Yup. I'm posting two parts at once. Lucky you! LOL! Now, this chapter is going to get very bad with one of the characters. Those of you that are squeamish shouldn't be reading this to begin with, but… just thought I'd warn you beforehand. Ever since I got the complaint that this story wasn't scary, I've been working hard to make it so. Whoever said that, this should be satisfying enough. Now, where was I… oh yeah. I don't own Teen Titans…

Raven's Game 3: Final Shadow

Part 7 – Robin's Nightmare

The Titans elected to go to Robin's room next. It was relatively bare, a strictly functional room. A bed, a closet, and a tidy desk. That was pretty much it. Robin sat on the bed, and Starfire joined him. Cyborg leaned against the wall while Beast Boy and Raven set the game up on the desk. "Not that it matters much, but who's the farthest along right now?" Robin wanted to know.

There was a short silence. "Beast Boy is leading with fourteen spaces total." Raven said after looking carefully at the board. "And Cyborg is in last with five." She turned and put one hand on her hip. "This game isn't about who wins. It's about who survives long enough to end it."

They all nodded in agreement. Robin, who felt Starfire trembling next to him, looked over at her. "Star? You ready?"

"I am not, but I have little choice." She said softly, watching Raven bring the game over to her. She set it on the bed, and they all gathered almost ceremonially around it. Starfire, still upset about what had happened directly to her last time, took the dice with trembling hands. "I wish for a large number, please!" she said aloud, dropping them. Clatter. Six. A 1 and a 5. The yellow game piece moved six spaces, and Starfire leaned forward to read her fate.

UPON THE SHADOWS DO NOT TREAD,

UNLESS YOU WISH TO BE QUITE DEAD.

"Eek!" Starfire yipped, jumping to her feet. "I have summoned the creature!"

All five Titans stood back to back, prepared for battle. Would it really end so soon? Was Dark Fall itself coming? Beast Boy's pointed ears strained, and he became a bloodhound to listen closely. There was a long silence. None of the whispers were coming. Was the game… lying? Trying to work on their minds with fake threats? Raven knelt and put a hand on his furry back. He turned and looked at her, shaking his head no. The green teen resumed his usual shape, standing with her.

"What is it, then?" Cyborg asked. "I don't see anything… thermal scans got nothin'…" he could detect no oncoming threat.

Starfire murmured the words several times, watching them vanish slowly from the black glass circle. The middle of the board was blank again, and she leaned to close the board's 'doors.'

Something moved down near the corner.

"Yeeek!" She blasted it without thinking. Everyone turned in surprise, watching a piece of plaster fall out of the wall. "I saw movement!" she pointed. Cyborg lifted Robin's bed and tossed aside. Nothing. His shoulder light popped up, helping everyone see into shadow. Robin crouched by the game, quizzing out what was going on. The Titans looked everywhere in the room, but found nothing. "If nothing is coming, perhaps we would continue?" Starfire whispered, coming back to the gameboard. Her foot touched the shadow of the bed –!

Starfire's leg sank into the floor!

She caught herself with a yelp when Cyborg grabbed her arm. "Gotcha, Star!" He made to pull her out, but she was stuck.

"I have tread upon a shadow, just as the game warned me not to!" Starfire squeaked, tugging hard at her leg. Beast Boy became an octopus, using four tentacles to tug and four to anchor himself. There was a groan from three titans, and she flew out with a cry. She rather comically hit the ceiling, and then crashed to the floor. Throwing herself to her feet, Starfire ignited a starbolt. This lit the entire room, ridding it of most shadows. "That is better." She said warily. Only the shadows of her friends remained, taller and bigger due to the light's intensity.

Cyborg scratched his head, squinting in the light. Beast Boy became human again, gathering around the gameboard with Robin. Raven made her way over to kneel next to Beast Boy.

Her shadow did not follow.

Starfire went as pale as a sheet, staring at the lone silhouette. Gaps in the shadow acted as eyes and a mouth, both of which were set into thin lines. The alien girl's mouth was open to scream, but no sound would come out. Her entire body was constricted with terror. Those eyes… those horrible eyes… she started shaking, standing there with her fist out. Release the starbolt, her mind cried. Blow the shadow away. The girl wanted to so badly, but she stood there in frozen fear. The shadow of her friend Raven had separated from her host! Starfire shuddered when the shadow grinned at her, and Robin finally looked up. "Starfire?" he asked her name, but she didn't move. Then, he followed her eyes to the wall. "Raven your shadow!" The dark girl turned quickly, just in time to see it attack.

