Chapter 17: A Sign of Hope

When I first woke up, I had a difficult time remembering what happened. Once I acknowledged that I was still in the main entrance, the memories slowly returned to my thoughts. The robots, the star bolts, the face-to-face encounter with Slade. Everything seemed to have happened so quickly…

Wait! Where was Starfire?

I opened my eyes and looked around the room, realizing that both the princess and madman were gone. The only thing left from the fight was the shattered window where I last saw them. The curtains were ripped and the floor was covered with glass. I have no idea what happened after being knocked out. I wasn't even aware of how long I've been unconscious for.

Limping on my bruised hip, I begin to search the entire building for her. I looked inside the prison cell, the bathroom, the kitchen, the dining room, the living room, the guest room, but Starfire was nowhere to be seen. I searched the entire building several times but it took a while for reality to sink in. For the first time since our journey, Starfire and I had been separated.

My deep thoughts were interrupted when I suddenly heard the front door blast open. I quickly rushed over to see what was happening and saw a group of people walking in. I had a difficult time telling who they were due to the smoke filling the room. But for the sake of my safety, I knew I had to hide. I didn't have Starfire to protect me this time.

So I rushed down the hallway and into one of the empty bedrooms. I didn't even care about the pain in my hip anymore. I wanted to stay out of sight! I dove underneath the bed and curled up into a pink ball. For the first few minutes, everything was quiet.

I thought that the coast was clear until I heard the sound of a dog's sniffing. I curiously peek from my hiding spot, noticing a creature with four legs coming inside the room. I squeezed my eyes shut and curled up tighter. I cringed when the dog crawled underneath the bed.

I scurried away when it got close. My lips curled into a snarl and I let out a growl. But the dog whimpered softly and approached me again. He licked my head and gave a friendly bark. I guess this was his way of letting me know that he was not there to hurt me. I slowly put my guard down and relaxed my muscles a bit, realizing this animal was not a threat.

Suddenly, I begin to smell an odor. Of course all dogs are supposed to stink, but there was something too familiar about this dog. The aroma of tofu, body odor and men's cologne reminded me of what Beast boy used to smell like. It was funny because this dog smelt exactly like him. At first, I thought it was just a coincidence.

Until I opened my eyes and saw that he was green.

"Silkie" He whispered softly, shifting back into human form "what are you doing under here, boy?"

It almost didn't seem realistic at first. He was the last person I expected to see right now. Last time I checked, He was kidnapped by the Citadel, locked up in a prison ship somewhere in outer space. How is it possible that he is here right in front of me? Words can't even describe how confused I am right now.

I felt his hands wrap around my quivering body and he pulled me out into the open "Don't be scared." He soothed "Everything's going to be okay."

I lifted my head to make sure it was really him. The pointed teeth, green hair, and pointy ears were definitely real. I reached up and licked his face. I was so relieved to see that he was safe.

The green titan walked over to the door and hollered down the hallway "Robin!" He yelled "You better come see this!"

The last time I saw Robin, we didn't exactly end things on a good note. He had a huge argument with Starfire and threatened to end their relationship. That was the whole reason why she ran away to begin with. I was interested to see how he felt about her disappearance.

The spiky-haired leader appeared in the doorway "What is it?" He asked before spotting me in Beast boy's arms. I got a good look at him and I could tell that he's been through a lot. His reaction upon seeing me didn't make things any better.

"I just found him crawling underneath the bed" Beast boy said "Wherever she went, she took him with her."

Robin was silent for a moment, not knowing what to say. The awkward silence broke when my stomach growled. I looked up at Beast boy with a desperate look on my face. Hopefully they'll realize that I needed something to eat.

Beast boy fiddled around his pocket and pulled out a bag of cheese crackers "I was going to save these for later" He said "but it looks like you really need them."

It may seem like nothing, but too me it was something. Food was food, and I needed it real bad. He dumped the crackers in the palm of his hand and held them out for me to eat. I wolfed them down within seconds, not caring that they tasted a bit stale. I still felt a little hungry but it helped me regain some energy back. I licked Beast boy's face again, thanking him for the treats. "You're welcome little dude." He said, gently stroking my back.

We both looked over at Robin, who hadn't spoken much since he came in the room "She has to be okay, though." Beast boy said "Right?"

Robin shook his head "I'm not sure." He said sadly "Come on, let's go find the others."

Robin walked back into the hallway and Beast boy stood up to follow him. They met up with Cyborg and Raven, who had finished investigating one of the other rooms.

Raven walked over to Robin, showing him the bag that Starfire used to run away "look what we just found" She said, placing it on the floor. They started to search through it, pulling out the dirty blanket, the empty zip-lock bags, the alarm clock that ran out of batteries and the pair of pink fuzzy gloves.

"So it was true then" Robin said sadly "She really did run away from home."

Raven placed a hand on his shoulder "You really need to stop beating yourself up" She said.

"What exactly happened that night?" Cyborg asked "We never really discussed it."

