As my history teacher droned on about the Revolutionary War, I took out a piece of paper and a pen, pretending to take notes on whatever he talked about. Instead, I made important bullet points about my dimension traveling.
1. I'm only able to live through one episode every day.
2. I enter the world of the Teen Titans at exactly 10:00 P.M. and I return to the real world at 6:30 A.M. the following morning.
3. I started on the first episode of the series. Since I was in the second episode yesterday, I'm assuming that I'm going through the entire series in order. Whether or not it includes the movie, I don't know yet. I'll just have to wait and see.
4. It seems like whenever the episode comes to its official end, I experience a "fade-to-black" before I return to the real world.
Since I am taking this one episode at a time, this will only last two months. My heart deflated at the thought. Why does such a dream come true have to be so short? I felt like Cinderella; soon the clock would strike twelve and my dream would be over.
"Ciela." my teacher said. I gasped and shot up in my seat.
"Y-yes, sir?" I said.
"Perhaps you'd like to pay attention to the lesson rather than the doodles on your paper."
My cheeks flared bright pink as the class snickered.
"Sorry... It won't happen again." I mumbled, staring down at my notes.
I couldn't wait until tonight.
"Mom, can you take a picture of me?" I said as I shoved a camera into her hands.
"A picture? How come? And with such an old camera?" Mom said, examining the extremely outdated camera; the kind where the picture comes out as soon as you take it.
"Well... you always tell me to make the most of everything. Why not capture the moment?" I said. I glanced at the clock: 9:56 P.M. "Now, can you hurry up and take it?"
"All right." Mom said, standing back and holding the camera up to her eye. "Smile."
I only made a small smile- it's better than lying through my emotions. After Mom took the picture, I took the photo that came out from it.
"Thanks, Mom. I'm heading off to bed. Good night!" I called as I headed upstairs. I shook the photo to help the development come in.
I entered my room right as the clock changed to 10:00. I clutched the photo tightly in my hands as my vision filled with light.
"Glad to have you back."
My neck ached as I opened my eyes.
"What the-?!" I cried. I was tied to a chair. I lifted my head, and I winced from the pain in my neck from my head dangling uncomfortably for however long since I arrived here. The Teen Titans stood in front of me. "Why am I tied to a chair?"
"So you won't go anywhere this time." Robin said. "You've got a lot of explaining to do."
"And I told you I would. Now, would you please untie me? I have something to show you."
Raven glanced at Robin, and he nodded. She lifted her hand, and the ropes around me were covered in her black energy. They lifted off me, and I stood up and rubbed my wrists. I reached into my pocket, relieved to feel something inside.
"Look." I pulled out the photo and showed it to the Titans. Robin took it, and the Titans gathered around it.
"What is that?!" Beast Boy said.
"That's me." I said, and Beast Boy shrunk back in discomfort. "Well... you're not wrong. Anyone would react to something as horrid as this. This is who I really am."
The Titans stared at me.
"You see... I'm not from around here. I'm from an entirely different world. And in that world, this place, you guys, are a part of a television show." I said. I reached up and pulled my Teen Titans necklace out from underneath my oversized shirt. "My favorite television show. I watch it every day. It's the only thing that brings me peace in the life that I have." I bowed my head. "Ever since I was young, people bullied me because of how big I am. When I came home crying, this show wiped my tears away. I dreamed about being able to become a part of the Teen Titans. You all are so different from each other, but you all come together and accept each other no matter what they look like or what their story is. Maybe they'd do the same with me."
I looked up at the Titans, whose eyes filled with sympathy.
"Looks like you've lived a hard life." Cyborg said.
"Yeah..." I said.
Robin handed the photo back to me. "You said you... watched this show a lot. Is that why you knew about things before they would happen?"
I nodded. "I know the entire series like the back of my hand: all the details and events that are going to take place. I guess it's my most prized possession." I shrunk back in embarrassment. "I'm sorry, I'm talking nonsense. You obviously don't care."
"Of course we do." Beast Boy said. "But... since you know about everything-"
"Think again. It would be dangerous for her to tell us all that would happen next." Raven said. Beast Boy pouted.
"She's right. I can't tell you all that I know, but I could still try and help." I said. "Er... that is, if you want it. I-I don't know if you'd really want someone like me around."
"Quit putting yourself down, girl." Cyborg said, and I looked at him in surprise.
"Indeed. Your skills are most useful. I thank you for your words of comfort when I was feeling the sadness from my sister. A friend who understands the troubles being experienced and can help bear the burden is never unwanted." Starfire said.
"It was nothing, really..." I said.
A growl cut through the air, and Beast Boy reached up and clamped his hand over his stomach.
"Guess it's time to eat!" Beast Boy said. "How about we go grab a pizza?"
"Is there anything else in your food pyramid beside pizza?" Raven said.
"Of course! Chips, soda, French fries... Need I go on?" Beast Boy said. Raven rolled her eyes.
