Chapter III : Confrontation


Swift breezes blew upon me as I traipsed among the mud in certain direction. The cascades of rain kept falling without avail. Foreboding chills rushed down my spine conjuring images of Slade in hot pursuit.

I started sprinting towards the Tower similar to a child frightened of the dark would sprint into a lit area. Was it wrong to be paranoid of a man who so perfectly ruined my life?

I knew not how or why the Titans would accept me but I knew only that they must. Perhaps Beast Boy did not tell them about my lies and mendacities. I could only hope the Titans would mend my life. As for Beast Boy, I would need to explain the fiasco to him. He, of all people, would help me. I knew this.

I came upon the doorstep of the Tower. It had been a while since my last arrival here. Slowly, three knocks tapped the entrance.

What if Beast Boy came to answer? How would I comply?

No reply.

I knocked once more.

No answer.

Frustrated, I turned my back to the entrance. But just when I was about to leave,

"Terra?"

I spun around. I knew the voice all too well. The tone I heard was the single one of all Titans I dreaded – Raven. It took me by surprise as I never truly pondered a situation in my relationship with Raven since my revival.

"Then what Beast Boy said was true. You're…alive." Her voice, unexpectedly, was not of hate but simply a monotonous acknowledgement of my existence. Then, she simply stared at me neither in bitter hatred nor in joyous acceptance of me as if she, too, was contemplating further statements.

"L-Listen, I just need to know where Beast Boy. I need to talk to him."

"He's…out." she replied. It seemed that she was also picking her words carefully to neither strain superfluous facts nor state vague. Raven was skeptical of my intentions with due cause.

"Where?"

"Just out….looking for you."

My apprehension was realized. I had to locate him.

"Where's he heading?"

"Terra, don't try to chase after him. Just be sensible and come in. The rest of the team is upstairs if you need to talk to them."

"No, I just need to talk to Beast Boy. Please Raven, you have to tell me where he's heading. It's really important"

"Promise me you won't chase after him."

"I can't make promises I won't hold up. Raven, I need to know." I placed my hand on her shoulder as if I was familiar with the Titans or as if this was merely a casual conversation exchanged between two friends.

She shook her head disapprovingly.

"Terra, come in. It's pouring outside."

"Please, Raven."

I stuck persistently to the knowledge of the whereabouts of Beast Boy. And in kind, she gazed back at me and then on the hand upon my shoulder with a mix of sorrow and pity. Maybe, things had changed when I sacrificed myself for the city. Whatever that had happened, she certainly meant no harm to me.

Raven sighed in defeat.

"A foster home."

My eyes widened in astonishment. I hadn't suspected Beast Boy of going to such lengths in order find out my temporary shelter and attempt to locate me once more. My heart pounded. It was a sweet thing to do.

My heart pounded again. Not only did Beast Boy know where I was, but Slade did too. I couldn't help but let out a gasp of fear for Beast Boy. I turned and sprinted for the foster's home.

"Terra, no!" was all I heard from Raven before I breached the range of earshot.

My powers had been suppressed for about three years now. I no longer flew in the skies on rocks as I did three years before. With all the past dilemmas I caused, I grew hesitant about restoring my powers for normal use. That time, I had adjusted to a normal life and rationality dictated normality, but now, it seemed completely illogical. If I needed to defend myself, having inhuman geomancing powers would be of good use. As my feet worked in the direction of the foster's home, my mind concentrated on restoring my geomancing powers for use.

Focus, Terra, you're not who you used to be. You're wiser than before. It's okay.

I struggled to lift a boulder from its resting place in order to ride on successfully.

I scoured in a panorama for Beast Boy.

Nowhere to be found. I proceeded to fly by, persistent as ever in finding him.

Where could he be..

Finally, as I flew by, my peripheral vision caught Beast Boy unharmed and unscathed. I glided back down to the earth behind Beast Boy's back. I anticipated a joyous cry of happiness from him but he maintained solemnity. I approached cautiously as if I was treading on thin ice. There was something improper. He continued facing forward, back to me. This was the last thing I expected, for Beast Boy to turn on me.

The midst in which he stood upon was a dying forest, about halfway to the foster home. The leaves were drying out around here and there was no wildlife among these parts of Jump City. The rocks here were jagged and crooked. The route to the foster home here seemed deserted and forlorn.

He continued to ignore me.

So this was it. This is what I deserve for tricking or deceiving a true friend. This is what I get for lying and so harshly shunning him from my life. This is what comes back to me when I broke his heart and for keeping my own hidden feelings dormant.

"B-Beast B-Boy, I'm sorry." I gasped out in a last ditch attempt to mend whatever troubled him. Perhaps he knew of my mendacities from the caretaker. Whatever the problem, he stood immobile, unwilling to accept my apologies.

"B-Beast Boy, listen to me, please. I'm sorry for whatever I've done. I wanted a normal life. You understand… don't you? Beast Boy, turn around. It's not what you think."

