I'm glad I got a good set of reactions from my reviewers for the last chapter of this story. I'm glad I got the reactions I was shooting for. Well, the story must go on without Robin. So, Raven must lead the Titans now, and save them all from the dark. The vote that I started to tell who should win at the end is an EXACT tie between Raven and Beast Boy at the moment. No one else has received any votes! Hahaha! Anyway, its time to continue the story. I hope you guys are enjoying this, because the darkness only gets deeper... I don't own Teen Titans…
Oh! I'm using another rhyme from another one of my fan's reviews! I hereby dedicate this chapter to Tyr'll! Yup! I'm using his/her rhyme to fuel this chapter's scary… uhm… scary-ness! Sorry I can't tell what your gender is, Tyr'll! But, the show must go on. This one is for you, Tyr'll. I hope you enjoy it especially. I don't own Teen Titans!
Raven's Game 3: Final Shadow
Part 9 – Metal, Screw and Bolt
Raven's eyes slitted open. A soft warmth was all around her. The light of morning was streaming in her large window, warming her pale skin. A loud breath of waking escaped her, and she began to rise. Something was weighing down her stomach, though. She pulled the covers back gently, revealing Beast Boy to the world.
Beast Boy slept peacefully, the sun teasing his green skin with warmthand giving it a heavenly glow. He only slept in his pants, so this gave Raven the opportunity to really get a good look at his scars. Up and down his back in very deliberate patterns, they still reminded her of tiger stripes. Why she found that attractive, Raven didn't know. Was it some sort of hidden, masculine animal magnet? She didn't know. The dark girl used to think of scars as signs of conflict and battle. But, after hearing how Beast Boy had gotten all of his… she'd changed her mind. Scars told of terrible times, yes, but they always had an incredible story attached to them. A person that survived a deadlycar crash would always be able to show off the scar that the seatbelt had given her/him… proudly. Scars were a sign of strength. A sign of survival and mental drive.
Raven reached and gently traced one of Beast Boy's 'stripes,' a small smile coming to her face. He stirred slightly, and she quickly withdrew. She didn't want to wake him, but she was kind of stuck with his arms around her… she pondered for a moment. Then, she got an idea. Focusing her powers very carefully, Raven employed a rather complicated spell with her three-word mantra. Being sure to whisper, "Azarath… Metrion… Zinthos." Raven phased out of existence, and a pillow appeared in her place. Beast Boy's arms closed around the pillow. Raven reappeared, standing, next to the bed. The green teen fretted just a bit in his sleep. Even though he was unconscious, he could tell it was not his mate he was holding on to. Raven reached, without even thinking about it, and stroked his hair just one time. Leaning and pecking his cheek, she saw him instantly relax again. Shaking her head in amusement, she dressed and went about her regular morning routine. He'd be up in a few hours…
Raven's eyes came open and she panicked. A quick gasp escaped her and she sat straight up. She'd fallen asleep during Dark Fall's game! Surely it had consumed them all! They were lost forever! ((A/N: Darn exclamation points…)) Cyborg's large hand jumped and steadied her. "Easy." He whispered, putting a finger to his mouth. Raven looked around cautiously. Starfire was curled up in a ball on the bottom bunk of Beast Boy's bed. Her sleep was light and fretful, no doubt filled with nightmares. Her face was hidden in her knees, and her breathing could be heard from across the room. Raven saw her own back was to the wall, and Beast Boy's head was on her shoulder. She shifted only slightly, and let it fall into her lap. She cradled him gently so he would not wake, then looked at Cyborg with questioning eyes. "I stayed awake." He said. "I don't sleep unless I'm hooked up to my charge table, remember?" Raven hadn't known that since she'd only been to Cyborg's room a few times, much less asked him about his bed life. "I figured you guys could use the rest." He shrugged lightly, letting go of her shoulder at last. "No sign of… it... so far."
"How long have we been here?" Raven whispered, running her thumb gently over Beast Boy's cheek.
"A few hours maybe." The metal man said, shrugging.
Raven sighed deeply, weighing each choice she had in her head. She needed to move the team out. But, she hated to disturb them when they'd found just a moment's peace. Surely Starfire dreamt of the boy wonder, and Beast Boy's dreamland was a better place too… but, she had to. Gently, she shook Beast Boy's shoulders. He awoke slowly, then sat up with a small cry.
"We fell asleep?" he demanded. He put his hands over his mouth when he saw Starfire still sleeping peacefully. "When?" He said in a lower tone of voice. Raven filled him in, and he sighed softly. Thanking Cyborg for watching over them all, he rose and stretched widely. Then,he went to wake Starfire.Beast Boy'sarm stretched out to gently shake her shoulder, exposing his lower arm. The scars were showing…
When she woke, she frowned sadly as she looked around. "I had hoped it was all just a bad dream…" she whispered, trying not to tear up again. "But, we are all still here…" she mumbled, standing and soberly rubbing her eyes. "You are injured, Beast Boy?" she asked, looking at the exposed marks on his arm.
"It's nothing, don't worry." Beast Boy said quickly, pulling his sleeve down again. "You okay?"
"No, I am not." Starfire whispered, her eyes downcast.
"The time to rest is over." Raven said aloud, trying to be the strong leader. "It's time to keep playing." They eyed the game board, and Starfire saw the little red game piece on the floor. Trying not to openly weep, she went and picked it up. Putting it in her skirt's hidden pocket (usually used for paper money), she pulled the game out onto the carpeted floor. She pulled open the game's 'doors' setting them down and picking up the dice. She held them out to Cyborg, who dutifully took them.
