I swear I don't hate you. In fact, you're like friends, in an I've-never-met-you sort of way. So…hmm… Well, I don't hate you. But I seriously couldn't start writing this chapter—I had writer's block of death. Then all of a sudden the first part just came to me, and I got up early to type this up. I'm actually pretty happy with this chapter—but I guess I'm happy just to be getting a chapter up.

It's surprise how confusing it is to translate from the Titan's first names (which I use when I handwriting the chapters) and their super-names. So if I messed up and called anyone Garfield, Kori, Victor, or Richard, I'm sorry in advance. Which reminds me—did anyone watch that Smallville episode with Cyborg in it. Aww…I loved him! I'm not a super-huge fan of Smallville (unlike my sister, who's frighteningly obsessed), but that was a really good episode.

I just watched an episode of 'Without a Trace' with a husband and wife named James and Lucy. That's sort of creepy…but at least I'm not the only one who likes those names. One of the stray cats I take care of is named Lucy…and by the time I figured out he was a guy, the name had stuck.

DISCLAIMER—I don't own Teen Titans. I do have the 'Walk the Line' soundtrack downloaded on my iPod now, though that has nothing to do with this story. I just wanted to mention my love for Joaquin Phoenix, and Johnny Cash music.

Porphyria

Chapter Seven – Trapping

The field was marshy as ever, complete with sickening, squelching mud that practically swallowed feet. Rain fell in sheets from the turbulent sky, just as it had the last time Beast Boy stood here. In five months, nothing had changed—even the damp scent of the storm was identical. From the corner of his eye, Beast Boy spotted a few run down and rusted pieces of playground equipment, but his attention was focused on something else entirely.

"Back again? I can't say I'm surprised."

Slade was characteristically calm and collected, locking his icy gaze on Beast Boy's. The shape shifter's eyes narrowed and he bared his teeth in a snarl.

"Where's Raven?" he demanded. He moved to take a step forward, but faltered, an overwhelming fear of that shimmering sword holding him back.

Not even the slightest gesture could escape Slade, who laughed quietly, perhaps even to himself. "See how little it takes to control you--a blade, inanimate, powerless even on its own. I'm the one you should be afraid of, Beast Boy."

Without warning, not even a change of expression, Slade lunged, with that wretched sword high above his head. Beast Boy dove to right, but the sudden movement had caught him off guard—he rolled, but came away with a gash in his left arm, trailing from his shoulder down to his elbow. As he steadied himself again, Beast Boy did his best to stem the blood flow with his silver hand, carefully looking away from the rusty stain that was already seeping across his metallic fingers.

"Oh dear." Slade's normally impassive face now sported a grin. "We wouldn't want you loose the other one, would we?"

When he lunged again, Beast Boy was ready, diving forward now—he turned in time to watch as Slade wrenched his weapon from the grasping earth.

"Tell me, have you ever lain awake at night wondering—why you?" Slade stood stock-still, watching Beast Boy with keen interest. "You know by now that this is all about Raven—you're merely a pawn, yet I've taken so much from you, torn your life apart, made you doubt every decision you've ever made. Would you like an answer, Beast Boy?" He paused for effect grandly, watching his opponent's eyes. "I chose you, because I knew you were the weakest obstacle. None of the other Titans would have failed to protect Raven."

The words were a knife, digging into in his chest—Beast Boy launched himself at Slade. His movement was rash, impulsive, and exactly what Slade had been waiting for. All it took was an effortless shift of his hand. By the time Beast Boy realized what was about to happen, it was too late.

In instant later, Beast Boy found himself with Slade's sword thrust through his chest, the point protruding out his back, between his shoulder blades.

Everything faded. Slade must have released his grasp on the sword—before he knew it, Beast Boy was on his knees in the mud, gasping for a few final, shuddering breaths, and Slade was kneeling beside him.

"You brought this end upon yourself, Beast Boy," Slade said quietly. "Your own actions brought you here—brought about your ruin, just as they brought Raven's."

Beast Boy raised his head and looked with blurring eyes past the dilapidated playground—and there she was. Raven. Her face was hooded, but in his last moments he felt her sadness, regret, anger, pain—all of it his fault. All his fault. All his…

He suddenly snapped back to attention when he realized Slade was still talking.

"…not that you've got much time left. In fact, I'd have to say we've come to the end of your story, Beast Boy. Good-bye."

