Damian's words still haunted and bothered you, your shattered eyes stare at the picture of you and Dick. In your locket, a gift he had given you for Christmas. The picture you with Dick who had his cheek close to you, flashing a tender smile. While you had on a dolce smile. The picture was more a selfie, he had taken when the two of you went out to the park. You where still getting use to having a life and exploring. That day was really nice and warm, you where very timid back then. Dick spent the whole day with you, it was really nice, he was introducing you to pretty much everything. Letting you explore. You remember that day well, very well. One of your favorite memories. Favorite places to go. But it wasn't the reason why your eyes where grey. No. Still hearing Damian's cold words in your mind, made you think deeply. Very deeply.
Back to your life before all this, that horrible place called home. That Rat Hole. The place where you darkness, cold and loneliness was all there was to life. Death. Misery. Despair. Nothing but four walls surrounded you. Dark, moldy, crusted, infected, and no doubt diseased. The floors where covered in God knows what, the cold always found solace in your room. You had thought for long there was no door, until that day...they opened it. You remember silence, nothing but silence. You weren't sure if back then you where deaf or not. Maybe from all the screaming from your countless victims, or your mind just decided to block out the sound so you would not hear it. Push it to the back of your mind, deep into your subconscious so you would not have think of such horrors. But that didn't mean their faces where etched in your mind. Nightmares, which you thought as dreams. Never did you scream about them when you had them, as they where normal to you. And surprisingly you seem to feel at peace about it. It's not like you knew right or wrong back then. So it didn't matter, you where alive yet lifeless than.
But it wasn't your life that made you think deeply, it was just a bit of it. Those dreams, those dreams with those burning eyes staring you. The sound of an infant's cry, the hooded figures that loomed over the infant. The fire that erupted all around, you could almost feel the burning upon your flesh in those dreams, it felt like something was pulling you down, trying to take control. Those eyes though, that powerful locked gaze. They seem to burn your very soul. It frighten you, yet you seem drawn to it. The way they looked at you, sympathetically. There seem to be something in those eyes that made you feel everything was alright. They would offer what you wanted.
It was all that mashed up, that made you second guess so much. All about your life to this very point. And Damian's words that rang so much truth, more than you wanted to admit. Hoping from place to place. Running felt more like it. Dick had told you before that Haley Circus was your family's home, where you were born and loved so much. He told you so much about your parents and yourself, which was nice. But, there was always something lingering inside you from what he told you, this strange feeling that made you wonder if it was actually true? It was nice to hear, though what could it really do? Besides fill your head with assuming thoughts and feelings. The soon became something else inside. That Damian pointed out and made it clear.
That day you stayed in your room, you could have easily ran to contact Dick. But you didn't you choose not too. Not that time, because for some reason you where angry at him. Very angry.
You had tried to mediate to clear your mind, but it didn't help. No doubt Starfire had mention this to Dick, because not an hour after it happened did he try to call you. You just ignored it.
No longer looking at the locket, your eyes read through the information on your the screen of your computer rather quickly, while your fingers just as fast typed away. Your eyes darted from bit of information to the other, trying to find something, anything. Though you never where part of the Batman crime fighting family, you where taught a few of their tricks, having helped Alfred a couple of times during your breaks from school. Though the others skills where no doubt better than yours, due to your own morals you had. Refusal really to pry into others business, having done anyway for a good portion of your life, always left a uncomfortable taste in your mouth. But right now, that was out the door. This dang encryption where starting to become an bothersome, it would be so much easier if computers had emotions, than you could just take it, but they didn't. Feeling your frustrations rising mixing with your concerns, with the little bit of data you had managed to recover and read left a knot in your stomach. You just needed something valid right now...
A knock came to your door."Hey Vi, it's Gar."Garfield calls to you behind your door. His presence did startle you, making you quickly delete what you had on your screen.
"Y-Yes?"you stammer.
"You okay in there? You've been in your room for awhile, anyway I was wondering if you would like to come with me to the carnival?"he said in his most charming voice he."Come on what do you say? Seems like you need some sort of cheering up? And what better way then to have, me the most magnificent specimen take you? We can ride the Ferris Wheel? Share a corndog or two, maybe something to drink? I could win you something, and the last ride we can take is tun-oww hey!? "
He was pushed aside by Jaime who gives his friend a rather annoyed look."Seriously?"he knocks on your door."Hey Hermana, we're all going to the carnival. Starfire's orders, a way to ease the tension on this team. Anyway, we're leaving in about half an hour, so Starfire wanted us to come and get you. Look I know you don't want to go because of wh-"
The slides open and you come out dressed in casual embroidered print lace-up blouse bohemian style slash neck midriff-baring flare sleeve chiffon shirt white crop top, with deep blue demi shorts and knee high leather mossican laced boots. You had your hair back and clipped up and a smile on."Well, let's go."you tell them walking pass them humming merrily, they stood there a bit at a lost. You stop and look back at them."Well, come on, we can't keep everyone waiting."And start back up.
Starfire drove everyone there, it was a rather quiet ride on the way there, except for you starting a conversation with the princess. You had to share with Raven in the front, making it a rather tight squeeze if that wasn't enough, with heavy tension coming from the back. If not for you and Starfire's light hearted talk the ride could have gone worse.
Parking the car, everyone gets out Damian was about to bring his katana, which Starfire told him to leave it. He was the last one to leave, and follow the others. He presents his ticket to to person at the front, before entering he stops for a second and looks in your direction. A bit puzzled by your behavior, you had such a pleasant and merry smile, not to mention you leaning into Gar who whispered something in your ear making you giggle and playfully place a hand on him. He clenches the ticket stub, but remains calm and joins the others.