The metal man sighed aloud, not sure he was ready to invoke more terror on their lives. God, what if whatever he summoned killed another of their group? And then another on the next turn? Would there be anyone left to finish the game at all? Would they all die, consumed by –! "Don't be afraid." Raven said aloud, pulling her hood down. Everyone looked at her, almost in disbelief. "We'll take on whatever it is together." It sounded very leaderly, but her ranks were already too depressed to be receptive to such corny antics. Raven sighed, then spoke again. "Listen, I know this is going to be a bad day–"
"It has already been a bad day." Starfire said quietly. "Stop delaying and roll the dice, so that we may continue."
Raven was shocked Starfire had interrupted with such a negative comment. But, you couldn't really blame her… Robin's death had clearly traumatized her. But, they wouldn't be able to help her until they were out of the game. Cyborg's eyes locked with Raven's for a moment, and he nodded once. Rattling the dice, he tossed them onto the board. Clatter. Eight. A 4 and a 4. All four of them realized he'd rolled doubles, and he quickly snatched up the dice again. Whatever the threat was, he could roll the dice again and make it vanish quickly. Not only would he have advanced farther, but without any… casualties. He flinched at his mental choice of words. "What does it say…?" he murmured, leaning forward to read. Since it was angled his way, he read it aloud to the others.
MADE WITH METAL, SCREW AND BOLT,
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY ALL REVOLT?
Everyone's brow furrowed. What the hell was that supposed to mean? The four of them looked at each other for an explanation, but could find none. "Roll the dice again, and get your turn over with." Raven commanded. The others nodded, and Cyborg was still intently looking at the game board. There was a short silence. "Cyborg, roll again." Raven said in a firmer tone, elbowing him rather harshly.
The metal man was frozen in place! Cyborg's body was trembling, as though with effort. "Cyborg?" Beast Boy put a hand on his shoulder. "Cy?"
"R… run!" Cyborg whimpered aloud, barely able to move his mouth. He was slowly coming to a standing position, the dice still clenched in his hand. "Guh…get… away from me!" He arms were reaching out, and he started towards Raven. "Move!"
A black mist poured from the black spyglass in the middle of the gameboard, racing into the machinery of Cyborg's body!
They all jumped back with cries of terror as Cyborg was literally possessed by darkness. His face was contorted in fear and rage at the same time. "What's going on?" Beast Boy demanded, trying to get close without getting snatched himself.
Raven was quickly backed against the wall. Cyborg's arms weren't obeying him, reaching right for Raven's throat. She made to say her three word spell but he grabbed her! She choked aloud as she was lifted into the air. She felt his warm, metallic fingers squeezing mercilessly on her windpipe. Starfire and Beast Boy were on him instantly. "Get me offa her!" Cyborg pleaded. "I can't control my body!"
"Forgive me!" Starfire cried, raising a mighty fist. She slammed it head-on into his side and he cried out. Raven was released and she fell to the ground in a heap. Cyborg crashed into the wall, leaving a dent. He was on his feet in an instant, rubble from the wall crashing down around him.
"You gotta stop me, guys!" Cyborg shouted. Beast Boy became a gorilla and both boys grappled to the fullest extent of their strength. "Stop me before I hurt somebody!" He shouted in the gorilla's face. They could both feel the dice mashed between their interlocked hands, knowing all he had to do was drop them. But his body wasn't obeying him, and it certainly wasn't going to drop the dice for him. Her would have to be forced. Cyborg broke free as Starfire charged forward and punched her in the gut! Her pupils shrank insilent agonyas spittle flew from her mouth. Shecrumpled right at his feet, clutching her stomach. Cyborg's possessed body then kicked her into Raven's bookshelf. The shelves broke and they all heard Starfire's yelps of pain as the heavy spellbooks and novels rained down on her. To the metal man, it was maddening. He let out an animalistic cry as his huge arm swung around to strike at Beast Boy.
The gorilla roared and caught his arm, holding it in a half-strangle. "Drop the dice! Make him drop the dice!" Raven shouted. The gorilla started shaking him, trying to loosen his grip. But, to no avail. His possessed hand was firmly gripping the dice. The two little gems just had to be dropped once, and it would be over. The other arm jumped to life and slammed the green teen aside. He landed with a grunt, tumbling into the door and breaking it off its hinges. He whirled to face Raven.
"Raven! You gotta stop me!" He started running full force to tackle the teenage sorceress. "Raven!" His teeth were gritted together, and he could speak no more. The dakness was taking over...
Raven had no choice. She couldn't hold back. It was him or her. He couldn't be stopped without being taken down. Swallowing and with only seconds to decide, she raised her hands. Wreathed in black magic she shouted her chant, "Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" Cyborg's arm literally blew off! He was pitched to the floor, unmoving. The dice pitched into the air –!
Clatter.
Nu! Cyborg! Nah, he's not dead. Just… incapacitated for the moment. Maybe he'll have a spare arm somewhere in his room or something. I dunno… I'm sorry for the slowdown in horror for the past couple of parts. I promise that the next chapter will rox your sox! Trust me, I'll be 'turning up the heat.' (shifty eyes) Review, and leave a rhyme if you have one… Again I congratulate Tyr'll, from which I'll probably get flamed for not knowing his/her gender! Ehehehe… (sweat-drops)
P.S. What did you think of the flashback-slash-dream that Raven had? If you'd comment on it in your review, I would be most pleased. Thankies! (smile)