Chapter 2: Away
(Wow! I got such a positive response to this piece, so I have decided to continue it. Thank you so much to my editing committee (you know who you are) and everyone who has given me such great reviews! And for those of you who wanted Terra to be accepted, don't worry. That will come in it's own time. So without further ado, I present to you Chapter 2 of Terra: Away)
Terra was once again enveloped in the dark. It seemed to emanate from every corner of her mind, destroying any light that it could find. Deeper and deeper the ebony sank, until she was once again locked in her stone prison.
The silence was back, emanating from the nothingness that surrounded her. At first, her brain was paralyzed with shock. Then the full reality that she was stone again hit her. It seeped into her soul, her mind registering the cold.
Through her panic, the calm, collected corner of her mind felt the uncanny irony. The girl that sought out a place to rest her head was now cold, lifeless, and covered in gray marble-like stone...
"No!" she shrieked, sitting straight up in bed.
Tears coursed down her cheeks, and her torso was wracked with sobs. Her shoulders shuddered as she tried keeping the tears in. Wiping her eyes, she waited for her breathing to regulate.
A shadow fell across the doorway and Terra looked up through bleary eyes. Beast Boy's image swam in her vision, his face etched with concern. The tears continued to fall from her eyes, flowing like the river of life itself.
He sat down on the bed with her, his eyes probing her, trying to figure out what was wrong. She pressed herself into him, letting her head fall onto his chest. Looking up at him, her eyes big and full of innocence.
Beast Boy knew right away what had happened. It was laced together in her glowing eyes, her emotions throbbing through them.
"BB, I'm really scared," she whispered, closing her eyes to keep the tears in. She didn't want to look helpless in front of him.
He didn't ask any questions; just stroked her hair and murmured reassurances to her. Terra cried her heart out, tears making wet splotches on his shirt. Finally, when she could cry no more, she sat up and wiped the tears from her eyes.
"I must look ridiculous," she whispered wetly, sniffling.
"Terra, no. You've been through a lot. I understand."
His eyes were so filled with love...love for her...that it made her want to burst into tears again. Come on," Beast Boy whispered, helping to pull Terra to her feet, "You need some breakfast. You can't function on an empty stomach you know."
Terra smiled weakly, grateful to have him there beside her. Still in shock from the nightmare, her legs shook uncontrollably, and she collapsed.. Beast Boy ran to her, putting his arms around her, helping her stand up. Terra forced another smile, wishing she didn't have to force it.
"I guess I'm still a bit nervous," Terra said quietly. The concern returned to his eyes.
"About what?"
Terra winced softly, wishing she hadn't chosen those words. She was hesitant to ask but she knew she had to.
"Will...they be there?"
"The other Titans? Maybe," He stopped, and looked into her eyes, probing her soul. "What's wrong Terra?"
Her eyes began to swim with tears again, but she defiantly pushed them back.
Taking a deep shuddery breath, she said, "I...I...I don't think they'll accept me anymore."
Beast Boy took her hand, and squeezed it tightly, as a comfort and as a guide.
"Terra, that's your past. What you did was wrong, but you turned yourself into stone to save us. They respect you for that. Think about it logically. Would we have all tried to bring you back if we hated you?"
Although she hated to admit it, BB was right again"Right twice in a day," she murmured, "That must be a record for you."
His smile broadened to a grin and they went out of the room towards the main room to eat.
At the table, the Titans shifted in their seats. Robin stared intently at the wall, Cyborg's eyes went from the ceiling to the wall to the floor, and Raven and Starfire just seemed to push food around on their plates. Even Beast Boy averted his eyes.
She couldn't take it anymore. The silence was killing her. She could feel the terrible sorrow pulsing out of her soul, and with a final whisper of "I'm so sorry," she ran out of Teen Titans Tower.
She didn't know where she was going but she knew she couldn't stay here. She kept running, the trees flying by her and her indigo orbs filled with unfallen tears. The clouds above were dark, casting the land below them into shadow. A single drop of rain fell from them, mingling with the one stray tear that Terra couldn't keep in.
She didn't belong there anymore, that she knew. It was apparent by the look on each Titans face, as they had struggled not to look at her.
The rain came in torrents now, plastering her billowy blonde hair to her head. Though she had cried herself out, the aching feeling still gnawed at her heart. A feeling of deep passion, and yet fear mixed in.
Guilt.
Terra hated to admit she felt guilty. It was a horrible feeling and she had felt it so many times before. She had felt it when she saw the horrified faces of the Titans when they realized she had betrayed the. She had felt it when the hurt in Beast Boy's eyes had pierced her own soul. And now, she had felt it at the table, when none of them could so much look at her.
And yet, she knew, deep inside, that they would come after her. It was what friends did for each other, even if there was no way to explain why they had come. They just…would.
The sky above, though dark, reflected a myriad of colors, each one beckoning Terra, telling her not to go back. That running from her pain, destiny and past was the answer to all her problems
Soon enough, Terra was where she couldn't tell where she was anymore. But, she thought, all the more reason to go on. The tears seemed to blur her reality focus, the delicate barrier that kept her from her own wrath.
The pearlescent moon shone through the dark clouds, just as the tiniest glimmer of hope shone through the dark cloud of despair covering her. And although she was moving, she felt as alone as she had when she had been locked in stone.
As the rain poured down, she forced her legs to go faster.
Away from her friends.
Away from what she loved most.
And away from the place she had once called home.
