"Dude, what did you do?!" a young boy's voice said.
"You're blaming me for this? I did nothing." a monotonous, female voice said.
"Has she sustained injury? Should I perform the CPR?" another female voice said.
"We want to help her, not break any ribs." a male voice said. "My scanners don't detect any internal injuries. How did she get here anyway? I didn't even pick up anything on the Tower's sensors."
"Quiet. She's waking up." another male voice said.
Like the fifth voice said, my eyes fluttered open. My vision was covered with spots from the harsh light. I blinked them away until my vision restored completely, and what I saw made me scream.
The five people hovering over me jumped back in surprise. I gasped in deep breaths as I scooted back, unable to go any further when I ran into the wall.
"Easy, now. We're not going to hurt you." the fifth voice said, which belonged to a teenage boy with spiky, jet black hair. I was unable to see his eyes because they were covered in a mask. He wore a short-sleeve green t-shirt underneath a red, armored vest with a yellow R inside a black circle on the left side of his chest. He also wore green tights, black ankle-high steel-toed boots, green elbow-high gloves, a yellow utility belt and a black cape with yellow interior.
I used the wall to bring myself up, which I found to be extremely easy. Maybe it's the adrenaline. My head went dizzy, and I staggered forward.
"Take it easy." A large arm held me up. I looked up at another male with dark skin. However, the only sort of human features that I could find were on the right half of his face and a section of his biceps. The rest of his body was covered in metal and cybernetics. Some areas, like his shoulders, forearms, thighs, and parts of his head, had light blue circuitry.
"Do you suffer from any traumatization? Or, perhaps, you have a fever?" A hand settled on my forehead, belonging to a girl with waist-long, fiery red hair. She wore a violet sleeveless crop top that exposed her midriff, a violet mini-skirt, and violet thigh-high boots. She also wore a silver belt, silver gauntlets, a silver armband on her right bicep, and silver armor around her neck. She had green eyes and light-green scleras.
"Um... I-I'm fine." I said, backing away from their touch. "You... you're..."
"What? Do I have something on my face?" a young boy said, slapping his cheeks with his silver-gloved hands. He wore a purple and black full-body jumpsuit and purple boots with some black and silver. His skin and hair was green, and his ears were pointed.
The second girl standing next to him rolled her eyes. She wore a blue cloak with a hood, matching blue ankle boots, and a black, long-sleeve leotard. She had a circular black and red jewel set in a gold plate attached to keep it together, as well as a red and gold belt with the same jewels around it.
I gulped as I stared at each person. I knew where I was. I knew these people:
Robin, Cyborg, Starfire, Beast Boy, and Raven.
"You're... the Teen Titans." I said.
"Good, you can speak." Raven said. "Who are you, and why are you here?"
"Let's not push her." Robin said. "So, you know who we are. Are you from the city?"
City. Jump City. I'm in Jump City. I'm in the Teen Titans world.
"Um... no..." I said, avoiding their eyes. My clothes felt heavy. "M-my name is Ciela, and I'm not from here."
"Story time!" Beast Boy said, pulling up a chair and leaning close to me with anticipation.
"Uh..." I held my hands together and leaned back.
Cyborg grabbed Beast Boy by the collar and yanked him back. "Excuse him. He's a little... off."
I chuckled nervously. I backed up completely against the wall. A wave of nausea rose in my throat, and the Teen Titans noticed.
The room filled with flashing red lights and sirens. Robin rushed to the other side of the room and typed away on the main computer.
"Cinderblock's been found breaking into the city's prison." he said.
"Breaking into the prison?" Cyborg said. "At least he'll save us time."
"Titans, move out!" Robin said. The five ran out of the room. Robin paused at the door and turned to me.
"Stay here and relax. We'll be back later." he said. "Maybe when we come back you can explain a little more about yourself."
I nodded, and Robin ran out of the room. I waited a few more seconds before the nausea was overwhelming. I gripped my stomach, and I felt even more nervous when I felt my shirt ripple instead of my skin. I sprinted to the bathroom and collapsed beside the toilet. I took deep breaths, and I was thankful that I didn't vomit. I leaned against the wall and ran my fingers through my hair.
But they glided through with ease. I felt no tangles or split ends. In fact, my hair felt smooth and soft.
I used the toilet to pull myself to my feet, and I looked in the mirror. I gasped.
My blonde hair was long and wavy, not frizzy, ending at the middle of my back. I ran another hand through my hair and watched it glide effortlessly without stop. My gray eyes glistened in the bathroom light. I turned my body from side to side. I looked down and pulled on my coral t-shirt. I watched the fabric stretch out like a blanket. I gasped quietly and took off my shirt, and I realized the white tank top I wore underneath was also extremely big on me. Slowly, I raised the fabric of my tank top up slightly, and I froze.