The shadow wrapped around Starfire like a blanket, hauling her into the air like she weighed nothing. She screamed outright, pushing and fighting against it. The shadow was wrapped around her like plastic wrapped, pinning her arms to her sides, and began to squeeze. She groaned in pain, trying to fight it. "Get it off her!" Cyborg leapt forward to attack.

"Starfire!" Robin jumped to his feet, rushing over. On the way, though, his foot clipped the gameboard. The dice shifted, displaying a new number. Three. A 1 and a 2. Beast Boy and Raven saw this, staying right where they were with wide eyes. Robin drew his birdarangs, ready to cut Starfire out of her prison. Just as he leapt to attack, it she vanished completely!

Starfire was gone.

"Star!" Cyborg shouted, looking around. Shining his shoulder light every which way, they saw no sign of the Tameran girl. Robin ran to the closet and pitched it open. Lots of uniforms, but no Starfire. He pitched his bed over, but she wasn't under there either. "She's gone…"

"I know she's gone!" Robin shouted angrily. "Where did she go!" He clutched at his hair, but his eyes fell on the gameboard.

"You hit the board on the way over." Raven said, leaning forward to read.

"If you thought bugs and monsoons was bad, wait'll you hear this." Beast Boy whispered, a little pale. Robin dashed over to the board and got down on his hands and knees. Sure enough, his red game piece had moved along three spaces.A new message had taken shape. "The game thinks you rolled."

"What do you mean, the game thinks?" Robin whispered, looking at his green comrade. Beast Boy shrugged, a rather sober look on his face. Then, hegestured thatRobin read.

LET'S SEE NOW WHAT YOU'LL DO,

WHEN YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE BECOMES TRUE.

The fear rose in Robin's eyes and he quickly stood. "We have to find Starfire. Now." He said. Kicking his own door down, he raced out into the hallway. Beast Boy, Raven and Cyborg exchanged looked. Whatever it was, it involved Starfire. No wonder she'd vanished. Beast Boy slammed the game's doors shut, putting it under his arm for travel. They rushed to keep up with Robin, not wanting to be separated more than they were. "Starfire!" he cried her name into the darkness, kicking doors open as he went not one of the rooms contained their friend, though. He rushed up some stairs in the master stairwell, to the next floor. "Starfire! Where are you?" he screamed again.

"What's going on?" Cyborg shouted to his friend's back as he ran to keep up. "What is it?"

"Slade!" Robin shouted. "He's here, and he's got her!"

"How do you know?" Cyborg shouted back.

"It's his nightmare!" Beast Boy grunted, the game in tow. Raven chose to fly, and reached as best she could into Robin's mind.

Starfire… skimpy leather outfit… hanging from chains on the wall… cold bricks… Slade… reaching for her… whip……

Raven went paler than usual. She knew where that was going, especially if it was a nightmare. "Robin! The basement!" she said quickly, changing direction. "That's where he'd keep her."

The boy wonder skidded to a halt as Raven's magic left him. "You're right!" They practically leapt down the stairs as far as they could go.

"Ayeeeeeeee!" It was more than Star's usual panicked scream. It was one of sheer terror. The same one she'd screamed when she'd been sucked into a mass of creepy-crawlies during 'Fear Itself.' A scream so pure, it pierced the boy wonder's heart.

"We're coming!" Robin shouted desperately. "Starfire!" He found the basement door and tried to kick it down. It held strong, though. "Star!" He banged against it with both fists. He could hear her crying out, just beyond the door and down the stairs. "Starfire!" he beat helplessly on the door as the others caught up. "I'm sick of this game!" He roared, reaching into his utility belt.

"Bird bomb!" Cyborg shouted, skidding to a halt and turning around to run the other way. Beast Boy comically grabbed Raven around the waist, forcing her to the ground. Shielding her with his body –!

BOOM!

The door, hinges, and a good deal of the wall was gone! "Are you fucking crazy?" Raven shouted when the explosion was over. "You could've killed us all!" Her powers spread cracks along the walls, shaking the floor violently.

