how to make his entry, how to do this, and that, blah blah blah. More of these 'directions' had been put into place this time. The man guessed this assignment was vital to his boss, and he would not fail. If he were to possibly stumble upon failure, he would pay with his life. Dying by a far from human's hand would be extremely unpleasant. He did not want to get into the bloody details just then.

As he stared at his reflection in the cracked mirror, he almost started to laugh. What he found funny was the traits he had of a human: small nose, blue eyes, full lips, rosy cheeks, and freckles. He knew it would not last, though he had told his boss he especially loved the red hair. The man closed his eyes, smirked, and disappeared into thin air. The job would not take him long. It was a piece of cake, compared to his last job that had almost cost him too much, and his boss as well.

No one could screw up at this part of the game.

Fwoosh. He was in a kind of old building built about ten years ago, yet it still was out of style in the growing community of Earth. Only a waitress was there, located behind a lengthy counter with her back turned away from the man, reading a newspaper. He sat on one of the stools next to the counter. His smirk never left his face.

All of this is too easy, he thought. To damn easy.

The woman's coffee was sitting right next him, still steaming hot from the microwave hidden beneath the counter. He could easily poison her, but of course, that would not work. Instead, he slipped something in it that would look like backwash (or in other words, something interesting) but was half poison, half something else. Either way, it still was not fully poison; it would still give into its full affect.

The fat woman never would know what hit her.

The waitress saw him sitting there, a bit surprised by his sudden appearance. She quickly threw that thought away, along with the newspaper, which he saw dated two weeks ago, and gave him a menu. The menu, he noted, was the same icky color yellow as the chairs in this place, and the chairs, he noticed, were metal. When was their a magnet when you needed one?

"Tell me when your ready to order," the waitress said happily with a peppy smile.

"Yeah, yeah," he said, hating her happiness. As he quickly scanned the menu, he could not believe what he saw. He looked up quickly and with no surprise, he saw that there was no kitchen. That explained everything. Especially the metal stool he sat on.

"What do you use to cook all this stuff?" the man asked, already knowing the answer.

"Microwave," the waitress said, picking up her coffee. "Did you…do something to my coffee, sir?"

"No," the man said. "I wouldn't even think of it."

The waitress nodded slightly. Just then the man remembered what the coffee did to a human if they just even peered at the half poison, half something else for a second. It changed their personality in a flash, and that was the best part of it. He loved some of the special gadgets (or spells/tricks) he was aloud to use that his boss gave him for his assignments. If only he could use them all the time…this specific one also drew up suspicion, but he had no worries about that.

All was planned out too well. He still hated to think what was on the menu, though. This specific location could have been thought up by his boss, as a little punishment, which it probably was. He picked up his menu again, and asked the waitress what was their best, but he did not really like the answer she gave.

It did not matter to him.

But now, all he had to do was wait. Waiting was good. And of course, he that is what he did.

"Oh and by the way, Welcome to 'Eat at Joe's'," the waitress said with fake happiness. If she had not been under the half poison half something else's magic trick, she would never have mentioned the name of the restaurant.

"Yes, finally!" Beast boy said as he entered into the restaurant. A faint smell entered his nose, making him want to eat the whole restaurant, if it were eatable. He would have quickly change his mind if he knew what he actually was smelling.

"Welcome to Eat at Joe's," a fat waitress said in a bored voice behind a lengthy counter. "Sit anywhere you like, and I will be with you shortly."

"As she says," Beast boy muttered, sliding into one of the yellow metal chairs closest to the window. It was nighttime, and barely any stars showed their faces. The night held something nobody would expect, only the man who sat with a smirk on his face, watching the Titans and Anielle slip into their seats. He wondered if they would notice the chairs were metal.

"Wonder what they got," Cyborg said. "It better be good, because I'm starving."

"Aren't we all," Raven said.

"Can't she give us our menus already?" Beast boy said impatiently, looking over at the waitress.

"It looks like she is busy," Starfire pointed out .The waitress was wiping the counter while staring into her coffee with a disturbing grin on her face.

"Yeah, right," Beast boy said. "Busy my ass. Isn't her main priority to serve customers or something?"

Outside a slight wind went threw the branches of the scattered trees placed around few buildings that were located at the rest stop. A stir in the night was the only movement, yet unseen. It's target located, waiting for the signal.

Anielle swiftly looked out the window, as if sensing something. She did, and she did not like it. A power surged out there, sending a shiver up and down her spine. What madness is this? She thought. What madness?

Something distracted her from what she was thinking. Robin. It was Robin. And he was smiling at her. No one ever smiled at her that way. No, no one had, except the friendly smile of Starfire's, but Anielle was sure she smiled like that to anyone and everyone all the time. Robin was smiling at her as if they had been good buddies or something.

Anielle was caught off guard. Why was he doing this? What had she done right? Nothing, of course. Robin did not know a thing. She almost wanted to say out loud, dumb human, but she was not like the others who despised them. She used to be one of them. The only thing that Anielle had done was speak into his mind, and help him out of the dark pit of crazy voices, and of the menacing plague. All she did was drive out that voice. It was a warning, and it was not in her choosing to do what she had to. It was her brother's doing, but through her. That warning, if Robin really had listened, would dig them out of what was soon to come, and she had not let him listen. That was what she had done. Ended all of their chances from preventing something bad from happening.

And what Anielle got out of it was a smile. She wished he would stop. She did not disserve this. He would regret it soon. All too soon.

Anielle shifted uncomfortably in the chair, suddenly realizing that they were made out of metal.

