Thank you everyone for your reviews and let me say, I really enjoyed your guesses on who the murderer was. xD
I think a few of you may be in for a, mmm, slight surprise. hides laughter Anyway, we rejoin the story at the funeral, where the real fun begins. –Jason
Praise the Darkness
Chapter 2
Present, at the funeral…
She had stood at the freshly-dug grave for a long time; watching, waiting. It seemed like hours before the crowd had finally dwindled down only to herself, and Raven had to make sure to one else was watching. No, it was meant to be herself and Garfield; if she couldn't have a moment before the end, she would rewrite the story…
Raven didn't know if her spell would work, but it was the only chance she had. "You had so many before," she reminded herself, and shook it away angrily. A part of her was screaming to leave things be; a warning not to go tampering with nature's course.
"…But I have to know," she said, feeling the hot tears that rarely came running down her pale cheeks.
In a matter of seconds, the girl's eyes started to glow white and her body hovered into the air. Her book of spells floated towards her awaiting hands, and she grabbed it with great force.
Her powers opened the book to a page and the empath cleared her throat nervously, starting the chant:
"Azarath metrion postnarum
Rigmorous malso nor!"
Raven finished the spell with such emotion that it took her a minute to recover, her breathing in heavy, fast gasps. She waited, ready for the spell to do its work…and to her dismay, nothing was happening. "Damnit!" she screamed, throwing the book down onto the wet grass. Raven lowered herself back down to the ground, defeated. There was no use staying here, feeling the pain overwhelm her broken soul.
The girl began to walk slowly out of the crumbled graveyard when suddenly, a violent tremor erupted from the rocky ground, throwing her off-balance. "Y-y-yyes!" she stammered excitedly, watching the scene unfold in front of her. Garfield's grave, the only grave to seemingly be affected by the chaos, was opening, like an angel finding its way out Hell. Then, as quickly as the tremor had started, it stopped suddenly, without warning.
Raven cautiously approached the newly-opened grave, waiting to see what else would happen. Her thoughts were interrupted when she hear a small chuckle that made her blood run cold. The empath saw a figure standing there in the open hole, like some once worshipped statue. The teen once known as Beast Boy slowly rose to his full height, which surprised the girl, because he seemed much taller. His once emerald eyes that sparkled with life were gray and dull, as if looking into the void. His once matching, shining hair was black as night, covered in dirt. The only thing that resembled the Beast Boy she knew was his skin, which was now only a very pale mint green color.
"Magic tricks, eh Raven?" he said with a malicious grin, not sounding like the jovial friend they once knew. She wanted to back away and run; this was not the boy she wanted back. The changeling walked with cockiness, stepping over the remains of leveled dirt the tremor had caused. "I'd like to thank you, my love, for saving me. You did a great thing, because Beast Boy's got a little "problem" to take care of. You know that song by your favorite band, Raven? Three cheers for sweet revenge? That sounds like a plan," he said, still smiling, still malicious. The changeling took form of a falcon and flew away quickly, without looking back.
Raven could only stand there in shock. What evil had she unleashed?
Two days before the murder…
"I'm sorry, King Robin," Garfield said sarcasticly, glaring at the leader of the team. "I didn't know I was a burden to Mr. Perfect."
Robin glared back at the changeling, his face showing rage. "You ruined the entire mission, Beast Boy! If you hadn't gotten in the way, Slade wouldn't have-"
Starfire tried to put both arms out to block to the two boys. "Please, can't we all just get alo-"
"Is that all you talk about Robin! Slade! Get a life!" Beast Boy interrupted, and his other fellow teammates gasped at these words. "I'm tired of you putting me down and blaming me when things don't go our way!"
Robin tried to control himself but found he just couldn't do it. He pushed Starfire out of the way and went up to the changeling, punching him full force in the mouth. It was then time seemed to freeze, and everyone was in shock.
Beast Boy recovered quickly, wiping the blood from his lips. "Coward. Mother fucking coward. Keep putting the blame on someone but yourself. I'm done with you, Robin. Tomorrow morning, I'm leaving the Tower for good." With that said, Beast Boy walked away, not looking back…
The team looked at Robin, who was standing there looking at the ground. "What are you all looking at! Get away!" he yelled, then stormed off into his room…
Midnight.
A pair of eyes, hidden behind a mask, wandered into the dark crime lab quietly, entering the security code. When the code was accepted, the figure walked to the shelf of different chemicals and reached to the highest shelf, grabbing an unmarked tube of liquid. He just as quietly left the lab, and quickly entered the kitchen a few rooms away…
Garfield just couldn't sleep. His pride had been hurt, and worse of all, Robin had gotten the better of him…again. A knock of his door interrupted his angered thoughts, and made him jump with surprise. "Who is it?"
"Beast Boy, it's Robin. We need to talk."
"Hell no. Get away from my door."
"Please Beast Boy. I want to apologize. I was a total jerk."
"You can say that again."
"Just let me in."
Garfield finally gave in and went to the door, pulling it open. "Hey, Beast Boy. I'm truly sorry for what I did. I promise to make it up to you," Robin said, a sincere look on his face. Beast Boy nodded slowly, saying nothing.
"I brought you your favorite drink- a SoBe," the Boy Wonder said, handing it to the changeling. He accepted it with thanks and opened it, taking a big drink. "Thanks Robin. I don't think I'll be leaving the Tower."
Robin bid Beast Boy good-night and walked around the corner, watching from behind his back as the changeling slammed his door shut. He laughed with an insane tone…and pulled out the empty bottle, shaking the glass. "Yeah, good night, Beast Boy," he grinned, the same grin Beast Boy had leaving the dark graveyard…
Good twist, eh? I leave you to your thoughts. ;)