Listening to Starfire's speech about everyone is going to have a good time and get to know each other a bit better. Which Jaime retorts about seeing Gar lick himself. After she was done, everyone went to explore and have a good time. There was so much to do here, all the lights, smells rides, not to mention good feelings and laughter. The first thing everyone did together was go on the Ferris Wheel, you decided not to join and stood with Starfire watching the others.
While sipping on some pop."I'm glad you decided to come."she tells you. You look at her."Are you okay?"
You see the concern in her eyes, sipping the last of your drink you smile."Yeah. Just had to clear my head. That's all."
"I understand, but you know Violet yo-"
"I'm out, excuse me."you tell her. Thumbing over your shoulder."I'm going to get some more."Running off, dodging that bullet, no doubt those where Dick's words, you didn't need some sentimental lecture right now.
Reaching the concession stand, you buy yourself another drink along with some cotton candy. You choose the red one, a strange color for the candy, but you didn't care. It was a carefree night, finding a place to sit and eat to watch everyone. And be away from the rest, ripping off a piece of cotton it taste so bitter sweet as it went down. Your eyes watch everyone around you having a good time, with their significant other, friends, family. Kids with their parents, having a good time. Your eyes remained on them, watching them carefully and with a hint of jealousy that turned into loneliness. Damian's words began echo in your mind, there you sat alone in a wave of loved ones all around. So you shut your eyes to make it all go away, nothing but darkness. No sound. Nothing.
Or so you thought, that presence came. The same as before, their voice this time you heard better, it was dark and powerful, yet comforting. Which wasn't strange, what was strange was what they called you.
Child.
Your eyes shoot open looking around for the owner of the voice. Child? Why would they call you that? Eyes darting to every single face none of their voice matched the one you heard nor did their emotions. It was malevolent. Dark. Powerful. Familiar. Where was it? Something inside, seemingly instinctive knew where to go. This strange hold over you, calling to you like a snake charmer. And you followed without hesitation. Leaving your food and drink. This voice, was telling you to come home. Promising to tell you everything. Everything you wanted to know. Provide you with what you wanted the most, to relieve you of the pain you held inside you. Show you everything. Such sweet hypnotic melody you follow the glowing eyes in the shadows, leading you away. A incorporeal spirit hand lays out for you take.
"Come child."they courses you."Come back home. And I will tell you everything, set your tormented soul free after all these years. You no longer feel void inside. No longer care. I have missed you dearly, my child. Come home and all will be well."
Back at the carnival were your uneaten cotton candy and half drunk soda remained, Starfire picks up drink her eyes full of worry. "Where is she?"
The others looked around for any sign of their teammate, who not where she said she would be. The Ferris Wheel took a bit longer than expected, now that it was over everyone came to meet up with Violet who was nowhere in sight. Yet all her things where here, even her side purse, which lucky no one took anything. Jaime comes back with Gar from the food stand, the green hero stuffing his face with popcorn.
"Well?"Starfire said waiting for their answer.
"The guys said she was here, next thing she wasn't."Jaime said folding his arms, thinking."He doesn't know where she went."
"Maybe she went on a ride?"Gar throws out."I mean this a carnival. Oh no!"Panics.
Everyone looks at him."What?! What is it?!"Starfire demands.
Gar looks at everyone deeply concerned and worried."I hope she didn't go on the Tunnel of Love without me?!"
Everyone gives him a annoyed look, Jaime smacks him in the back of the head."Dude not the time."
"What? What? It is important if you think about it."Gar defends himself."I'm just one step away from making her mine."
Having enough Damian shoots at him with steel anger."I would suggest you keep it in your pants. Unless you want to get nurturer. "
Gar looks at him, Damian gives him a hard scowl. Who does the same back though with a rather cocky half smile."Okay you two."Starfire steps in-between them."Let's just focus on finding Violet, she has to be around here somewhere."
Raven turns back to table where the girl's things rested. Her eyes remain on the red cotton candy. A cold sweat came over her, fear began to fill her eyes. Damn it. She hisses to herself, did they get her? There was no way they could? No way at all, she made sure of that, reminding her to keep her center. Raven took every single step to ensure her safety, the girl didn't know. She didn't need to, if they got their claws on her- it was bad enough they tired to reach her through dreams. The only way they could sink their unholy presence in the girl. Why did she leave her alone? If left alone, than it was much easier to...she didn't sense their presence so there was nothing to worry about. Right?
Then why was she? If they had managed to find another way to get to her, Raven would have to...they both would be in trouble. The girl didn't know, she didn't know what was in her, like Raven did. Both of them grew up in Hellish places, taken from their loving homes, to be brought to different versions of Hell itself. The only difference, one knew of their heritage while the other didn't, making it easy to be preyed upon. To be corrupted than what they already where, just needed a bit of a push. She couldn't take the bait, she couldn't...
Raven didn't want to fail, she couldn't let them win and take them away. She couldn't know the truth, she just couldn't. Clearing her mind, she starts to search for Violet quickly, trying to sense her.
"Violet!"Starfire's voice breaks Raven's search bringing her back. The dark teen looks to see Starfire embrace you, who seem a bit confused why Starfire was worried.
Nearly giving you a born crushing hug."I can't breath."you try to say.
"Where did you go?"Starfire questions you.
You look at Jaime and Gar who wanted to know too."You scared us Hermana."Jaime tells."You okay?"
"...Yeah."you smile at them. Walking over to your things, and throw it away."Couldn't be better. Sorry to worry everyone. So, what's next?"