"All right, Team. Let's go get some lunch." Robin said. As the Titans headed out the door, Robin paused and turned to me. "You coming?"
"Me?" I said, puzzled.
"Of course. You're our friend now, right?"
My stomach fluttered with happiness- me, a friend to the Teen Titans! I smiled and scurried out the door.
Seated at a table on the rooftop of Jump City's- and the Titans' favorite- pizza place, I watched a heated argument between the five kids concerning the toppings their pizza should have.
"Um... Why don't we just order two pizzas?" I said.
While the Titans looked to me and considered my suggestion, I looked past them and saw a bus rolling at high speeds down the road. I gasped, and the Titans noticed and turned around. Beast Boy gasped when he saw a baby stroller in the center of a crosswalk, right in the line of the large vehicle's path.
"Titans, go!" Robin cried, and the Titans leaped into action. Beast Boy transformed into a snake and carried the stroller away. Cyborg used his strength and Raven used her magic to stop the bus.
This is no accident. This was a plan made by...
I jumped up from the table and ran down to the main floor and towards the Titans.
"Don't touch that!" I shouted as Robin reached into the baby stroller. He stepped back as I hurried over and picked up the teddy bear that sat inside, dressed in baby clothing. I threw it into the bus. A pair of lasers shot out through the ceiling of the bus, causing it to explode. "Get out of the way!"
I shoved Cyborg and Raven off the streets as the remains of the giant bus lifted off the ground and smashed back down, right where they were standing.
"Hey! No fair!" a voice cried. I turned and saw Jinx, Gizmo, and Mammoth, three teens from the H.I.V.E. Academy, a school for young villains-in-training. Gizmo, the youngest and definitely whiniest of the bunch, stomped his foot. "How did you cludgeheads figure out our plan?!"
"And you are?" Beast Boy said.
"We'll have to skip the formalities." Jinx said.
"We came for one thing, and one thing only..." Gizmo said.
"Your destruction." Mammoth grinned.
The H.I.V.E. students charged.
"Ciela, get to safety! We'll handle this!" Robin said. "Titans, go!"
As the two groups charged, I watched with guilt. Why can't I be of help to them?
"Well, hello, there." a voice said. I gasped and turned, meeting my eyes with Jinx's. "Never seen you before."
"Uh... I'm no one. Just an innocent pedestrian." I said.
"A pedestrian that helped the Teen Titans. Sorry, but I just can't let that slide." Jinx's bright pink eyes flashed mischievously, and her hands crackled with pink energy. I gasped and jumped out of the way as the ground underneath me launched itself into the air. Jinx threw a punch at me, and I barely dodged. She lunged into a round-off and drove her feet into my stomach. I grunted in pain and flew back, smacking into the ground. I groaned and rubbed the back of my head, which felt numb from hitting the concrete. Jinx stood over me, and she grinned and raised her hands as energy intertwined through her fingers.
A large, green fist smashed into her, flinging her off to the side and into the wall of a building. Beast Boy, morphed into a gorilla, picked me up and dropped me off in a nearby alley.
"Dude, we told you to get to safety!" Beast Boy said, transforming back to his human self.
"I-I'm sorry... I'm so stupid." I mumbled.
"It's okay. Just stay here until the coast is clear."
"But what if you guys need help?"
Beast Boy cupped his chin in his hand, then snapped his fingers when he had an idea. He reached for his belt, plucked his communicator off his hip, and placed it in my hand.
"Use this. I assume you already know how?" Beast Boy said.
I nodded and flipped the communicator on. Beast Boy ran back into the action. I took deep breaths to calm my racing heart and my throbbing head. I looked back up and watched Mammoth and Cyborg get into a battle of strength, their hands interlocked as they shoved each other around. Cyborg pushed Mammoth back with a burst of strength. I watched Gizmo creep up behind Cyborg.
I brought the communicator to my mouth. "Cyborg! Behind you!"
Cyborg, after a split second of confusion, brought one of his fists back and launched it into Mammoth's cheek. While Mammoth was dazed, Cyborg turned back around and lifted his cannon arm at Gizmo, who held a rocket in his hands that was meant to be attached to him. Cyborg's cannon ray smacked into Gizmo, sending him flying. I smiled triumphantly.
Despite that little bit of help, the Titans were still getting their butts kicked by these three Academy students. Gizmo pulled out one of his devices and shot powerful energy bolts at the Titans, driving them back until Robin was the only one left standing.
"Geez, scrump-buffer, sure hope your fancy plan includes you getting fried." Gizmo said, aiming his machine at Robin.
"We'll just have to find out the hard way." Robin said, striking a fighting stance. With a smirk, he tauntingly gestured for his opponents to advance.
"Oh, no." I gasped, knowing what happens next. I brought the communicator to my lips. "Move out of the way, Robin!"