The man watching the six silently laughed at what he read straight out of Anielle's mind. He didn't laugh out loud, though, he laughed with delight inside his own. It was fun to listen to her pain, though he was glad atleast someone knew about the chairs.

"Uhh…Robin? What hit the happy face?" Cyborg asked Robin.

Robin's smile faded. "Nothing. Nothing," he said. "It's nothing."

"Maybe he's just glad Beast boy has his mouth shut," Raven said, "for a minute running."

"Hey!" Beast boy exclaimed. "I ask again. What is wrong with me talking?"

"Beast boy," Cyborg said patiently, "just let it go."

"Do not let it run you down, friend Beast boy," Starfire said, smiling at him. Anielle was now certain she smiled like that to everyone, even a stranger, probably.

The waitress finally came over after spending a few minutes studying her coffee as if something interesting was in it (which there was, of course). She was a chubby woman in her mid thirties, her hair obviously dyed blonde, and her face was standing out too much for comfort. She wore a lot makeup, perhaps thinking that it made her look pretty. Wrong. Beyond wrong. It made her look hideous.

"What's wrong with you, green boy?" she asked gruffly, catching Beast boy staring at her face.

"Uh…" Beast boy did not know what to say. She was ugly. No, not just ugly, just plainly and extraordinarily hideous. No matter how much he wanted to say it, he still could not force his mouth to speak. He was dying to speak his mind.

"I… think he's starved," Cyborg said, coming to his rescue. " He probably can't think clearly." Then he added quickly, "From lack of food, that is."

"And lack of brain," Raven said.

"I see," the waitress said, buying Cyborg and Raven's answer. "Alright then. Just call me when you are ready to order." She walked away slowly, back to her coffee that interested her so much.

Beast boy quickly scanned the menu, disgusted with everything there was. "Dude, there's nothing good on here! This is just bogus!"

"It is food, am I correct?" Starfire asked, scanning the menu as well.

"Don't know Starfire. It all seems kind of…strange," Robin said.

"Yeah. Corn on a stick?" Cyborg said in surprise. "How can you get corn on a stick?"

"I would like to see you try," Beast boy said.

"Yeah?" Cyborg said. "I would like to see the waitress try. Isn't it supposed to be corn dog on a stick?"

"Whoa…Artichoke Delight. Artichoke covered with cheese and topped with onion?" Beast boy said in disbelief. " Sick. That's just plain sick! Who would even eat an artichoke?"

"It is creative?" Star said, a bit entranced by the mixture of Earth food.

"Yeah…yeah, Star. It's pretty creative," Cyborg said stifling a laugh.

"Is there anything normal on this menu? Like a burger and fries?" Beast boy said.

"They got a burger on a stick," Raven said, holding the menu with her pointer finger and her middle finger as if it were just a piece of trash. " With roasted banana and…" She shook her head, completely grossed out. " I'm not eating off of this menu…"

"Neither am I," concluded Starfire.

"They should call this restaurant 'Stick Food'," Cyborg mumbled. "Half of the food has the word 'stick' in it."

"Please say there is something good on here!" Beast boy exclaimed.

That was his que. The man sitting and watching them got up and began walking towards the table where the Titans sat, along with their quiet companion, Anielle. She did not even dare pick up the menu. He silently stood behind Beast boy, almost trying hard not to laugh triumphantly. All was planned out too well.

"There's steak stick and fish," the man said, startling Beast boy. The man had a small bit of humor in his voice when he spoke." It's…not normal but it is the best they have, in my opinion, and in the waitress's. I asked her."

"Another stick," Cyborg said.

"Who are you?" Robin asked. One of his favorite questions, one he would use many times in the most convenient ways.

"Sorry, I just overheard you talking," the man said apolitically. "You are…quite loud. I'm sure even the waitress could hear." All turned towards the waitress, who still was studying her coffee with deep interest. "By the way, my name's…Andrew."

"Nice to meet you Andrew," Robin said. "You sure…the steak stick and fish is good? "

"Yeah," Andrew said. "As I said before, it's the best they got."

"Sounds good," Beast boy said. "What made you the expert of this restaurant?"

"Been here plenty of times," Andrew lied. "You kind of get the hang of these things."

Anielle seemed to be the only one to know that he was not who he seemed to be. His name was not Andrew. No, it never was, and never will be. He was one of Ramka's handy dandy men who did his dirty work for him. She wanted to tell Robin and talk to him inside his mind to warn him, but she knew Andrew would interfere. There was no warning him in any way. Anielle wondered what he was up to… and what was going to happen.

"Why don't you sit with us?" Cyborg said. "Looks like you're alone."

"Sure," Andrew said with a shrug. He gave a short glance in Anielle's direction and his smirk appeared once again. He knew she could do nothing. Nothing at all. All was too well planned.

Why hello there, Andrew said into Anielle's mind with a tiny bit of friendliness in it, but mostly mockery.

As he pulled up a chair(which made a whole lot of racket since it was made out of metal) beside Cyborg, the waitress came over, reluctantly leaving her coffee on the counter. She eyed Andrew, and pulled out her notepad.

"Well, looks like all you young folk are settled in," she said. "Are you ready to order? Or are you still complaining about our menu choices?"

"Yup, she heard ya," Andrew said to Beast boy, smiling.

"I think we're ready," Robin said.

"Good. What do you want?"

"You got coffee?" Cyborg asked.

The grey lump was on the move. It was not just a grey lump though, it was a man. To Beast boy's fear, he was stalking them. Just as the T-car passed the lump, he knew that it was time to move. Fast.