Robin didn't listen, and ran into the smoke. "Starfire!" He shouted again.

"No! Please Nooooooooo!" It was a female plea for mercy from Starfire. One that Raven had never heard in that particular tone. Her eyes widened. Slade wasn't –! Gathering herself Raven launched to her feet and ran onward, both boys behind her. Robin was pounding down the metallic stairs in twos and threes, reaching the concrete floor at last.

"Slade!" Robin roared his challenge, drawing his bow staff.

What a horrible scene it was to behold. Starfire, dressed in what was probably the skimpiest leather outfit any of them had ever seen, was hanging from a set of chains! Her arms and legs were spread in a starfish formation, leaving her looking…. exposed. Bits of blood ran from her side from hits with a whip and an abusive red mark was on her cheek, in the shape of a large hand.

Other devices of torture were strung all around the room. Chains, spikes, spokes and stretchers. There on the wall were all sorts of whips, flails, and… other devices that clearly had bad purpose. And there, sitting on the rack, was Robin's arch-nemesis.

Slade.

Larger than he was in real-life, the man's single eye glared at Robin with fire in it. Literally. It was Robin's nightmare, so everything was worse than it actually was. "Almost too late as usual, Robin." He said smoothly, dropping the flail he'd been holding in exchange for a whip. "I'd almost had my way with her, but here you are to save the day. Again."

"Get the hell away from her!" Robin shouted. The others gathered behind him. The only thing between them and their friend was Slade. Robin let out a horrible battle cry, twirling his staff and charging to attack.

"C'mon, let's… uurgh!" Cyborg looked down. His feet had been sucked into the cement floor! As though suddenly the cement had been wet and he'd sunk into it, only to have it instantly dry again. Beast Boy and Raven were in the same shape. Beast Boy tried changing shape, but the trap would only accommodate his different size. Raven tried blasting herself out, but it did no good. The cement reformed instantly every time. Robin was on his own.

The first attack connected with Slade's head, and he hit the wall with a deafening crash. The boy wonder stood there, waiting for him to rise. When he did, his head was cocked to one side. With a resounding set of crackling noises, his head righted itself. "If that had been permanent, I would've been very upset." Said Slade. He raised his whip quick as a flash, and the first blow struck Robin straight in the chest. He cried out, clutching at his wound with one hand. The second blow was coming! He raised his bowstaff to deflect it, and the whip wrapped around it. His weapon was yanked from his hands and tossed away.

"Damn you!" Robin hissed, rushing forward barehanded. The whip came and he raised his arms. He cried out as it repeatedly punished his arms, protecting his head and face. Slade dodged to on side as Robin tried to ram him head-on, turning about and landing a strike across his back.

The boy wonder cried out in agony as his flesh was ripped open by the sting. He crashed to the ground and rolled, turning around and charging again. He drew two birdarangs and the battle was on again!

"C'mon Robin! Hammer 'im!" Cyborg shouted.

"Show him who's boss!" Beast Boy pumped a fist in the air. "Don't let him mess with Starfire like that!"

"Uh…go Robin?" Raven said it like a question, though it was meant for encouragement. Theirshouts mingled back and forthas the one on one battle raged.

Robin danced away as the whip cracked nearby. He threw two birdarangs in unison, hoping to strike his opponent's weapon more than anything. Torture devices all around him, he had to elude spikes and chains as he went. Slade gave chase, cracking the whip again. A birdarang slashed off the last few inches of his whip, and he dodged the other. They spun harmlessly away, embedding themselves in the wall. "Running so soon, Robin?" he taunted, still perfectly calm.

Robin yelped when the back of his knees received a blow, rolling forward and hitting the wall. Staggering and bleeding from the lip, he tried to force himself to his feet. Trembling as he did so, he struggled to regain his breath. He couldn't get near, even with all his acrobatics and weapons, as long as Slade had that long whip.

His enemy wasn't about to give him time to think. He raised his arm, and the black weapon came down on Robin's back. His cry of pain pierced the air. He tried to rise, but Slade was relentless. Another hit. He sounded like a wounded dog, blood spilling into his uniform. Crack, he was hit again. Crack. A scream of pain. Crack. Tears of agony. Crack! He wasn't even moving anymore…

"Stop it!" Cyborg cried, looking as though he might be sick.

