I descended the stairs quietly. There was no light peeking out from the kitchen. When I reached the bottom of the stairs, I realized that all the lights were off. Was my mom still sleeping?

I entered the kitchen and grabbed a few pieces of bread. I pulled a piece of lineless paper from the printer and a pen from the pencil holder.

Mom,

I'll be walking to school and back today. Don't worry about driving me around.

I paused in my writing.

I love you.

- Ciela

I left the paper on the counter, grabbed my backpack, and headed out the door.


The walk home was more nerve-wracking. I turned the corner and entered my neighborhood. I could see the roof of my house a few doors down and the light green lawn that my mom always said needed to be watered more. I walked up the narrow, cobblestone pathway and up to the door. I rested my hand on the doorknob, pausing to take a deep breath, and I entered through the door.

Mom was seated at the dining table, her hands folded in front of her. Her eyes lifted to me.

"Ciela," she said, "we need to talk."

I gripped my backpack straps. "Mom, I know this seems bad..."

"My daughter sneaks out in the middle of the night, her whereabouts unknown? Yes, it does 'seem bad'."

"But I-"

"Ciela..." Mom swallowed hard. I watched tears prick her eyes. "Have you... have you been leaving to go somewhere and get..."

I watched Mom, confusion in my squinted eyes. She looked away, and my eyes widened.

"Oh, my gosh." I said. "Mom, do you think I sneak off at night to do drugs?"

"Well... Do you?"

"No! I would never, ever think to do that! How could you think I would do that?!"

"You've been worrying me, Ciela. I have no idea where you go or what you do, and you expect me not to think of the worst?"

"But I'm your daughter! You raised me right!"

"I taught you not to lie, didn't I?"

"I haven't lied to you. I would never-!"

"Then tell me the truth!" Mom said. I flinched from her loud, firm voice.

I gulped. My backpack weighed heavily on my shoulders, filled with homework and guilt.

"I... If I told you... you wouldn't believe me." I said.

The look on her face from before returned, fully raging. The faint smile lines on her face were flattened out, her mouth curved in a grimace, and her eyes bright with pain. It clicked where I had seen this look before.

It was the same look Beast Boy gave Terra when he found out about her betrayal.

Tears filled my eyes. My fingers were wrapped tightly around my backpack straps, but I could let go or else she would see them tremble. I opened my mouth, desperate to say something, but my words still hung in the air. While I said one thing, I could imagine the message my mother received.

"I don't know if I trust you enough to tell you the truth."

I turned and ran up the stairs, two at a time. I stumbled into my room and closed the door, careful not to slam it. I rested my forehead against the door and held back a sob. I let my arms dangle so my backpack could plop to the ground. However, the burden on my shoulders still remained, and it was just as heavy.


The rumble of cages and the screaming of animals filled my ears. In the dimness of the large room, I watched different silhouettes writhe around in small cages: cats, dogs, monkeys, rats, and birds. Out of all the places, our villain chose an animal testing laboratory? If anything, I'd definitely get nightmares from it.

There was a thud, and Beast Boy was at my feet. He sat up and rubbed his head.

"Are you okay?" I said.

"I should be asking you the same thing." Beast Boy said. He looked ahead and yelped. He grabbed my shoulders and forced us both down as a barrel flew over our heads and shattered against the wall.

Adonis, a boy wearing a red battlesuit to mask his super scrawny body, rubbed his hands to wipe off the tiny shards of wood that tried to penetrate his armor.

"What's the matter? Can't take what I'm dishing?" Adonis said. Starfire attracted his attention by showering him with starbolts.

I helped Beast Boy to his feet.

"This guy is just as tough as he is annoying." Beast Boy mumbled before running back into the fight. I pulled out my energy pistols and transformed them into my bazooka. Propping myself behind a crate, I positioned myself and fired. Adonis inadvertently dodged it in the midst of fighting the other Titans.

I really didn't want to be here- not only in this place, but also in this world. In fact, I tried not to enter this world last night.

I fired again. It bounced off Adonis's arm.

I was still fresh in shock. I couldn't fathom how my mother believed I snuck out at night to do horrible things. I was much better than that.

Another laser.

...But how could she know? I've been dancing around the truth, and this past week hasn't been helping me. Mom has every right to find the worst-case scenario. She has every right to be worried.

"Look out!" I realized my surroundings in time to see a counter flying at me. I gasped and lunged away. The counter smashed clean through the crate and tumbled into the wall. I landed on my shoulder and rolled a few feet, clutching my bazooka to my chest.

"Your pathetic little lasers won't so much as dent Adonis!" Adonis said.