"I really don't want to talk about it" Robin said.

"Well If we don't talk about it, then how are we going to make things better?" Raven asked "We can't help you unless you help yourself first."

Raven was right. Robin needs to get his act together if we have any hope of finding Starfire. He's the leader. He's supposed to be the one who stands in front and leads the team in battle. Lately, he hasn't been a very good one and everyone knows it.

"Ever since Slade came back, I thought that I could keep myself under control." He said "But I've pushed her away and said things that I shouldn't have said. I never thought that our relationship would ever be in danger. But lately I've been turning back into the obsessive jerk she once knew."

He looked up at the titans and continued to speak "I'm sorry that I haven't been a really good friend to you guys lately." He said "Sometimes I'm just my own worst enemy."

I remembered the night of Robin's and Starfire's fight when Robin said that he wanted to end the relationship. I wonder if he really meant that or if he was just saying that out of anger. I also wonder if Starfire really wanted to run away from home. This whole situation seems so twisted.

"You were always a good friend to us." Raven said "but you need to learn how to lighten up a bit."

"And we don't know what's going on between you two" Cyborg said "But you have to remember that Starfire's a sensitive girl. You can't just go back and erase the things you've said. All you can do is hope that she forgives you."

"But Starfire has always been a forgiving person." Beast boy said "She forgave me a long time ago when I pranked her with that motor oil balloon."

"Um Beast boy" Cyborg said "I don't think that compares."

"Hey! She was still really upset with me!" He shouted "Remember when she pouted and called me a clorbag? To this day, I still don't know what that means."

Raven rolled her eyes at Beast boy's stupidity and switched the conversation back to Robin "Our point is that she won't overlook your mistakes" Raven said "But we believe that she wants things to be right again, just like we do."

Robin smiled, needing their words of encouragement "Thank you guys." He said "You're absolutely right."

I drifted away from the conversation, as I noticed a bug flying across the hallway. I chased the little fella and caught him with my mouth. I chewed on the insect, until there was nothing left except his guts. Beast boy noticed me and rushed over to pick me up.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa" He said "where do you think you're going, little guy?"

He was probably worried that I was going to wander off, but he should know that I would never do that. Especially after everything that has happened. He smiled down at me but then his face turned serious "Hey" He said "I have an idea."

He placed me back down and sat in front of me "How much do you really know?" he asked before ship-shaping into his larva form. Before giving me to Starfire, he would often do this to communicate with me. He started asking me questions about what Starfire and I were up to these past few weeks.

So I talked. I pretty much told Beast boy the whole story from the beginning. I told him about the fight from Starfire's point of view. I told him about where we went after running away from the tower. I told him about Slade kidnapping us along the way. I told him about our attempt to escape.

Then I decided to ask him if they were captured by the citadel, he responded with a weird look and shook his head no. From the looks of it, he didn't have any clue was I was talking about. This confirms that everything that Slade told us was a lie.

Beast boy ship-shaped back into human form and told the team everything I just told him. I'm not sure if this information will help them find Starfire, but I think it would benefit if they at least know the truth.

"Um dudes" Beast boy said "you're not going to believe what I just found out."

Robin glanced over at me, curious to know what happened "What did he tell you?" He asked.

"He just told me that they were kidnapped" He said.

Robin's eyes widened "What do you mean they were kidnapped?" He asked.

"While Starfire was running away, Slade snatched her up" Beast boy said "and this is where he held her hostage."

That was definitely not the news that Robin wanted to hear. The furious leader growled and kicked the wall "Great!" He shouted "That's the last thing we needed to happen!"

"I don't get it." Cyborg said "What does Slade want with Starfire?"

"That psychopath has been after us for years" Raven said "He'll do anything to stir up trouble."

"So what do we do now?" Beast boy asked "Do we have any idea where they could've gone?"

"There's only one way of finding out." Raven said "I'm going to try and find her myself."

She took a deep breath and started to float in her usual meditating position, chanting "Azarath metrion zinthos." I still don't know what these words mean, but apparently it helps her concentrate on what she's doing. Her eyes glowed white and her breathing was now calm and stable. She remained in this state for about 45 seconds before she sighed deeply and snapped back into reality.

"I just sensed Starfire's mind!" She shouted "She's still here!"

My eyes widened with hope and so did Robin's "Where?!" He asked.

Raven began searching the area, and her eyes fell upon a large wardrobe in the end of the hallway. With her telekinesis, she removed the large piece of furniture away from the wall. To everyone's surprise, there was a small door behind it. I passed by that wardrobe several times, and never noticed it until now.

"She's alive but she's very weak!" Raven shouted "She might not make it if we don't get her out!"

"Stand back!" Cyborg shouted as he blasted the wooden door down with his sonic cannon. Smoke evaporated from the wood and they all charged inside the room. I struggled to keep up with my stubby legs but I was able to see what was happening inside.

And then all the sudden, several of Slade's minions attacked at once.