He was not in favor of sleeping on the side of the road, but it worked for him. It was his lookout post, and now it lay far behind. He had to walk all the way to his next destination(he had to walk all the way around the big hill), no matter how his feet ached, no matter how much he complained, he just had to get there, and fast.

Or the plan would fail.

It was not even a plan, exactly. The lump thought this funny. How was it not a plan when they were actually planning something that would succeed? Or hopefully would succeed? Would succeed? The only reply that stuck in his mind like glue was this: Do your job or die.

"Do your job or die," the lump said out loud, and smirked, showing the air his beyond yellow teeth with green stuff that looked like mold growing on his gums. If the air was a living thing, it would have cringed and run away as fast as it could, but of course, it could not. It could not. It was utterly impossible, unless Ramka had something to do with it. " Yeah, I'd love to die, but not by him. Hell, not by the hand of a non-human."

On he went, endlessly to do his job. First of all, he had to recruit some members of his…so-called 'family'. They were not related to him in any way, but they were in the same conditions he was under: Do your job or die.

His 'family' awaited his arrival. At the next rest stop( around the big hill), where he was sure the Titans and Anielle would not stay, for it was empty, and had been for quite some time. There lay in one of the old buildings a portal that would take him and his recruited brothers to their final destination. He grew to love these portals Ramka made for them. It saved him a lot of walking, in every job he had to attend to, but not enough. He still had to walk, no matter how far, no how his feet ached, no matter how much he complained or swore at his boss for this, he just had to get there, and fast. He really hated big green hills.

"This looks…strange," Starfire said when her food, the steak stick and fish, was placed out in front of her. The steak actually looked like a stick, brown and burnt for the matter, and the fish did not look like fish at all. Just some purple lump that smelled disgusting. "Are you sure it is Earth food, not food from my plan-''she stopped and a gave a quick smile towards Andrew, "from where I am from?"

"Would the food from…where you are from smell this bad?" Cyborg asked.

"It matters," Starfire said. "But I do not think it would."

Apparently everyone took Andrew's advice, as he did take his own. To their utter disgust, their meal was frozen, and even though the waitress tried to be as quiet as any fat chubby woman could, she microwaved it. The microwave was very loud, and it would have given anyone a headache, if they really paid much attention to it. The old hunk of junk (as they presumed it was) appeared to be the only noise that they could hear, besides the shallow wind that howled outside.

"At least it isn't that bad looking," Andrew pointed out.

"Looks bad enough," Beast boy said. "I don't think…I can eat this."

"You were smart not to order anything, Raven," Robin said.

"I don't eat from restaurants like this," Raven said. "Especially with such unpleasant company."

"Don't be so harsh," Cyborg said. "Andrew's just a friendly guy."

"Indeed I am," Andrew said with a bit of laughter in his voice. "Though I doubt she meant me, by any means."

"I was talking about the waitress," Raven said.

"Oh," Cyborg said. "You have a point."

"I wonder if she is the only one who works in this restaurant. If you could even care to call it a restaurant," Beast boy said, who began to pick at his food with a plastic fork and knife the waitress gave them. As he poked harder at it, the fork broke into two pieces. Beast boy shook his head slowly. "This is wrong. Especially when they have chairs that match the menus…"

"They don't even have a kitchen!" muttered Cyborg under his breath. "What restaurant doesn't have a kitchen?"

"Apparently this one," Robin said.

"Is a microwave all that bad?" Andrew asked, starting to eat. Everyone looked at him with disgust. "What?"

"You're actually eating it?" Beast boy aked. "Your fork didn't break! How's that possible?"

"Your point is?"

"Are you dying of starvation or something? And how can your fork not break? Mine just broke from slightly touching this…thing…"

Andrew laughed at what he said. Of course he was dying, weren't they all as the seconds of the day passed? They were all growing older, indeed, and would die one day soon of course. Except Anielle, that is. And except he himself, along with the help of his boss. But that was for his boss's choosing.

The fork he did not have a clue about. Maybe he got a good plastic fork. That did not make perfect sense to him. All plastic was crap. Metal on the other hand…

"So, who are you lovely folk?" Andrew asked, even though he already knew the answers. He loved making conversation to the ones who would wish they hadn't known him, though he hated talking and wished speaking never existed. "And why are you hanging around here, of all places?"

"Oh, sorry," Robin said, glad to talk about something else other than what they soon would be eating, if they even wanted to. He was sure that the others were as well. "Sorry we didn't introduce ourselves earlier."

"No prob," Andrew said, taking another bite of the steak stick.

"I'm Robin. That's Cyborg, Beast boy, Starfire, Raven, and over there is Anielle." Robin pointed to each of them as he said their names, and Andrew's eye fell upon each one of them. His gaze stayed longer on Anielle. Andrew knew exactly what was in store for her.

Welcome to the land of Deception, Andrew said into her mind, making her wince. Glad you could make it right now time.

Why are you here? Anielle asked.

Why are you here?

It wasn't really my choice, now was it?I'm sure you know it better than me.

Course. I'm sure dear old Ramka wouldn't leave me clueless. Had a nice little Mind Fiesta earlier?

Anielle ignored his question. What are you planning? What is he planning?

Why would I dare to tell you? Andrew took another bite of his steak stick and fish. The food made a gross cracking noise when he bit into it, making him grimace inside. It was utterly disgusting, but he dare not blow his cover. Plus, he would take his punishment dignity, if you could call eating crap dignity. I'm sure you're looking forward to it, now aren't ya?

