Let's get right back to it! I left everybody hanging last time! I don't own Teen Titans!

Raven staggered backward with a scream of terror, upsetting a stack of boxes and tumbling them into a mess! They ripped open with age, avalanching her with random artifacts and objects. She thrashed back into the standing position, thoroughly shaken and trying not to whimper aloud at the pain she'd received in the fall. That had been the last thing she'd been expecting. But, it was true. Raven saw herself hanging from the rope, an elderly chair overturned directly beneath her. A mournful look was on her face, her arms dangling like limp noodles. She swayed gently back… and forth…… back…… and forth…

Raven moaned in fatigue, unable to look at it for very long. "It's not real." She whispered, holding her head. "It's a hallucination… not there… not there…" she looked up, and the figure still hung there before her. Trembling horribly in her torn outfit, Raven came closer once again. It looked exactly like her.

The rotted skin had pieces missing here and there, the eyes rolled into the skull to display black, lifeless sockets. Her mouth was slightly agape, signs of dripped spittle down her chin. Her cloak was missing, and her leotard was moth-eaten. How in the world had she stayed hanging there for so long? Her body was so old and decayed… Raven reached with a trembling hand, intent on shutting the eyelids so it wouldn't stare blankly at her. Standing up in the chair she made to do so.

"You're a real card, woe-laden child."

Raven's heart quivered and threatened to burst from her chest in fear. Icy cold adrenaline pumped through her system. It was talking to her. It was a zombified, decayed version of herself, and it was talking to her. Her body trembling at the terror she was witnessing, she drew dangerously close to the spectral doppleganger. "Yeah… a wild card." She passed her hand over its face to shut the eyelids and put it to rest, "Morcana…" she whispered.

The decayed body's back arched, drying all the way out very suddenly. Its lips curled back and split open, revealing rapidly eroding teeth. The fingers looked as though someone were sucking the remaining flesh off of them through a straw… Her ribcage was collapsing into itself with a spectral cry. It collapsed into dust and ash, leaving a pile on the floor.

Raven stood there on the chair, but quickly stepped down. She stood there, shaken beyond measure not for the first time. The fresh rush of adrenaline left her shaking and cold on the inside. She fell to her hands and knees, barely able to believe what she'd witnessed. Tears welled up inside her, but she fiercely fought them away. She would not cry… She would not cry… A tiny drop plipped to the dusty floorboards, and she forced herself to her feet. "I'm still standing, you bastard." She whispered to the darkness. "That's six down, and six to go." It didn't sound so stupid when she said it that time. She was halfway there, and still alive. For now.

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Beast Boy was walking down the hall to his room, ready for his hour-long break. Robin was busy contacting Titans East for any info they might have on Raven's whereabouts. Cyborg, who had the next hour off as well, was in his room with the dumb rock-thing he'd gotten earlier. Starfire was standing on the roof, looking out across the city.

Beast Boy passed Raven's room on the way… and noticed the door was open. Looking one way down the hall, then the other… he slowly approached it. Peering inside, he found it dark and barely visible. There were no overhead lights, but the sun gave some light. It was a little past noon now on the second day of their search, and still no Raven. Taking a deep breath, he stepped beyond the threshold. He knew the half-demon goth girl wasn't home, but… a quick look in her room wouldn't hurt anything. Shoving his hands deep in his pockets to avoid touching anything, he took a few steps in. Carefully drawn symbols were on the walls, all put there by Raven. Her cowl-shaped bed looked a little like a cave from where he stood... He approached it, almost in a daze. Raven had missed a night in her bed already. Sitting on her bed, he took on of her soft pillows into his arms, squeezing it tight. He inhaled her scent gently, his animal instincts prickling. Squeezing his eyes shut and wondering for the hundredth time where Raven had gone, he heaved a sigh. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up –!

"Raaaaanaaaaakaaaaaa–!" something whispered right in his ear.

Beast Boy jumped, staggering into Raven's bookshelf and almost knocking it over. "Who's there!" He demanded in a squeaky voice, ready to wet himself. It was the same voice they'd heard down in the cave below the tower. The whispers from inside the walls and vents! "Show yourself!" he commanded, trying to sound brave. An ethereal, mist-like form hissed out from under the bed. Beast Boy's eyes were as big as basketballs. It twisted… groaned… hissing seductively… The green teen was shaking uncontrollably, not so sure he wanted it to show itself anymore. It was taking shape, hazy in the mist… Beast Boy's mind finally found his lungs, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" He was halfway down the hall by the time he'd run out of breath, having slammed the door to the room while retreating.

