Disclaimer: I own what's mine!
Chapter 6 The Creeper
Raven glimpses of Jump City's nightlife as the T-car sped towards Titans Tower. Her mind clearly troubled after the atrocity that had unfolded only minutes ago. The man with the leather face, the blood painted pentagram on the wall, and the feeling of immense dread that washed over her the whole time they were in the presence of that monster.
"Somehow, I know that this is tied in with the prophecy." She said to herself, "But what exactly are these things? Rival demons or just beings that wish to throw my father off of his hellish throne?"
The titans were completely unaware of the danger hovering high above them as Cyborg changed lanes. The predator was studying his prey carefully; waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
"And those dreams I've been having-are they somehow glimpses of the future?" Raven continued, "Pieces of events that have yet to unfold?"
The creeper readied his talons and licked his chops as he descended ever lower-soon sweet, warm human blood would wet his whistle.
"Whatever they are-whatever is going on," Raven concluded, "The fate of the universe is in our hands-my hands."
"Hey Raven, are you okay?" Inquired a concerned Beast Boy who had been observing her.
Raven snapped out of her trance and glanced at the young hero, "Just thinking Beast Boy-nothing to worry about."
"You sure?" Beast Boy continued, "You look like you've seen a ghost."
"I'm fine!" Raven shot back growing agitated.
Even though he clearly saw her growing irritation, Beast Boy still wouldn't give in:
"Look, if there's something you want to tell us, just say-"
Before Beast Boy could finish razor sharp talons ripped through the T-car's roof and crumbled thick metal as if it were nothing but paper. Cyborg slammed the brakes, the massive talons retracted out of the T-car's top. Cyborg was the first out of the car, sonic cannon ready he investigated.
"What the hell was that!" He shouted.
Robin stepped out and the others were behind him, "Whatever it was it just took half of the T-car with it!" Beast Boy scoffed inspecting the enormous rip marks.
Raven placed her hands over her heart-there it was again, that same feeling of dread that washed over her while she fought that madman with the chainsaw.
"There's something here." Raven said.
"No shit." Cyborg replied.
Beast Boy heard what sounded like wings flapping and turned in all directions, only to see nothing. Nevertheless, he readied himself for combat.
"It's playing with us!" He said.
"No," Raven realized in horror. "It's hunting us."
There was a terrible scream, and Raven and the others turned just in time to see Starfire being ripped off of the ground by some enormous creature with massive bat-like wings. Taken by surprise Starfire had little time to react before she was fifty feet off of the ground. She struggled against the talons that held her, but this only caused the cruel weapons to dig ever deeper into her skin. Summoning her powers Starfire fired a powerful energy bolt from her eyes and severed one of the limbs that held her.
All she heard was a roar of immense pain as whatever it was released her. Starfire stopped herself from falling and remained in the air. Suddenly she felt as if a bullet train had slammed into her as the creature swiped her out of the sky. Frightened pedestrians below scattered in all directions as Starfire crashed into the pavement.
Starfire had no time to recover before she felt the hot foul breath in her face. Starfire looked up and found herself staring into the most horrific creature she had ever seen. She was looking into a face of a long dead corpse with maggots crawling over its decaying skin, long white hair sprouted from its cranium like weeds, its horrific eyes promised the pain of a thousand hells, while it's needle sharp fangs and dripping maw promised only death. Starfire grabbed the creature's head before it could descend upon her jugular and held it.
The creature snapped at her fingers, and dug its claws into her abdomen. Starfire let out a scream of pain as the creature slashed at her shoulder.
"Get away from her!" Robin roared before throwing a razor sharp bird-o-rang.
The sharp edges cut through long-dead flesh and bone with ease. Its right arm completely severed the creature lost all interest in Starfire and stood to confront Robin. Robin leapt at the creature in a brilliant jump kick, only to become ensnared in the creature's wings. The Creeper held Robin gently for a moment before throwing him through a store window.
Starfire shot up from her spot on the ground and hammered the creature across the face with a right hook. But long dead flesh worked as a shock absorber, cushioning the blow of Starfire's mighty fist. The Creeper grinned evil at Starfire and reached for her with its left arm. BOOM! The Creeper was sent flying into a nearby pay phone by a powerful shock blast.
Cyborg stood triumphantly, "I'd take Robin's advice," He warned. "Stay away from Starfire!"
The Creeper exploded out from under the debris and tackled Cyborg to the ground. Using its clawed hand, it ripped out Cyborg's cybernetic eye. While its talons crushed Cyborg's thick metal hide; a thunderous roar was heard as Beast Boy-assuming the form of a mighty raptor ripped at the Creeper with his own set of claws. Outmatched the Creeper spread its wings to become airborne.
"I don't think so!" Raven declared. "Azerath Metrion Zinthos!"
Black energy bolts shot out of the palms of her hands, her blast exploded on the Creeper's back, completely vaporizing its wings. Cyborg continued the attack with a blast with his solid cannon, incinerating the creature's torso. On fire and desperate to escape, the Creeper crawled along the pavement searching for someplace to hide when out of the gloom Robin's heel descended on the creature's cranium.
There was sickening crunch as Robin crushed the creature's skull under his heel. The monster's body thrashed about with terrifying ferocity for a few moments before finally stopping. The titans gathered in a circle around the creature.
"Is it dead?" Beast Boy asked.
Starfire responded by firing a star-bolt at the creature's still flaming body, scattering what remained of the creature's skull and body all around the street.
"Does that answer your question?" Raven replied to Beast Boy.
Starfire placed her hand on her torn shoulder, blood was leaking from the deep wound. Cyborg wasn't in good shape either, his cybernetic cranium had been badly damaged when the Creeper ripped out his cybernetic eye. If he didn't get the proper repairs soon, he will shortly begin to malfunction. Raven immediately went to work on Starfire, there was a flash of white light and in an instant the grevious wound on her shoulder was no more.
"Unfortunately, I cannot do the same for you Cyborg." Raven explained. "We better get you home as soon as possible."
"Hey, I'm fine." Cyborg said denying his injuries were serious. "I'll just drive us home and-"
"You're in no condition to drive." Robin finished for him.
Cyborg stopped, he knew Robin was right. After a few moments of silence, he nodded in agreement.
"Cool!" Beast Boy said in a rush of excitement. "I'll-"
"You're not driving the T-car!" Cyborg finished for him.
Starfire helped Cyborg towards the T-car, while Beast Boy pouting, stomped after them.
Moments after the titans had left for their home, a dark shadow descended upon the remains of the Creeper. The Creeper still had half of its skull intact, its lifeless gray eye looked up in horror as the shadow took shape before it. A man stood in a dark fedora and trench coat, he outstretched his hand-revealing a set of enormous claws.
"I have to hand it to you," He snickered. "You lasted longer than I thought you would, but alas, you like Leatherface have failed. But fear not, your failure shall only give me strength for absolute victory!"
There was a blinding red flash as the ashes of the Creeper disappeared into a red mist, the man inhaled and the red mist entered through his mouth. After several seconds what was left of the Creeper was no more.
The man let out a savage laugh and grinned, "Your soul is mine!"
Authors Note: Whew, been a while since I've updated. I've been so tied up with exams, projects, and essays I haven't really round the time to update my fics. However things seem to be easing up, and hopefully I'll be able to update more in the future. Until next time