"He's beaten, enough!" Beast Boy cried. Raven couldn't even speak, as pale as a sheet while she watched him be tortured.

"There is no mercy for the weak, Robin. Not now, not ever." Slade paused for a moment, going over to Starfire. She was unconscious, and he held her head up by her hair. "You want to save her, don't you?" he whispered nastily. "Get up. Get up and do it." Spittle dripping from his mouth, Robin tried to rise. His entire body was shaking violently with pain. Slade came close just as Robin found his feet, mercilessly striking him in the gut. Spittle flew from Robin's mouth as he tumbled straight into the stretching rack. Tears of pain and agony were flowing down his cheeks as he lay there twitching. "Get up, Robin." Slade said, letting the whip's handle hold up Starfire's chin for him to see her face. "If you don't…. I'll rape her. And I'll make you watch." His hand strayed down and he harshly cupped one of her breasts. He squeezed and Starfire whimpered, though she was still out of it.

Robin's teeth gritted. Something had snapped right then. Something deep. Blinking away the blood in his eyes that was dripping from his temple, he supported himself with the grinder. "Bastard…" he spat blood, finally staggering to his feet. "You won't have her. Ever!" With one hand he ripped away the rest of his shirt, revealing all the welts and cuts he'd received. His bare chest and back were a horrible thing to look at. His pants, boots and mask were all that remained. Slade let go of Starfire, returning to him. Robin reached into his utility belt just as he raised his arm to strike again. "SLADE!" Robin roared. The whip came down and he wrapped it around his forearm!

"What!" Panic actually showed in Slade's eyes as he was literally yanked forward.

Robin drew his last bird bomb from his belt and leapt forward. "GO TO HELL!" he wrapped the villain in a bear hug, the bomb still in hand! "Star…" he whispered, squeezing his eyes shut –!

KA-BOOM!

Stone, flesh, earth and blood were thrown in every direction, a gruesome explosion of light! There was silence as the debris settled. Raven, Cyborg and Beast Boy stared in disbelief. All at once their feet were freed. They all ran forward, but were met with a gruesome sight. Raven cupped both hands over her mouth to keep the smell away, and tears were in everyone's eyes. Slade was dead –

And Robin was dead.

"Jesus…" Cyborg whispered, staring at the massive mess that had just splattered everywhere. Metallic debris, blood, gore… and evens bit of cloth were scattered everywhere. The metal man suddenly remembered Starfire, and whirled around. She still hung from her chains. He rushed over, his right hand becoming a chainsaw. Slowly cutting through the chains, he and Beast Boy eased her down. She moaned softly, still unconscious.

"She doesn't need to see this." Raven said quickly when they were done freeing her. "C'mon. Let's find somewhere else to go." She motioned them up the stairs. Cyborg had Starfire daintily held in his arms, as though she weighed nothing. Her hard leather outfit had vanished, revealing her regular super hero outfit. The tear was still in the skirt, but at least she was properly clad again. Raven saw Jumanji leaning against the wall, and quickly snatched it up. She tucked it under her arm, then turned to follow her friends. They ran desperately away from the basement, away from the battlefield.

The battlefield where their leader had died.

Yup, I killed someone off. Sorry, RobinxStarfire fans! He's outta there! Well, think about it logically. It's a horror series. Did you really think I would let everyone survive? Robin's nightmare turned out to be his last, I'm afraid. Raven couldn't die because she's the primary focus of this series. Beast Boy is required as well. Starfire is needed for a few more of my ideas, and I've got special plans for Cyborg as well. That left Robin, my least favorite Titan to begin with. I know I'm gonna catch flames for this chapter, but PLEASE, try to keep it constructive, people? I've gotten reviews where there were more cuss words than actual words! If you're gonna yell at me at least string a proper sentence together, okay?

If you wanna send me a new rhyme or maybe a new threat request, lemme know through your review. Oh, by the way, readers… here's something you should be thinking about and casting a vote on. Who is going to win the game at the end of this fic? Raven, the girl who started it all? Beast Boy, in all his green glory? Starfire, avenging Robin at the last second? Cyborg maybe? If you leave a review, please cast your vote! "I think (blank) should win!" or something along those lines. Even if you just tag it onto the end of your review. Okay? Okay!