The last thing Beast Boy saw before everything fell to darkness was the ground, running with blood instead of rain—

…none of the other Titans would have failed…

Gasping, Beast Boy shot awake, miles away from that bloody field, safely in Titan's tower. Still, he switched on a light, and scanned himself quickly—no gash down his left arm, no gaping hole in his chest—just a racing heart and jittery nerves. It was a dream, only a dream…

But he wished he could say it had been the only dream—for the past three months, Raven had haunted him every time he slept, much as Terra had before Raven was taken. In the month since they'd taken on the Kove case, there'd been no leads concerning Raven's whereabouts. The only thing they'd received was the name of the ninth dead girl—Delia Brown.

Beast Boy was calming down by now—he climbed out of bed and dressed quickly and quietly. He tried not to think too much about what he was about to do—the last time he'd followed one of his dreams, Raven had been taken. This time, Beast Boy would go alone, and eliminate that option. No one would care if he was the only one hurt by his stupid actions—better him than one of the others.

Still, Beast Boy couldn't help but imagine his friends reactions as he slid open his window and leapt out into the cool night air, shifting to a green and silver hawk as he went. Cyborg would chew him out, Starfire would be hurt that she'd been kept in the dark, and Robin would be stern, angry that Beast Boy was letting his obsessions rule him. Then again, Robin always was a hypocrite. The only Titan who would have understood was Raven—Beast Boy was suddenly reminded of his purpose, and picked up the pace.

As Beast Boy flew over the ramshackle part of town, he was overwhelmed with memories he'd done his best to banish. He hadn't been here since the fight five months ago—he couldn't have expected the return to be easy. Now the field was in view, and he landed, tense from the moment his feet touched the ground.

His surroundings were eerily similar to those in the dream—a downpour had started just moments before, the earthy scent permeated the air, and his feet squelched in the mud as he walked. This time, however, he was alone. Or so he thought…

Suddenly something caught his attention from the corner of his eye, out past the run-down playground. It was standing in exactly the same spot Raven had in his dream, but this creature was as far from his friend as he could get. It was a writhing, ebony mass—not really discernable as anything, yet at the same time obviously terrible. And now it was advancing.

Beast Boy had walked into yet another trap.

00000000000000000

Lucy had woken up screaming again. It only took James a fraction of a second to reach her, comfort her, but it was enough for the feeling of loneliness to engulf her. Loneliness that she knew, somehow, wasn't her own.

James said that these dreams were simply a result of her sickness—she'd almost died, after all, and if it'd been violent enough to wipe her memory, then logically it could bring about nightmares as well. Once, Lucy had asked if they could be real memories trying to resurface themselves—maybe of the night her family had died—but James had been quick to dismiss that idea. Her memories were gone, he said. It was time to focus on making new ones.

Still, Lucy knew that boy from her dreams—but as hard as she tried, she couldn't place him. In fact—she didn't even know what he looked like, because in the dreams she felt, rather than saw him. There was a connection between them, Lucy knew it, and she'd just have to try harder if she was ever going to uncover the truth.

Now both Lucy and James were in the kitchen, she sitting patiently at the table as he made her a cup of coffee. Neither one managed to sleep after one of her dreams.

"Tabitha said she'd stop by this afternoon, remember?" James prompted, trying to lighten the dark mood that was quickly filling the walls of the mansion. "Didn't you say that you wanted her to take you to the fish pond, out in the woods?"

"I did." Lucy had met Tabitha, at least in her own mind, just a day or so after she'd first woken up. In reality, they'd been friends since grade school—she was apparently the only one besides James who had stuck around after she'd lost her memories. Lucy enjoyed Tabitha's visits—they were the only time James let her outside—but this dream had put a damper on her mood.

"Lucy…" James sighed. "It was just a dream. There's no need to get so worked up about it. Have you taken your medicine?"

Those stupid pills—Lucy hated them. She never felt clearheaded, except when they were wearing off. But the last time she'd brought that up, James had broken vase in anger—she'd taken the medicine just to settle him down, then, and hadn't argued since. In fact, James had been watching more closely, making sure her doses were at exact times. It was a pain, really, but much simpler than fighting back.

He set a coffee mug in front of her, along with one of those little orange pills. Lucy downed the medication quickly, before he got the chance to tell her to do so. In that way at least, things were still on her own terms.

"Good," James murmured. "See, I told you there's nothing to worry about."

Lucy nodded. James was right—don't worry. After all, Tabitha was coming over, and few things sounded more inviting than a trip to the fish pond.

TBC

Oops! Did I forget to italicize that dream sequence at the beginning? Silly me…

Okay, sorry, it's just too much fun to mess with your heads. And to put swords through Beast Boy's chest…I mean…to…okay, it's fun to impale him. I can't help it. At least I didn't impale him for real…yet…

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Thanks for reading, and I'll get on the next update as soon as I can!

Cop