No. Never. Anielle realized she was staring at Andrew, and tore her gaze from him. Her eyes fell upon the food that sizzled with a sick smell in front of her. How could he eat the stuff? Another question popped up into her head. How could he captor and feed them to the biting teeth of Ramka? Surely he had been through a lot more other than just eating crap like this.

Tell me one thing, Anielle. How does it feel to know that you will never die? That you should never be trusted in this world?

Shut up. She said it softly, but tried to put enough forced anger into the words. I'm sure you know.

Please, I would love to know what you have to say.

Why?

I'm sure I have a right to know. Now, please, the answer.

What made you so proper?

What made you so snotty?

Shut up. Leave them alone. Her words sounded desperate, she knew, but she did not care.

What about you? Should I leave you alone too? Huh? Or has your brother done enough? I'm sure you're a weakling by now.

Shut up.

"Here's your coffee," the waitress said, giving Cyborg a cup. She added with fake enthusiasm, "and enjoy."

"Thanks," Cyborg said. "Hey, wait. Don't you have any cream or sugar to put in it?"

"Does it look like it?" the waitress nastily, returning to her own cup.

"Guess not," Cyborg said, looking into his coffee. It looked just as bad as the food that still awaited him to eat, but he drank it anyway. Cyborg doubted that he would get any sleep tonight, without the help of the coffee.

"Is anyone going to eat?" Andrew asked politely, ignoring the glare that Anielle was giving him.

"I don't think so," Robin said.

"I do not think I could eat any of this fish and steak of a stick," Starfire said. "May we go to the next rest stop and try again?"

"Don't leave yet," Andrew said sadly, his eyes pleading. He was enjoying the looks Anielle was giving him. He wondered how a quiet girl like her could come across such anger. All the same, it was entertaining.

"I guess we could stay a bit," Robin said. "While Cyborg finishes his coffee. But we really should be going."

"Where are you guys off to?" Andrew asked.

Robin looked quickly at the others. Raven sat quietly and stared at him, and the others stared at their food as though they could not believe what they were seeing…or smelling. He could have sworn that Anielle was staring at Andrew or something, but he was a second behind form catching the scheme.

"Trip away from the city," Robin replied. "Got enough of the action as it is."

"I see," Andrew said lightly.

What are you planning? Anielle said into his mind, trying to sound fierce, but without any success.

You shall see soon enough. "Super heroes, by any chance?" Andrew asked simply. And don't even try to warn Robin. Your brother won't allow it.

Just then Anielle had a pounding headache, forcing her to shut her eyes in order to keep the tears from flooding out.

"Yeah," Robin said. He looked at Anielle's screwed up face in concern. "You all right Anielle?'

"I'm fine," Anielle said quietly.

"Maybe she's just grossed out like the rest of us," Cyborg suggested.

"It would make sense," Andrew said, finishing what was left of the food in front of him. He made a little note to himself to never eat at the place again. 'Eat At Joe's' really needed a kitchen, and skinny waitresses, for a better environment, and company.

"Dude, how did you eat it?" Cyborg asked, astonished.

"Sorry to say, but you kind of get used to it," Andrew said, placing his hands behind his head, his elbows sticking out in the air. He was in deep need of a toothpick, to make this position actually worthwhile. Andrew was certain that the place would not contain even a scrap of wood.

"I bet," Beast boy said. "Can we please get out of this place? I'm starting to feel like the food. Gross and disgusting. And not just that, I feel like I'm going to smell-''

"All right," Cyborg said. "The coffee wasn't that good anyways…"

While Robin left $10 on the table, quite less than what the waitress would have charge, everyone quickly got up, and walked out the door, followed by Andrew. "I'm sad to see you guys go," he said. "Not many people come around here at this time of night. Not even often during the day."

The place was completely deserted except the T-car. A thought ran through the seven, wondering if the fat waitress lived there.

"It was nice meeting you, Andrew," Robin said.

"Yeah…it was nice meeting you too," Andrew said, looking suspiciously at the waitress still standing and studying her coffee inside. What was taking her so long? Why was she just standing there? Then Andrew realized that the waitress never sipped out of the cup ever since he put the stuff that was half poison in there. It was the human's nature of suspicion, he guessed, and part of the half poison half something else's doing. Damn humans. He deeply wanted to throw one of those metal chairs at the fat woman.

What's wrong? Anielle's voice said mockingly, echoing all around Andrew. The waitress part of your plan, not working?

Just as Robin was turning around towards the T-car along with the others, Andrew said, "Hey, wait up a minute." Robin turned and looked at Andrew, who had a grin appear across his face. "Your names, I just realized. They aren't ordinary. Are they nicknames or something?"

"I guess you could say that," Robin said, smiling a little. "You know, being heroes and all. Nice to have a disguise of some kind."

"Yeah," Andrew said, sweating a little. He was trying to buy time. He needed more time. They needed more time. Anielle could tell this in the little edge in his voice about what he was trying to do. "They are quite interesting. By the way, nice mask." He would have said to Cyborg 'cool gear' because of his half robotic body, but he found that a little too desperate.

"Thanks," Robin said, his smile widening into a grin.

"You know, it's really quiet around here," Andrew said, wishing he had taken a lesson from his boss about conversation, though any lesson with him would be very distasteful. Even talking to him wasn't pleasant. He still regretted it, all the same.

"It's kind of creepy," Beast boy said, staring into the shadows across the way. "And that's why we're leaving."

"I'm sorry to bother you with this but…"Andrew thought about what he just was going to say. It would have sounded desperate, he knew, but he had to give it a shot. It was either he pointing at the waitress and she suddenly falling to the ground in an extraordinarily stupid faint, or he asking them to stay with him for a few minutes, just to keep him company. Either way was fishy. They would for sure sense something going on, and that was not good.