I hoisted myself up and scooted behind a stack of crates. Despite the near-death experience, I couldn't fully pull myself from my thoughts. The guilt of being here, seeing my friends in person while knowing my mom is back home worrying about me in the wee hours of the morning, overwhelmed me. While the hum of my bazooka kept my feet on the ground, my head was high up in the clouds.

The fighting ceased. The growls of rabid animals shifted to whimpers. I poked my head out and watched Beast Boy leave the room. His shoulders and hair were coated with green radioactive chemicals. I stood, walked around the crates and to my friends. At their feet was Adonis, a gaping hole in the chest of his battlesuit that made him fall out and onto the floor, revealing his tiny body. He, too, was covered with chemicals.


I walked out of my room the next morning and headed down the hallway. The living room door opened, and Beast Boy walked out.

"Good morning." I said. "I never got to tell you how good of a job you did yesterday."

"Thanks." Beast Boy said while he passed. I glanced over my shoulder and watched him turn the corner, in the direction of the weights room.

I entered the living room, the fading scent of ham and eggs in the air. The fridge door was open, and I saw Robin's spiky hair peeking over the top. He mumbled under his breath while he pulled out a carton of milk and slammed it on the counter with a huff.

"Uh... Good morning." I said as Robin poured a bowl of cereal, too wrapped up in his frustration to have noticed me approach him or to close the refrigerator door. "I'm guessing all the good stuff is gone?"

"Why don't you ask Beast Boy?" Robin said. He set down his bowl. "Is he all right? Ever since the fight with Adonis yesterday, he's become a completely different person."

"I know. His behavior and actions are unacceptable; I get it. But would the real Beast Boy do things like this?" I closed the fridge, lingering my grip on the handle. "Just... have faith in him. Please."


I stayed in my room the remainder of the day, but I could still hear bits and pieces of the commotion Beast Boy was causing. The weight room was within the same hallway as my room, just a few doors down, and I heard his footsteps pass by frequently to go there. I could hear the crashing of weights and roaring of various animals. Each time he left, an icy chill rushed down my spine.

Finally, in the evening, I heard loud voices. I stepped out of my room and followed them.

"You know what, Raven? I've put up with your insults and your rotten attitude for a long time, and I'm sick of it. It's about time you showed me some respect!" I heard Beast Boy hiss. I glanced around the corner and watched the confrontation.

"Maybe when you learn how to earn respect, I'll give it to you." Raven said.

"Fine, then. If I can't get you to respect me, I'll make you fear me!"

Beast Boy transformed into a Sasquatch. Raven dropped the book that was in her hands and stepped back, her fists glowing with magic. Beast Boy reared back his arms.

"Beast Boy!" I ran towards the two and stepped in front of Raven. I stretched my arms out to the sides. "Please, don't do this."

"That's enough, Beast Boy!" I heard Robin's voice behind me. I looked and saw him, Starfire, and Cyborg. "Leave them alone!"

With a huff, Beast Boy transformed back into his human self. He passed by Raven and I, avoiding our eyes, and approached the other three.

"What's the matter with you?" Robin said. "Ever since yesterday..."

"I've finally grown a backbone? I've finally learned how to stick up for myself?" Beast Boy said.

"You've been acting like a complete jerk! This isn't the Beast Boy we know. He wouldn't do things like this."

"Well, you'd better get used to it, because this is who I am now! The loser you had to deal with is long gone now, and if you don't like the change, then you'd better start getting over it!"

"Enough!" I said. "We shouldn't fight like this."

Throwing another poisonous glare at Robin, Beast Boy stomped past him and down the hallway.

"What's gotten into him?" Cyborg said, his arms folded.

"I do hope such behavior passes in the near future." Starfire said.

I walked past my friends in the direction Beast Boy went.

"Where are you going?" Robin said.

"I'm going to go talk to him." I said.

"Like he's going to listen." Raven said.

"Maybe not, but..." I trailed off as I continued. He needs someone who believes in him.


I knocked on the door right as an object crashed against it. I yanked my hand back. There was a brief paused before another object was thrown against a different wall. I took a deep breath and knocked again. There was silence on the other side. Heavy footsteps approached the other side of the door, and it opened.

"What do you want?" Beast Boy said, his face in a perpetual scowl.

"I... wanted to make sure you're okay." I said. "May I come in?"

Beast Boy huffed and walked back into his room. I assumed it was a yes, so I stepped inside.

"They were wrong to treat you like that." I said.

Beast Boy chuckled bitterly. "At least you get it."

"But... they had reason to."

Beast Boy turned to me. "What's that supposed to mean?!"