But I was too late. Gizmo aimed his device for the ground in front of Robin. At the same time, Jinx launched some of her bad luck magic. Finally, Mammoth leaped into the air and slammed his beefy fists. The combination of all three forces caused the ground underneath Robin to collapse, and he fell into the gaping, black hole.
"Robin!" Beast Boy cried as the Titans stood over the gaping hole and at the running river of sewer water underneath.
I gasped and clutched the communicator tightly in my hands. No... How could you let this happen, Ciela?! You knew this would happen! Idiot! This is all your fault!
I squeezed my eyes shut and ran deeper into the alleyway, looping through and heading back to the Titans' Tower.
The main doors into the Tower opened, and the four Titans and I entered. Raven held Beast Boy as he limped into the room and seated him down. The air was melancholic and mournful.
"Someone please tell me this was just a dream." Beast Boy said, rubbing his injured leg.
"It wasn't. No matter how much we don't want to accept it, it doesn't change the truth." Raven said, lifting her hood off her face. She used her magic to heal Beast Boy's injury.
I bowed my head. "It's all my fault. I knew what would happen, but I couldn't stop it in time. I'm sorry." I said. I handed the communicator back to Beast Boy.
"It's not your fault." Raven said. "There are some things that you just can't change."
"We cannot give up! We have to search for Robin!" Starfire cried.
"Don't worry, Starfire, this is Robin we're talking about. He'll probably turn up any second now." Beast Boy said.
As if on cue, we heard clicking coming from the front doors. I grabbed Starfire's arm, knowing she would rush to the door to welcome Robin. But it wasn't.
"It's them." I said.
The main doors burst open, and the three H.I.V.E. Academy students entered with sinister grins.
"Oh, no." Beast Boy said.
"Oh, yes." Jinx said.
"You may have gotten the best of us before, but you're in our territory now!" Cyborg said.
"Nice-looking place you got here." Gizmo said. "Don't worry, we'll take good care of it."
Cyborg summoned his cannon arm and shot at the three, but they dodged it. "Raven, get Ciela out of here." he said.
Raven and I looked at each other, and I nodded. She raised a glowing hand, and her black energy covered me in the shape of a raven. I felt the energy lift me into the air and fly me out of the Tower to the land across from it. As the energy faded, I watched starbolts, cannon rays, and black energy shoot out of the Tower. I nervously bit my fingernails.
They'll triumph in the end. The H.I.V.E. and Slade are no match for the Teen Titans. I thought, but the assurance did nothing to quell my nerves.
One by one, I watched the four Titans get ejected from the Tower and into the water surrounding it. A shock wave of Jinx's pink energy collided with the water, and a giant tidal wave was created. It caved into the Titans. I hurried to the shore as they were carried over to it.
"Guys! Are you okay?" I said.
"What do you think?" Cyborg said, who only had one arm after Gizmo toyed with him and took it off. He pulled out a miniature blow torch and started working on his injured leg.
"May I be of some assistance?" Starfire said.
"I got it."
"But you are so damaged..."
"I said I got it!" Cyborg cried abruptly. Starfire backed away.
"Dude, what's your problem?!" Beast Boy said.
"What's my problem?! Some teenage punks made us homeless and I just became left-handed!" Cyborg said, shoving his shoulder into Beast Boy's face.
"Both of you need to calm down." Raven said.
"And if we don't, our bad vibes will keep you from meditating?!"
Starfire held her arms. "I wish Robin were here..."
"Well, he's not! Don't you guys get it?! They won, we lost! It's over!"
"That's not true, Cyborg. You can't give up now." I said. "Don't worry, things will get better-"
"Keep it to yourself! You said you knew what would happen to Robin, but you just let it happen! This is all your fault! Why don't you just go back to your world and never come back?!"
"Hey, that's enough, Cyborg!" Beast Boy cried.
I gasped as his words cut through me like a chainsaw. In just a couple of moments, Robin would appear, and the Titans would come up with a plan to defeat the three H.I.V.E. Academy students, saving the day again until the next episode.
Tears stung my eyes and rolled down my cheeks. Cyborg, coming to realization with his words, dropped his angry demeanor.
"Ciela, I didn't mean-"
I turned around and ran, up the hill and away. As I ran, a hand snagged my wrist, abruptly stopping me.
"Ciela, what's wrong?" I gasped quietly and turned to look at Robin. Just as I thought, he was on his way over to greet the Titans. "Why are you crying?"
I turned away and yanked my arm from his grip. "Nothing. I should've never come here. All I do is make things worse. It's typical for someone as worthless as Fattela. I'm sorry."
I continued to run.
"Ciela, wait!" Robin called, but I kept running.
I woke up naturally, rather than my alarm. I glanced at the clock, seeing that it was still 6:30. It was Saturday. As I stared up at the ceiling, tears came back to my eyes. I sat up in my bed and wiped my eyes, staring down at my body miserably.
The Titans don't need me. I'm nothing but a liability to them. Who needs someone as useless and burdening as me?
I sighed and flung my legs over the side of my bed.