He just realized they were all staring at him.

"Your not afraid of the dark, are you?" Cyborg asked, amused.

"Oh, oh no, no, I'm not," Andrew said, laughing. "No, I just was a bit…"A thought sprung out to him, but not in a very nice manner .It was forced into his mind. In anger, possibly. "Lost. I was just a bit lost."

Anielle gave him a curious look. She knew he was he was digging up.

"Do you possibly know where the closest big city is? I'm not real interested in staying in this place much." Andrew shrugged. "You know, the food…"

"Closest big city, huh?" Robin said, deep in thought. "Not sure. We're a bit lost too, to tell you the truth."

"Shall we help him?" Starfire suggested. "I could fly-''

"You sure that's a good idea?" Cyborg asked.

"You can fly?" Andrew asked stupidly. He loved acting stupid. It was a skill anybody had, but everybody didn't have the skill of conversation. He silently cursed himself because of it.

"I'm sorry Andrew, but we kind of got to get going ourselves," Robin said as though it was an apology.

"I understand," Andrew said, lowering his head. "I guess I'll have to stick around here for a while. Eating that crap and…you know…" They don't even have a bathroom, he thought. He could have said it out loud if he really wanted to.

"Please friends, we should help him," Starfire said. " He is just a poor man who needs our help. Should we not help him?"

Andrew tried to hide a smile. He hoped somebody would pity him. It was just the person he wanted, too. The confused alien.

"Well, if you guys are late for something, I guess I'll have to walk to the next rest stop," Andrew said slowly. "It's not a big deal or anything, I mean."

"I…don't really know…" Robin said with uncertainty showing in his eyes. He looked over at Starfire's sparkling eyes with that pleading look in them. There was no way he could not give into them.

"You mean you would walk on the side of the main road?" Beast boy asked.

Andrew nodded solemnly. He was extremely enjoying this. Today was a good day. Tonight was a wonderful night. If it only wasn't for the damn wind…

"Jeezes, you can't do that," Beast boy said, remembering the lump sleeping on the side of the road. "There are things sleeping on the side of the road. They could stalk you."

"Oh really?" Andrew asked, looking up and raising an eyebrow. His face was blank, but Anielle was sure he was hiding heaps of emotion. She could tell by the slight thoughts she was picking up in his mind. He was pleased with himself. He probably would even hug himself or pat himself on the back if he really wanted to.

"Yeah," Beast boy said. "There was this one dude we drove pass earlier today. I'm not sure, but he seemed kind of dangerous. Hey guys, I really think we should give him a lift."

"Indeed we should," Starfire added victoriously.

"I guess it wouldn't hurt," Robin said. "Cyborg, you got an extra seat?"

"Are you serious?" Cyborg said, surprised. "The T-car's got everything, man."

"Everything, as in a toilet?" Andrew asked curiously. This was the time to say it. "There is no toilet here…"

Cyborg eyed him, saying, "Well we had a toilet, but it doesn't work anymore, thanks to Beast boy. How can they not have a toilet here?"

"Hey! That was an accident. It's not like I had revenge against the thing," Beast boy protested. "It was still kind of wrong to even put a toilet in the car. And besides, if this place has no kitchen, its sure not going to have a toilet."

"We weren't planning to stop, " Cyborg pointed out. "But since you broke the toilet, and ate all our food, we kind of had to. Oh, yeah, we would have stopped to sleep…"

"It is a good thing too that we stopped, or else friend Andrew would have stayed here eating the food that was not what I would call Earthly food," Starfire said. Andrew seemed flattered.

"I…I don't know what to say," Andrew said, "but perhaps she is right."

"She's right," Cyborg said. " You can thank us, even though we aren't doing much for you."

Andrew was just about to thank them, but he knew he would not have the time. He already bought enough to get the plan rumbling away. To get the main attraction on their way, to be exact.

"There's something over there," Raven said quickly, pointing to the shadows of the building across from where they stood. She had been looking around while the others were talking.

"Where?" Beast boy asked looking around. "I don't see a thing."

"There's something there," Raven insisted. "It's been watching us. We should go. Now."

"Are you sure?" Andrew said, a little too loud for anyone's liking, with a bit of amusement hidden in his words that only Anielle caught. He seemed to want to be heard by whatever hid in the shadow. Probably what the shadows had been waiting for, a signal. "Nobody comes around this time of day!"

Just then a figure came out of the shadows. A single man. They couldn't quite make him out since his facial features and clothing still hung in shadow. If there was better light, they could have recognized him as the lump, the one Beast boy was afraid would stalk them, and of course, he did.

He disappeared for a split second, swiftly coming towards the seven who stood outside "Eat At Joe's". They did not know, but he carried a weapon with him, a sharp weapon that could easily break the flesh of any normal human being. He headed for the green boy, who stood there with a dumb look on his face.

"Watch out!" Anielle yelled, noticing whom the figure was heading towards. Starfire saw this as well, and quickly pushed Beast boy out of the way, getting the attack herself. The sharp weapon barely missed her heart as she tried to push herself away. Instead, it scraped her stomach, leaving a shallow wound and revealing a thin line of blood. If she had not backed up a bit, it would have been deadly.

Surprised by the alien girl's quickness, he quickly went hid back in the shadows.

"Dude! What was that!" Beast boy exclaimed, staring at Starfire.

"I do not know," Starfire replied seriously.

"You're bleeding," Robin said, concerned.

"It is not that bad," Starfire said, looking down at her wound. "It could have been worse."

"He's fast," Raven said. "Keep on your guard."