"Alright," Robin said. "If you guys hear anything from her, let us know okay?" He gave Aqualad a wary thumbs up, shutting off the viewing screen. "Where would she go so quickly… and not take any of her things…?" junior detective wanted to know. He stroked his chin out of habit, deep in thought – when suddenly Beast Boy exploded into the common room and crashed into him. "Beast Boy! What're you…?" Beast Boy was paler than he'd ever seen, fighting to regain himself and keep running. "What's wrong!" Robin grabbed him by both shoulders, shaking him slightly.

"I-I-I-I-I Suh-suh-suh-suh-suh-saw –!" Beast Boy yelped, for Robin had slapped him over the face. "I saw it! I saw a shadow in Raven's room!" he screamed, making Robin's hair fly back.

"TITAN'S! TO RAVEN'S ROOM!" Robin roared into his T-communicator. Starfire broke out of her trance on watching the city. She flew off the roof and broke a window of the common room to race inside! Cyborg's mechanical zoom-in eye flashed back to normal as he roughly stood from his examining table. The entire desk shook, leaving it in a disarray. There were sounds of feet coming from all wings of the tower, all gathering outside Raven's room.

When everyone was present and Cyborg's sonic cannon was deployed, Robin kicked the door in. "Freeze!" Robin shouted. The other Titans boiled into the room Starbolts, sonic cannon, and a green raptor were at the ready. Greeting them in the darkness of the half-demon's room was…

…Nothing.

The four of them stood there, breathing hard and searching the room for the enemy. But, there wasn't one to be found. The black, misty shape had vanished into thin air, leaving the room looking as it normally did. Beast Boy returned to his human form, but Robin had already rounded on him. "This is NOT the time to be playing pranks, Beast Boy." He snapped, grabbing him roughly by the collar. Glaring at him with venom, he shoved the green teen back into the hall.

"But I swear it!" Beast Boy said helplessly, looking as though he were about it cry. "I saw this dark misty stuff come out from under the bed and there was all this whispering! I saw it!" Robin clearly didn't believe him, and he looked desperately at Cyborg. "You believe me right Cy!" Beast Boy pleaded, falling to his hands and knees. Cyborg said nothing, looking unsure. He went back into the room, checking under the bed. Nothing was there, of course.

Robin swept away, Cyborg following. Starfire stayed behind, looking at him. She looked deeply concerned, hovering over near him. She peered into Raven's room one more time… but saw nothing. "I…" Starfire searched for words for a few moments before she knew what to say. "I think you saw something, friend Beast Boy." The green teen looked at her hopefully. "You would not lie when it comes to Raven, I believe. You have been searching harder than any of us, I have noticed." The redhead cupped his cheek, still hovering in the air. Tears sprang to Beast Boy's eyes yet again, his teenage hormones taking over completely. Starfire understood… "Perhaps you should take a rest… and you would not see such bad things?"

Beast Boy's heart broke.

He stood violently, looking at her with hurt eyes that bordered anger and dispair. "Screw you!" He shouted in anguish, running away from her with tears streaking his face. Starfire, having never heard that phrase in her time on Earth, didn't know what to think. Not understanding the words but understanding the emotions behind them, she finally floated back to the ground.

"Beast Boy…" she murmured. She knew he would be even more upset if she gave chase, and decided to join her other two friends in the common room and let him be.

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Raven was in the common room yet again, some reading material in her hands. Reading always calmed her nerves, and as she sat down she wondered what Beast Boy would have to say this time around. Making herself as comfortable as possible on the dusty, ratty love seat, she pulled Beast Boy's diary from the purse she'd been carrying. Her brow furrowed from the first sentence, for it was in all capitals:

Dear Diary,

I HATE THEM ALL! I F---ING HATE THEM ALL! I SAW IT THERE IN HER ROOM! I KNOW THAT'S WHAT TOOK RAVEN! THAT WHISPERING SHADOW THING! NO ONE BELIEVES ME, AND STARFIRE THINKS I'M HALLUCINATING!