"Please, hear me out." I said, keeping my voice calm and steady. "This new change is sudden and very different. They're only worried about you; they mean no harm."

"It didn't seem like it when they were ganging up on me!" Beast Boy grabbed a toy monkey and threw it against the wall with a grunt. The loud clang of its cymbals made me flinch. He turned his back to me, chest and shoulders heaving from his heavy breathing. I took a step towards him and reached out, gently resting my fingers on his shoulder.

"I understand where you're coming from. You're standing up for yourself after putting up with them picking on you for a long time, and you feel their retaliation is unfair. But is this really something worth throwing your friendship away over?"

Beast Boy glanced over his shoulder. As he started to turn around to face me fully, the large, rectangular window propped on his wall shattered. We shielded ourselves from the flying pieces of glass. Fortunately, the glass bounced off my jacket and made no contact with any exposed skin.

We looked up and saw a giant, hulking shadow standing in front of us. Its empty white eyes were focused on Beast Boy, and a low, guttural growl resonated from deep in its throat. It roared and brought back its arm. I grabbed Beast Boy's arm and pulled us back. The beast rammed its fist into Beast Boy's dresser, reducing it to a pile of clothes and broken wood. I pulled out an energy pistol and shot at the beast. It sunk into its fur, but it only managed to annoy it. It turned to me and growled. It brought its fist back again.

Beast Boy shoved me aside, taking my place. I fell into the wall. The beast's fist came in contact with Beast Boy's stomach and launched him into his closet. The closet doors ripped off its hinges, and Beast Boy fell into the mess of trash inside.

The beast turned back to me. It bared its teeth, and I could see them gleaming. As I reached for my other pistol, the closet burst, scattering garbage all over the floor and mangled furniture. Another shadow lunged at the first, sending them both out the window.

"Beast Boy!" I raced to the window and watched the shadows wrestle as they fell into the water. I holstered my energy pistols and ran out of the room. Despite the commotion, no one had made a move yet.

I headed for the main entrance. I palmed the alarm button, blazing the room with red and sirens, before I ran out of the Tower.


While the buildings were bright with lights, Jump City's streets were empty at nighttime.

Perfect. I thought as I stopped in the middle of the road and in front of a manhole. I summoned my energy sword and slid the blade in between the cover and the cement. I managed to lift the cover slightly. I switched to my hands and pulled the cover off, placing it off to the side. I jumped inside. The water, thankfully, was shallow enough to be just a big puddle.

A roar cut through the air, but I couldn't tell who it was from. I ran down the path. Sewer water splashed onto my clothes, but I ignored it. There was another roar, and I continued to try and trace it.

I stopped when I saw a hulking shadow standing in the middle of the water. I stopped, my last couple of footsteps creating echo-y splashes that the beast heard. It turned to me and growled. With my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I saw the werebeast. I recognized its green face and fur.

"Beast Boy..." I said, holding my hands up. "It's me, Ciela. It's okay."

His growl deepened. I glanced down at my holster belt, my pistols glowing in the darkness. I reached down and unclipped my belt. Slowly, I pulled it off my waist and held it out. I tossed it to the side and onto the narrow cement path near the wall. I kept my hands up as he warily approached me. He sniffed the air curiously.

"Everything's going to be okay."

A cannon ray zoomed past me and hit Beast Boy's shoulder. His ears perked up, and he roared.

"Get away from her!" I turned and saw the other Titans, poised and ready to attack.

"Wait! This isn't what you think-!" I cried. Beast Boy swiped his arm and batted me off to the side. I slammed into the wall, my head hitting the cement. My vision went double for a moment before fading to black, and I crumpled onto the floor.


I awoke with a splitting headache, and there was a steady beep from somewhere nearby that wasn't helping. I peeled my eyes open and saw Starfire standing over me.

"Please, do not try and move." she said.

"Where...?" I looked around. We were back in Titans Tower and inside the infirmary. Starfire and I were the only ones in this room. As I gathered my senses, I felt the secure layer of gauze wrapped around my head. My hair felt crusty.

"We were fortunate to have found you in time."

"What?" I cringed and rested a hand on my forehead. "What happened?"

What did happen? I... I couldn't remember. My memory only went up to earlier today, right after the argument between Beast Boy and the others. I remembered him stomping off in anger, but... that was all.

"Beast Boy attempted to attack you. He was transformed as a strange monster. We managed to subdue him and bring the two of you back here. We are about to question him."

Beast Boy, attack me? It didn't seem true.

"Take me to him." I said. I started to sit up. My head panged like a drum. Starfire placed a hand on my shoulder.

"You require rest." Starfire said.

"No... I need... to be there. Please."