"Hey you! Come out from hiding," Cyborg yelled. "Face us like a real man." Then added quietly, "or if you're a woman, fight like a real…woman."

"Starfire, you alright?" Beast boy asked.

"I am alright," Starfire said. "I am glad that you are not harmed."

"Thanks, Star," Beast boy sheepishly, "I should have seen it coming. I guess my reflexes are kind of on sleep mode."

What are you planning? Anielle whispered in Andrew's mind once again, giving a quick look back at his grinning face.

None of your business, he replied.

I wish to know, Anielle said. I wish to stop you.

You're brother won't allow that. Only you know that too well. How's your headache, by the way?

He's not my brother.

But he is.

My brother is dead. Anielle took a step back and placed herself right next to Andrew. I wish to know what you're planning.

Tell me, why don't you ever answer my questions?

"Stay back, Andrew and Anielle," Robin said, looking back at the two. "This guy might be seriously dangerous. I don't want you guys to get hurt."

"He's one guy, Robin," Cyborg said as the figure stepped out of shadow again. "We can take him. Easily."

"He is fast," Starfire noted.

"He is, but has that ever stopped us before?" Robin said.

"There's something about him I don't like," Cyborg said. "Something peculiar…"

The figure slowly began walking forward, and his facial features came clearly with his clothing, showing a grey cloak that covered his whole body except for his bear feet. Beast boy's eyes stared at him in disbelief.

"It's that lump we saw!" he said. "He stalked us! He followed us!"

"It would have been better if he was a rock," Cyborg said. "Then he wouldn't have to be beaten by us."

"What do you want?" Robin yelled at the lump.

As if in answer, about dozen more figures that looked exactly like the lump stepped out of shadow. They each had a grey cloak like the lump's, except they were shorter, revealing hairy legs along with bare feet, and a wicked grin spread out on their dirty faces. To the Titans, they looked like homeless men, hobos in Beast boy's mind, except the homeless men carried something that none of them would expect. They carried sharp objects similar to the one the lump had, that looked like a pitchfork with three spikes, with a thick dagger look at the end with longer quality, and a handle of steel.

Beside the tangle hair that shaded their eyes- if there was more light, they would have noticed they were dark crimson, the color of blood- and a dirty appearance, they seemed to be a threat. If they could see their eyes, they would have appeared to be even more of a threat.

"Looks like he has friends," Cyborg said.

"I told you he would follow us," Beast boy said quietly. " I knew it."

"We should listen to Beast boy more often," Raven said sarcastically.

"You should," Beast boy said seriously. "And I say we get out of here. Or something bad will happen."

"Something is," whispered Anielle, too quiet for anyone else to hear. Andrew only heard her words, and he only knew they were truer than Anielle could ever believe.

The hobos walked slowly towards them until they were only to ten feet apart from the seven. Robin quickly got out a few freeze disks while the others got into battle position, ready to fight.

"However dangerous they are, I guess we are about to find out," Robin said, "or whatever they want, they won't get. I'll make sure of that." He looked back quickly at the pale face of Anielle and said reassuringly, "Nothing will happen, I promise. You won't come to any harm."

He wishes, Andrew said lightly to Anielle. He wishes, but of course he knows deep down inside that he has nothing to do with it. Yet, anyway. And besides the fact, he can't do a single thing.

I will stop you, Anielle said defiantly in answer. I will stop you. I will.

Don't we all wish for something like that? Like hope? There is no hope.

There is.

"I do not like this, Robin," Starfire said.

"Neither do I," Robin said, looking over to her, who just stood there staring blankly. "Star, you all right? You look a little worn out."

"I do feel tired," Starfire said, and then smiled weakly. "But I am not too tired to kick the butt."

The lump that stood before the other figures took another step forward, drawing Robin's attention away from Star. There was a gleam in his eye that Robin did not like. It was a gleam that he saw in enemies that would give him nightmares, except it was different. He thought he saw red.

"Robin," the lump said. His voice was deep and deadly, as if he had seen too many deaths (which…he has) and waited for the next one.

Robin stood up straight, put away the few disks, and looked at the lump in surprise. "How did you know my name?" he said in disbelief, expecting that he probably would have an unpleasant conversation with him.

And there it was. The ten seconds they would never forget. The ten seconds that seemed less, but indeed, it was ten.

Andrew swiftly pushed Anielle back behind him into the building's glass doors, surprising the fat waitress inside (though it did not draw her too much attention from her coffee, which she still did not drink; suspicion would kill her one day). He quickly stepped behind Starfire, whose attention was not on him but straight ahead at the menacing lump. Andrew grabbed her shoulder tightly in his iron grip, making her numb all over. If Starfire were a regular human, he would have broken her shoulder through and through, bone and all. Andrew wrapped his other arm around her waist tightly, stopping her from struggling away from him, though he doubted she could.

"Robin!" she shouted in fright.

The Titans were too late to see what happened, since all their attention was on the enemy. The wrong enemy, that is.

As quickly as it began, it ended.

They disappeared. Right then and there, they disappeared. Andrew and Starfire were gone from their line of vision.

"Starfire!" shouted Robin, and turned just in time to see the figures in grey disappear as well. "Starfire! Where are you!"

Anielle saw it all, from where she now sat back against the door in pain from the force Andrew put in to pushing away. She was lucky she did not shatter the glass. She would have been in deep trouble if that had happened. Anielle thought for a second, that if Andrew had not pushed her away, she would have had some chance in saving their target. The one the wanted. Starfire. Anielle could have, but she didn't. She couldn't.