I reached up, mirroring my reflection, as I placed a hand on the bare, small stomach I saw, and I flinched at my own touch. It was my stomach. The person I was looking at was me.
Throwing my shirt back on, I ran to Beast Boy's room, where I knew he had a full-length mirror. I walked over and placed a hand on it, staring at my face with shaking eyes.
But the realization of my situation hit me again: I was inside the Teen Titans world.
How in the heck did this happen?! I screamed in my head after I finally tore myself away from the mirror. I walked back to the Operations room, or Ops for short, wringing my hands nervously. How is this even possible?! All right, breathe, Ciela. Just retrace your steps. I was in my room, and I was about to watch Teen Titans, when all of a sudden there was this bright light...
I glanced at the main computer. I watched a red, glowing dot steadily beep across the screen, over a small square that I assumed was the city's prison.
Wait a minute... Cinderblock is breaking into the city prison... Where he's looking for Plasmus so he can take him to Slade... but also, in that prison is when-
The red dot disappeared. The doors opened, and I turned around. The Teen Titans entered the room. Well, four of the Teen Titans entered. I gasped quietly at the absence of Cyborg. The other Titans went along their business, although there was a melancholic tone to the scene.
"Oh, no... Cyborg... He quit, didn't he?" I said, unable to stop myself until after I finished my sentence.
All eyes of the remaining Teen Titans settled on me.
"How did you know?" Robin said, taking extra offense in my words. After all, he was the one responsible for the fight that drove him out.
"I... uh..."
"He's not picking up." Beast Boy said. He tossed his communicator on the couch and flopped down next to it. "I know he sees me calling!"
"I believe your people find food as a source of comfort. Perhaps I can prepare something for you?" Starfire said.
"No offense, but the last time you made food, I couldn't leave my bed for a week."
"The only way you can cope with this is to just let it go. Cyborg is gone, and it's pointless to be upset over him." Raven said, but the sensor screens cracked behind her after she finished her sentence.
"Raven's right." Robin said, who had his back to us while he stood at the window. "Maybe we're better off without him."
"Don't say that, Robin! Everything will be all right!" I called, but he walked out of the room. I sighed. If only they knew the end of this episode like I did.
And then it dawned on me. Not only was I inside the Teen Titans world, I was inside the very first episode of the series, "Divide and Conquer".
"How did you know Cyborg quit the Teen Titans? You weren't with us." Raven said.
I took a deep breath. "I'll explain later, after all the Teen Titans are here."
"In case you didn't fully realize, Cyborg is gone." Beast Boy said. "Quit means he's never coming back."
"Are you really sure? After everything you've been through?" I walked past the three, pausing to glance back with a small smile. "Trust me on this. He's gonna come back."
The Titans were once again sent out on another mission to a radiation factory, where the giant goo monster, Plasmus, was. They left me, once again, to contend with my thoughts.
While I did, the area around me started to fade into black.
"Huh?" I said as the colorful room melted into darkness. "What's happening?!"
My entire vision filled with black.
There was a knock at my door. "Ciela?"
I opened my eyes, and I gasped to see myself in my room. The sunrise peeked through the curtains. I lay in my bed with the blankets pulled up to my chest. How did I get back? How did I get in my bed? I was at my desk... I looked at the clock. 6:30 A.M.?!
There was another knock. I threw my blanket off and walked to my door. When I opened it, my mom threw her arms around me. I hugged her back.
"I'm sorry, Mom. I didn't mean what I said..." I said.
"But you're right. I have no clue what you're going through. I'm sorry you have to deal will such horrible people." Mom said. She pulled away. "If you want, you don't have to go to school today."
"Um..." I glanced back at my laptop. "Thanks, Mom, but... I need to go. They'll see me as a coward, and I don't need anything more piled up on me."
"All right." Mom studied my face. "I love you, Ciela."
I nodded. "I love you, too."
Mom smiled and left my room, closing the door behind her. I rushed over to my computer and opened my laptop. It was still on the window for the first episode. Bracing myself, I clicked the play button.
Nothing happened. I looked at the screen, which played the episode. It was silent because of my headphones were plugged in. I relaxed and sat back in my chair.
What in the...
I glanced over at my mirror, catching a glimpse of my pant leg. I walked over and threw the blanket off my mirror.
My reflection was back to normal. I was actually relieved for once, but at the same time, as I continued to stare at my reflection, I was disappointed. I reached up and touched my Teen Titans necklace.
"What happened...?" I said to myself. I looked back at my laptop as the episode continued to play. "Maybe it was just a dream..."
I sighed deeply.