Starfire watched me, reluctantly to obey. She lifted my arm and placed it over her shoulders. She lifted me out of the bed. Together, we walked into the next room.

The other four looked up at us. Raven and Cyborg stood in front of a computer, analyzing data, while Robin stood next to Beast Boy, who sat in a chair.

"I told you to keep her in there." Robin said to Starfire. He turned to me. "Ciela, you need to go back and lay down."

"No. I want to be here. Besides, this is just a scratch compared to what I've already been through." I said. Robin scowled and turned back to Beast Boy, who watched me with wide eyes.

"I... did that to you?" Beast Boy said.

"I'm fine, Beast Boy. Really." I said, but that didn't help his guilt.

Beast Boy's shoulders slumped. "What's happening to me?"

"I'm picking up traces of recombinant DNA." Cyborg said. "With the shapeshifting, your genetic code was always unstable. But now, maybe it's just... falling apart."

Beast Boy dug his hands into his hair. "What are we going to do?"

"How about we start with you telling us what happened?" Robin said.

"I told you, I don't remember! We had that argument, and I went to my room. Right after, Ciela came and talked to me. After that... nothing."

Robin turned to me. "Tell us what happened after."

"I-I don't know." I said. "I think I hit my head so hard I forgot."

"Then you need to try harder to remember." Robin said to Beast Boy.

"What do you think I've been doing before?! I've told you all I know! I just can't recall anything else!" Beast Boy said.

"Dig a little deeper then! Why did you leave last night? Why did you try to attack Ciela? With all of the things happening in this last day, unless you muster up those memories, you're in a whole lot of trouble."

"I can't!" Beast Boy cried. He gripped the armrests and groaned. The beeping of his heart rate wildly increased.

"What is happening?!" Starfire cried.

We watched Beast Boy transform into a werebeast. He stood up and roared.

"Starfire, get Ciela out of here!" Robin said, twirling his bo-staff and charging at Beast Boy.

Starfire flew me out of the room and down the hallway before I could verbally protest. She brought us to my room, and she sat me on my bed.

"Please, stay here and be safe." Starfire said. She flew out of my room, her fists glowing with energy.

I heard the crashing and roaring just as clear as if I was still in the infirmary. My heart thumped in my chest. One by one, the fighting stopped. The silence weighed down on my body.

The door was pried open. I gasped as I pulled myself up into a sitting position. Beast Boy lumbered over to me, growling in his throat. I shut my eyes as he leaned down to sniff the top of my head. I gasped as I opened my eyes. The memories came flooding back. I looked up at him.

"He's in the sewer." I said. "Go, settle the score."

Beast Boy snorted and sprinted out of my room, denting my door even more. I rested my head against the headboard and closed my eyes. I pictured the pained expression on Beast Boy's face when he saw me enter the room with my gauze-wrapped head.

As I did, my mother's face filled my mind. My heart throbbed. It was my fault this was happening. I could have- I should have- told her the truth. I should have told her as soon as this started happening over a month ago. Why did I keep my mouth shut? Why did I hide this from her? Was it because I didn't trust her? No, of course not. It was because I was afraid. If anyone in my world found out about all of this, I'd be subject to unusual and painful experiments. I had nightmares of the FBI breaking down my door and dragging me away.

But this is my mother I'm talking about. The woman who raised, nurtured, and has cared for me all my life. The one I confidently knew supported and loved me. Now, because of my selfishness, I was destroying our relationship with secrets.

I have to stop it.


"Ciela?" A hand rested against my shoulder. I opened my eyes. It was still dark, and I was still in my room in Titans Tower. I blinked to adjust to the fuzzy darkness. Beast Boy stood at my bedside. "How are you doing?"

"I should be asking you the same thing." I lifted my head, ignoring the creak in my neck from my awkward sleeping position. Beast Boy watched me, his worried expression not budging. "I'll be fine once I go back to my world. Injuries carry over, but not completely."

"That's good..."

"Did you find Adonis?" I said.

"I guess. Robin said I beat the snot out of him." Beast Boy paused. "I'm really sorry, Ciela. I didn't mean to hurt you."

"Will you cut it out?" I said. "Of course you didn't mean to. You weren't conscious of your decisions. I know that, if you were, you wouldn't do such things like hurt your friends and be a total jerk to everyone."

A smile twitched on the corners of Beast Boy's lips. "So... Everything's going to be okay?"

I paused a moment to look at him before I smiled and nodded. "Yeah. Everything's going to be okay."

Beast Boy grinned. He headed for the door.

"Oh, and..." He turned back. "Thanks... for understanding."

Beast Boy left. I laid back in my bed and closed my eyes.

Everything's going to be okay.