okay, first my loyal reviewers:
pcsoccerpmt-when will you learn that all my chapters are cliffhangers? get used to it! just kidding, i would never be mean or snappish to you, oh great one who reviews to every chapter
Rouge-well, im sorry, but thats just how things work out
on with my wonderful rantings...i mean writings!
Back in the tower, Robin paced the main room impatiently. Raven, who was feeling more like herself, watched him from over the rim of a cup of tea.
"Wearing a hole in the ground won't make them come back any faster," she said, somewhere between an insult, a joke, and a word of comfort.
"I know, but what else can I do? I've tried to contact Cyborg, Beast Boy, Starfire, and even Falcon. I can't get a response from any of them. I feel so helpless!" With an exasperated(ooo, big word) sigh, he flopped down on the couch. Raven squeezed her eyes shut when he said it. It tugged at her heart to hear their brave leader admit how he felt.
Falcon laughed as she observed her three prisoners. Each were being held in such a way that they could not escape. Beast Boy wore a collar that shrunk or grew to fit him depending on what animal he became and gave a shock when he went outside a small circle drawn in chalk on the floor. A wire ran from Cyborg's back that kept him in a daze, staring at the wall. Enchanted ropes that had been borrowed from Blackfire bound Starfire's hands so she could not use her power.
"Well, you have fun with that. I however would like to go have a chat with my brother." Starfire's head snapped up, but Falcon had already turned on her heel and was gone.
At the tower, the screen flickered to life. Raven looked up from her book. Falcon's face was looking down at her. Glancing over her shoulder, she remembered Robin was in his room and recided not to disturb him.
"Yes?"Raven asked in her normal monotone, trying to sound undisturbed by the appearance.
"Hello Raven. Tell me, is my brother about? I would rather like to speak to him." Her voice was so sickly sweet that Raven flinched. She could tell this would not end well.
"Robin!" she called over her shoulder, "You need to get out here!" Robin hurried out and froze when he saw his sister's face on the screen.
"Hello there Robin. I thought you might be interested in seeing how your friends are doing. Allow me to show you." Still smiling, she moved to reveal Cyborg, staring at the wall. The view of the screen moved slowly to Beast Boy, who was curled up as a small dog. "No," whispered Raven, her eyes starting to glow black. Robin, who had entered the room, placed a hand on her arm. Finally the screen showed Starfire. She was tied to the wall, arms out, with glowing purple ropes. Robin's hands clenched into fists.
"Let them go," he said in a harsh whisper, looking up at the screen, "It's me you want. Just tell me where you are, I'll show up, you let them go."
"Oh Robin," Falcon sneered, sounding much like she had as Slade, "It kills me to see you hand yourself over like this. No. I want a fight. No one's help. None of my army, none of your friends. Just us." A sinister smile spread across her face. "To the end. Once one of us is lying on the ground, inches from death, pleading for mercy, that is when their bonds will break. Do I have a deal?"
"Yes, I'll see you tomorrow." The screen turned black.
"Robin! Why? We could have saved them, you don't have to do this. You could have-" Robin fell to his knees. He tore off his mask, buried his face in his hands, and let tears stream down his face. "Robin! What's the matter?"
"I know I can't win," he whisperd.