It was a darker night to those five. It all happened too fast. Starfire wasn't there, along with her capture. Gone forever, or so they thought.

The four Titans stood there, looking at where their friend had been. They just couldn't believe it. How could they just take her? How could someone they trust just take her away? Why and how?

Why and how?

What they did not know was that Andrew and Starfire never left the spot where they last were seen. They were still there, under an invisibility spell, and a silent spell, for Starfire was making a whole lot of noise to Andrew's discomfort.

Starfire tried to push away from Andrew, but he was too strong. Stronger than what he appeared to be: a poor human being whom she took pity over. She felt numb all over, which helped on her capture's part. The hand that still had a tight grip on her shoulder was still in place. Starfire could feel his nails dig deep into her skin, making her wince in pain.

"They can't hear you," Andrew whispered in her ear menacingly. "No matter how you try, they can't hear you, or see you for the matter. See them staring dumbly around? Stupid idiots. There too blind to see what is really there." He fought of the urge to throw her against something hard to shut her up, but he knew he did not want to pay the price because of that. One already would for drawing the blood of the target. Andrew noticed his nails digging into Starfire's skin, and drew his hand away. Even that little mark would have a price to pay.

"Robin!" yelled Starfire. "Cyborg! Raven! Friend Beast boy!"

Raven seemed to hear something, but she did not know what. The spell was too strong for her to break. She did not even notice that there was a spell in place, or a barrier.

"Where did she go?" Beast boy asked. After they stood frozen in place from interminable minutes that seemed to last longer than what it appeared to be.

"I don't know," Robin said, his fists clenched. "Andrew took her…somewhere. Andrew took her! I can't believe it…I can't believe I couldn't see it coming…"

'I didn't take her anywhere, actually, Robin," Andrew answered smartly. "Just beyond where you could even see her. Stupid blind human."

"Robin!" Starfire yelled again. "Robin!"

Robin, finally unglued from his where he stood, walked towards where Anielle sat hunched over as he just realized what Andrew had done to her. Tears tried to exit from where Anielle kept them, but she would not let them go. Robin still kept his eyes open for something, anything, any trace of where his friend went, but he knew that he wouldn't see anything, even if he wanted to.

"Anielle," he said quietly. "Anielle, are you all right?"

"Fine," she lied. "Just fine…Robin." She stopped, feeling weirdness for speaking his name. He gave her a hand to help her up. She felt her knees were weak, and she still had that growing headache, and now her back hurt. A lot. But that didn't matter to her. Andrew, if that was his name, took their friend. He literally took her away; for good it seemed, or what the other four Titans thought in their minds.

"I'm sorry," Anielle said. "I'm so sorry…I tried to stop him…I knew…he would do it. Really, I tried."

"There was nothing you could do," Robin said, deeply torn inside. He could not believe what just happened….but it did." There was nothing I could do, either. She's gone. I could not have done anything. Even if…I knew Andrew was going to take her. Why would he take her? Why? Why her of all people? I…I was just focused on the wrong enemy."

"I'm sorry," Anielle repeated. They didn't know how sorry she was. They never would.

"This was Ramka's doing," Cyborg said in anger. "I'm sure of it. Ramka had something to do with it."

"Then what were those homeless people doing here?" Beast boy asked curiously.

"I don't know," Robin said slowly. "They did serve a purpose, though. I don't see how I could be so stupid! To even trust him!"

"Don't blame yourself," Raven said. "Stop blaming yourself, Robin. You weren't the cause of this."

"I feel that it was my fault," Robin said. "It was my fault! I…"

Blame me, Anielle thought. Don't blame yourself, blame me. It's my entire fault.

"I know what purpose those men served," Anielle said, biting back the pain that grew deeper within her even before she spoke the words. She had to tell them, no matter what her brother thought of it.

"Don't you dare say it," Andrew said. "Oh don't you dare."

The others looked at her with deep sadness and curiosity.

"Why?" Beast boy asked, speaking all of the Titans questions.

"They were a distraction," Anielle said. "Distracting us from the real threat."

"How right you are," Andrew said laughing in delight as a saw sparks of pain appear behind Anielle's eyes. "Your dear ole' brother will have a blast. Have a wonderful night, Anielle."

Andrew watched as she squinted in pain, biting her lip to keep in the scream that almost escaped her lips.

Starfire gave up on her fruitless unheard screaming, knowing it would not do a thing. All of a sudden , she felt too weak to struggle or stand. She let her legs slip out from under her, waiting for the feeling of cold concrete. Instead, she felt a burst of wind while Andrew moved her and himself into the shadows where the lump and the rest of his 'family' disappeared. Andrew had put the disappearing spell on the men as well( and the silent spell, just incase they decided to speak to one another).

He still was watching with delight at the pain that surged through all of their minds. It was like watching a movie of plain horror and bloody hell.

"I love pain," he said joyfully. "I love it. You should too, dear Starfire. You'll be seeing it more and more these days."

"There was nothing we can do," Robin said slowly. "Nothing…there is nothing…"

"There is something," Raven said, picking her words carefully, for she felt that growing pain inside herself, the pain of guilt. She didn't want to say the wrong thing. "We know Ramka had something to do with this. If we keep going on this journey, to the desert…than we will find her."

"Yeah, but how do we know what he's doing to her now?" Robin said, his voice rising. "How do we know that he isn't torturing her? How do we know that she isn't in pain? Why did he have to take her?"

"Ramka will pay," Cyborg said seriously. "He will pay. Because he took our friend." He looked quickly at Anielle, who stood there with her head down, trying to hide what she felt just then. "All of our friends."