My eyes watered in angst. I knew all too well that I felt ulterior feelings for him and he for me but despite that, he stood stationary unscathed from my apologies.

I couldn't hide my watering eyes nor could I prevent a sudden weakness in my legs as I fell to the ground, knee first, facing the ground as I talked.

"Beast Boy, turn around…please. I'm done with a normal life. I want to go back to the Tower with you and be a Titan. Take me home, Beast Boy. I want things to be the same as they once were…just like you said…Beast Boy, can't you j-just listen to me.."

An eerie silence passed between us. I walked toward him and placed my hand upon his shoulder as I did with Raven but much more intimately. Intimate in the fact that we were indeed two friends and that we did know each other familiarly.

The tears streaked down my face when there was no reply.

Beast Boy fell to the ground, knee first as I did. Then, completely and unconsciously.

"I'm afraid that's impossible as the dead can't hear nor feel."

A man in a mask appeared from the shadows as quickly as my hope waned. He had caught to Beast Boy before I could. A sudden bitterness fell upon me as I stood before Slade.

"Dear child, see what you do. No matter where you go or how you try, you end up hurting the people you love most."

But why….why…Beast Boy? I wanted to rip Slade apart with my newly reinstated geomancing powers. But something, perhaps in fear or grief ceased any assault.

"Why did you do this? Beast Boy did nothing to you!"

"He liked you. You liked him. There's nothing more enjoyable than severing a bond between two people. But, you see, you can't run away. You will cause trouble and suffering every place you inhabit. It is a curse, Terra. You try to do good but you futilely fail. And worst, you betrayed me, Terra."

I backed up away from Slade. Did Raven know of this? Is this why she warned me?

"I cannot tell you how much trouble I went through to get to this moment. Making pact with demons, negotiating a cure, spying on you. All for this moment of vengeance. Vengeance for your betrayal."

"A cure.. for me? I thought the effect just wore off!"

"Dear child, you really believed that something as gruesome as petrifaction would simply wear off? No, I want you to suffer as I suffered. I want to arouse as much agony as possible that you will beg for Death to come when I'm through."

"You're mad, Slade. Get away from me."

I wanted to turn for the Tower, my only shelter now, but I lingered in conversation with Slade in hopes of escaping with Beast Boy. I had to know if he was truly dead. If he was, my life would be very well shattered.

Spontaneously, my hands glowed yellow and I levitated the earth on which Beast Boy lied upon. The rock flew towards me cautiously so that Beast Boy would not tumble off. Quickly mounting it, I made an attempt to flee.

I was only a few feet away from Slade when he landed on my rock before me, kicking me off. No longer having control of the rock, an unconscious Beast Boy glided and tumbled into mud. I knew I could not fare with Slade in my rusty condition.

I located Beast Boy's position and I made a sprint to him with Slade right behind me.

So far away..

Barriers of rock summoned upon my will in order to isolate myself from Slade. And just as easily, Slade cracked them. His footsteps echoed mine in pursuit.

Getting closer..

My arms prepared to make a grab for Beast Boy and escape. I couldn't last much longer in my run-away from Slade.

So close..

Beast Boy lied feets away from me as I ran toward him. This was it.

"Terra, your efforts are in vain. Like so many other things you attempt."

A smoke bomb was hurtled into Beast Boy's midst as Slade made a leap into the cloud that covered both Beast Boy and Slade inconspicuously.

"Terra, I will have my revenge. We will meet once more."

With that, the cloud dissipated and Slade and Beast Boy were gone.

…………

…………

…………

Slade's words reverberated inside my mind as I reflected upon my next course of action.

Run, Terra, run. There's nothing more you can do for Beast Boy other than to harm him. You got him into this mess, just run.

"Dear child, see what you do. No matter where you go or how you try, you end up hurting the people you love most."

I have to run.. get out of here before Robin or the others know what I caused. Have to run.. away..

"Terra, your efforts are in vain. Like so many other things you attempt."

There's nothing more I can do…

"He liked you. You liked him. There's nothing more enjoyable than severing a bond between two people. But, you see, you can't run away. You will cause trouble and suffering every place you inhabit. It is a curse, Terra. You try to do good but you futilely fail. And worst, you betrayed me, Terra."

I have to get away from here.

"Pzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzttttt….. Robin calling Beast Boy. Do you pzzzzztt.. read me. Over."

Beast Boy's communicator positioned itself firmly in the mud. Slade must have been reckless enough to forget to take it too. Then again, that seemed out of his character.

A lump in my throat formed.

"Robin, pzzzzzzzzzt… this is Terra. Beast Boy…was…taken…. By Slade. Over."

It expanded.

Another silence was produced as it seemed Robin didn't realize that I was revived from a statue either.

"Terra, listen to me. Pzzzzzzzt, come… back pzzzzzzt to the tower. Tell me all that happened with Slade. Pzzzzzzzztttt. We'll find him. Over."


(A/N) Thank you for reviewing the story :). If you have any ideas for the proceedings of this story, feel free to review and post your opinions. Thanks!