Raven frowned, looking at the page that was dotted with tears as the letter had been. He was angry and crying at the same time… Shifting to sit with her legs straight out across the love-seat, Raven continued to see what had happened.

Cyborg and I went down into the timed vents when they opened, and found a cave. He wanted a sample of this big stone thingy with symbols all over it, but I said it was a bad idea. Did he listen? NO! He had to take a sample with his fancy corkscrew drill thingy and the whole thing broke apart, and even burst into flames! We rushed out just as the vent closed, and he almost crushed me diving through. I think we woke something up, diary… That whispering shadow… Later on in the day, I was in Raven's room… uhm… smelling her pillow. It sounds corny but she smells nice, y'know?

Raven blushed, glad no one was around to see her do so. She'd done that earlier... but that wasn't the point!

I was sitting there and I heard the same whispering we did down in the cave. I told it to come out… and it did. I ran for help, bringing everybody back with me. Robin kicked the door in, and it was gone! He held me by my collar, telling me not to pull pranks! That stubborn spikey-haired f-face! I wouldn't lie about stuff like that! Cyborg couldn't decide if I was lying, and Starfire told me to go rest! Like I was hallucinating! I don't need rest! I need help to find that shadow thing so I… I mean we, can get Raven back! Oh… I'm tired already though. I haven't slept much in the past two days…

"You and me both, Beast Boy." Raven whispered, not knowing how long it had been since she'd had sleep. It felt like an eternity, and she was getting thirsty again. Swallowing her own spittle to keep her throat moist, she snapped the book shut again. The history of what had happened was slowly being revealed to her, and she wanted to save more for later… while resting between symbol findings. IF she found them all, that is…

She moaned softly, rubbing her eyes and sagging to one side. Her hand accidentally slipped between the cushions of the love-seat… and she felt paper there! Raven jumped to her feet, stuffing Beast Boy's diary back into her carrying-purse. Throwing the cushions off the love-seat she found it! Pulling it quickly to her face, Raven frowned. It was a torn sheet for playing an instrument. She sighed, ready to throw it back into the… wait… none of the Titans played an instrument. Beast Boy had tried guitar months ago, but had soon given up in frustration. There were lyrics under the line of musical notes. Raven read them aloud. "When your skies aren't so blue, your memories too, don't look away, look… what?" That was where the tear started, since it was only one line of music. Raven hastily put the cushions back on the love-seat, sitting down again. She scanned the piece of paper for any hidden marks or details, but found none. "No wonder it sounded bad." She noticed something of slight amusement. "Beast Boy was playing a guitar… this is piano music." Raven muttered to herself about Beast Boy's flair for riddles on keeping things hidden, looking at the piece of paper carefully. She read the lyrics over and over, trying to remember the song. Was it a song she knew…? Oh my God! She did know the song! Beast Boy had been trying to sing it and play guitar at the same time for hours on end, and she'd memorized the lyrics because she'd heard them so many times. Raven stood, looking triumphant. "When your skies aren't so blue, your memories too, don't look away…" Raven tilted her head back. "Look up."

Blazed into the ceiling as big as the T-car, high above her head, was the seventh symbol.

And, conveniently written on the blade of the ceiling fan was the word. The symbol looked like two asterisks (A/N: they look like this ) connected with a line. And, jutting from the line that came away from the middle at a perfect right angle, was a line with a small circle on the end.

MALUS (Mahl-uhs)

Raven spoke the word softly, "Malus..." The entire living room was bathed in all the colors of the rainbow, blinding her momentarily. She forced her lids open, though, and watched it fade back to the normal. Raven looked closely at it… it looked as though it had been burned into the ceiling. Well, Beast Boy probably had a hard time getting crayons way up there. The teenage girl got a small smile from that thought. She didn't want to know how he'd gotten that symbol up there, but she mentally praised him again for his odd cleverness. Raven had searched the whole common room, and had never once thought to check the ceiling. Whenever he was desperate, Beast Boy was smarter than she gave him credit for!

There's the one in the common room everyone's been suggesting! Neat place to put it, eh? I hope you guys stick around for more, and leave a review if you have time! Join me again in part nine, because its coming soon! Thankies!