"Robin," Beast boy said. "Robin, we just have to hope that he isn't doing anything to her. Maybe just…talking to her or something."

"Yeah," Robin said quietly. "Let's hope."

"There is no hope, fools!" Andrew yelled. "Hope is just something you puny humans can believe in. Hope is nothing. Just like everything is..."

The five stood there for a moment or two longer, wondering how this could ever come to be. Why had they not been able to protect their friend they cared for so dearly, and why it was not they instead of her? Regret is what they felt. Guilt is what they knew.

One striking thought came across all of their minds, making them all jump: You are never safe. Not even from yourselves. It was a thought that they knew didn't belong to them. Anielle knew it was from Andrew.

Minutes passed, or it could have been hours. Starfire felt that tight grip of Andrew's arms loosen , him holding her in both arms as did Robin and Cyborg held Anielle the day before. He keeping her from falling to the hard ground. She felt weak, very weak, from the numbness and from seeing the sadness on the faces of her friends. She hated it. Star despised every bit of it. Why had Andrew caused her friends so much pain?

Where are you going? She thought out to them, knowing they would not hear. Her lips felt like led, unable to move, but what she thinking out to them seemed to be speaking out to them, for she heard her own voice. It was good enough.

Only Anielle stopped and turned around to where they stood in shadow, but she quickly turned away, wincing as if someone just hit her, forcing her to keep walking. She was in so much pain already, that she did not want to force her brother to put more onto her in his enjoyment. Tonight would be a long night for her. For all of them.

Why do you leave me? Starfire really wanted to talk to Robin, to have him hear what she was saying, but she knew he would not be able to hear. She knew he never would. But what she did not know was that he already did before. Robin did not listen to her, by the help of Anielle, and if he did, Starfire would not be in the arms of the one they once had trusted.

Why do you leave me, Robin? She was right there. She was only twenty feet away. How could he not see her, feel her presence?

Why?

"They can't hear you, you know," Andrew said from above her. He looked at the red hair that fell across the face of the girl he held, as he smiled pleasingly. "Even if you do try to speak into their minds, it won't work. You can talk to me, though, as long as you like. I'm sure I will be one of the only people you will be talking to. If you can call us 'people', that is."

Why?

Starfire quickly looked into the restaurant that lay just across from her, at the fat waitress who still studied her coffee. How stupid she was, Star realized, for not noticing what was going on out here. What had already happened. How stupid she was.

Why?

A troubled thought came across Starfire. She hated it, but she felt it was true.

Why do you do this to me? Why do you leave me? Now of all times when I needed you most of all?

"Fine," Andrew said, rolling his eyes. "Plead all you like…but you aren't getting anywhere."

Robin…do not leave me…please…

They all climbed into the T-car. Without her. They all closed their doors. Without her. They all got on their belts that are on the seats. Without her. They all breathed the air in the T-car. Without her. Cyborg turned on the engine. Without her. They were leaving.

Without her.

Why?

Robin turned to the empty seat next to Beast boy. Where Starfire would have been sitting. If it wasn't for Andrew.

Robin…. why?

Robin wished he would meet Andrew again, to fight him in a fair fight. A fair fight for Starfire. Then again, he asked himself why he wasn't the one who was captured. Why had it have to be Starfire? Starfire of all people? Why not him?

Why?

The T-car backed out of where it was parked, and slowly drove away from the shadows where she stood. Without her. They were leaving without her. She wanted to run after them, even if they couldn't see her. Star just wanted to get away from Andrew; she just wanted to be with her friends again.

Why do you leave me?

She knew she couldn't. She was too weak.

"Well, the show is over," Andrew said sadly. "What a pity. What a pity. And it was starting to get better."

A figure appeared next to him, the lump Star realized. The thought of this man right next to her made her jump in Andrew's arms, making his smile widen.

"Ah, you," Andrew said to the lump. The lump nodded to him. "You know the boss is not going to be too happy about this." He revealed the cut that still was bleeding on Starfire's stomach, and quickly hid her shoulder with his free hand. He would not have the lump know.

"Sorry," the lump said. "She got in the way."

"Try telling that to Ramka," Andrew said fiercely, getting a better grip around Starfire's waist. "You're not aloud to hurt the target. Unless you have to kill them, that is. He won't be too happy about this."

"Why should you care?" the lump said, a pleading look in his eyes. "It's my head, not yours."

"It was nice being your co-worker," Andrew replied, grinning. "I hope I'm the one to cut off your precious head. That's the only reason I care, dear Riley."

The lump's frown deepened as Andrew spoke his name. How he hated his name, but how he hated Andrew for even dare speaking it. How dare he.

Lifting Starfire's body into both of his arms, and still making sure the nail markings were not to be seen, he said a few words under his breath, and in a flash, he disappeared. It was time to deliver the target.

To his wonderful boss.

Ramka.

Any suggestions? Feel free to put them in when your review!

Comments to the reviewers:

Beautifully-evil: Never stop asking questions. Questions are good…and believe me, you may get sick of them, but we all need the dreaded answers! And to tell you the truth…life is weird. Life is the weirdness.

WindyDays: Ever read the Goosebumps books? No? Yes? I've read some of them…they don't even give you goosebumps, unless your really superstitious, which I am not calling you that (I can be really superstitious…believe me). It's nice to have fear; gets you out of the boring drone of life. Really, it helps. I wish I were going on vacation…let's hope get the laptop! No worries, no worries…

Mollykat: Sorry about the confuzzlingness…maybe your sickness is/was getting to you. Read the last chapter over if you really want to. But life is confusing, isn't it?