Chapter 7: Beast Boy's Consciousness
Beast Boy's head felt groggy. Well, his consciousness inside his head. He wasn't quite sure what was happening, but the last thing he remembered was falling asleep in a cozy cabin in the clearing he had escaped to earlier. Cautiously, he looked around to figure out where he was. He appeared to be that very same clearing. Once again, it was a scarier and darker version of the one in the real world. Beast Boy realized he had to get back to the real world before his body was attacked or he starved to death.
Trying to will himself awake, he felt something pushing against him. As if he was in the backseat of his very own mind. Puzzled, Beast Boy closed his eyes and tried to force himself awake. He then felt the presence that had been pushing against him wake up.
"Ah. Finally awake?" The voice made Beast Boy shiver as it surrounded him. He tried to figure out what in the world was going on. "Don't think too hard. You've been asleep for over a month. It might break your feeble mind." The voice chuckled darkly. Beast Boy froze. "That's right. The tables have turned, boy. I am free and fully in control. And might I say, I've made quite some progress. Look." The Beast added. Beast Boy then saw the real world through his own eyes for the first time in over a month. Except, staring back at him wasn't his reflection, it was that of The Beast's true form. The very same form that had terrorized Jump City Bridge a month earlier. The Beast then turned and Beast Boy saw the penthouse room they had been given by the state.
"See? Look how far we've come thanks to me. I'm even the police captain now." The Beast boasted.
"W...what?" Beast Boy said, confused. "No. This is a trick."
"No. This is very much real. I have done more in a month than you managed to do in your 13 measly years." The Beast said, his consciousness appearing in a physical form in front of Beast Boy in their mind.
"What about my friends? Where are they?" Beast Boy demanded.
"They're fine. Except Raven. She's basically dead. She tried to kidnap me and, let's say-" The Beast jeered.
"You hurt her? Of everyone, you hurt her?!" Beast Boy yelled.
"Of course I did. She had to go. Her cries of agony are what woke you up, after all. Imagine what she would have been able to do at full strength." The Beast replied.
"You're a monster. A heartless monster. Give me my body back! I need to go check on them." Beast Boy demanded.
"Our, body. And no. You've had enough time and didn't protect us adequately enough. It's my turn to look out for our best interests. Can't you see, power suits a predator such as us. It's what we deserve. Not to be a docile 'hero' for a mere city." The Beast explained.
"I don't want power. I want my body and my friends back." Beast Boy spat.
"Well. Considering I killed the one you care most about, I'd say you don't have much to go back to. A bunch of pathetic runts mourning an even more pathetic witch." The Beast sneered. Beast Boy sprung into action, turning into a lion and leaping at The Beast's consciousness' physical form. "Not wise." The Beast replied as he effortlessly swatted Beast Boy aside with a powerful swipe. Beast Boy landed with a thud on the soft grass of the imaginary clearing in their mind.
Beast Boy jumped to his feet, transformed into an eagle and flew at The Beast at full speed. Bracing for impact, The Beast shifted his weight in anticipation. At the last second, however, Beast Boy turned into an ape and landed on The Beast. He then pinned him down with his feet and punched his face.
"You. Need. To. Go!" Beast Boy said as he landed his heavy fists down on The Beast's unprotected face. The Beast snarled and suddenly grew two times in side, now equalling the side of Beast Boy's ape form.
"Don't make me end you." The Beast said as he shoved Beast Boy off and created some distance between them. He then leapt at Beast Boy claws outstretched and pinned him against a nearby tree. He began to slash and stab at Beast Boy with his claws, landing nearly half of his blows.
Beast Boy struggled to maintain consciousness as he slowly bled out from the deep cuts inflicted by The Beast's claws. He kew he couldn't win. He was at The Beast's mercy.
"You were never and will never be a match for me. You are exactly what people have always said you are, weak and helpless." The Beast spat. "In fact, I think I know how to keep you in line." He added. The Beast's consciousness' physical manifestation then vanished. Beast Boy looked around warily as his eyes grew heavy and his consciousness started to lose consciousness.
All of a sudden, Beast Boy was wide awake and inside a cage. He recognized it almost immediately. It was the exact same cage he was forced to live in when he was an unwilling participant in a circus. Purchase by the ringmaster from his previous family like a mere pet, the circus is where he was forced to shape-shift for the amusement of those who came to the circus. Malnourished and abused, he was only kept healthy enough to transform twice a night and generally passed out shortly after each show. Beast Boy's consciousness began to shake in fear as he was forced to relive the memory of his torment. Even though Beast Boy knew this was only a memory, it almost felt real. All of a sudden he heard The Beast's voice.
"Your memories. Your worst memories, to be precise. I will force you to relive all of them over and over again until you agree to let me have control and not interfere with my plans. I truly hate to do this, but it's for our survival. I won't let us become prey." The Beast said, genuinely to Beast Boy before his presence lifted from the memory and Beast Boy was left to his fate.
After what seemed like years, a mere hour in reality, Beast Boy finally spoke.
"Alright...stop. Just...stop." The memory instantly dissolved into the clearing where he and The Beast fought. "I'll stay out of your way." Beast Boy said, solemnly.
"Excellent. We-" The Beast replied.
"But you can't hurt Raven or my friends." Beast Boy interrupted.
"You aren't in a position to make demands, now are you?" The Beast replied, amused.
"Just. Don't hurt them, please." Beast Boy begged.
"Okay, fine. I won't hurt Raven. I can't promise anything for the rest of them, however." The Beast said. He then left Beast Boy. Loneliness immediately engulfed him and he began to break down. How could he ever compete with The Beast? The Beast was smarter, faster, and stronger than he was. Beast Boy had to find a way out. He just didn't know how.