32 Productions Presents…

A HIVE Team Story

The HIVE Team In…

"A Tragic Loss"

Chapter Four

Jinx's Room?

Jinx sat up suddenly. What had happened? …how had she gotten into her room? Shaking her head, she got up and walked over to the door…wait. Jinx shook her head again, this time to try and dislodge whatever was causing this hallucination. Yet, when she looked again, the door was still gone.

Jinx: What's going on here…?

Voice: An excellent question.

It couldn't be. Jinx spun. Lying on her bed, stretched out and relaxing, was Raven. She drummed her fingers on the sheet, her face hidden under the hood.

Raven: Hello, Jinx. Welcome to your nightmares.

Jinx: How did you get in the tower?!

Raven: The tower?

Raven laughed, that horrible chilling sound.

Raven: What makes you think we're in the tower? Look at the wall. Where's the door, Jinx? Better yet…look out that window.

Raven gestured toward the window. Cautiously, Jinx edged to the window and peered out, wary of any tricks. What greeted her eyes froze her blood. The city was twisted. The water boiled, the sky changed colors, and night went to day and back again in seconds. It was madness…impossible…but what got her most of all was the huge screaming version of herself writhing far in the distance.

Jinx: Where am I?

Raven: I told you. Welcome to your nightmares.

Jinx shook her head.

Jinx: What did you do to me?

Raven: What did I do? I didn't do anything. YOU did.

Jinx: What are you babbling about? I didn't do anything.

Raven: Of course you didn't. Silly me. But now the question becomes, how do you get out of here, Jinx? Oh, I know. Maybe you should wait for your boyfriend to rescue you. He'll be around as soon as he stops being a greasy smear somewhere.

Jinx clenched her teeth in rage. It wasn't just that Sonic was being mocked. It was that it was RAVEN…the only Titan that Jinx had reason to hate…was doing the mocking. And she was so relaxed! Just lying there on the bed, looking at her nails, checking if they're all clean and what not…infuriating! Jinx fired a hex at her. Raven used her powers to throw one of Sonic's gifts into the path of the hex. As she watched in horror, the stuffed unicorn swelled up and popped like a balloon as the cotton expanded. Raven picked up a piece of it.

Raven: Oh look. It exploded. Now who does that remind me of?

Jinx: You sick little witch!

Jinx had had enough of Raven to last a life time. Jinx cast a much bigger hex, causing the bed to shoot its springs out. Raven yelped as they poked her flesh and she flew straight up, hissing in pain and anger. It didn't last as soon Raven shook her head and chuckled.

Raven: Goodness me. Have I stuck a nerve?

Jinx: I hate you…I've always hated you!

Raven dodged around the other curses and even when Jinx got fed up and leapt at her with a spinning kick, she dodged it. After a few more angry swipes, Jinx regained her composure. This was what Raven wanted. Raven lived to make others angry…to make them sad…to make them afraid. It was what gave her a reason wake up in the morning. Well, no dice. Jinx took a deep breath. She'd remain calm…she'd deny Raven the emotions she desired.

Raven: Out of curiosity, what bothers you more? The fact you let him die or the fact that you never got to tear his throat out with your teeth?

Jinx clenched her teeth a moment before realization of what was just said sunk in.

Jinx: Wh…what?

Raven: Did you think you hid it from me? I knew…I always knew. You're just like me. Why do you think I try so hard to corrupt you? The torture…stealing your boyfriend, our mocking discussions…all of that is me trying to get you to accept it.

It wasn't possible. Raven couldn't have known. Not even Jinx knew until she met her father!

Jinx: A…accept what?

Raven: That you're not human. That humans are beneath you. You know it to be true. You listen to their prattle day in, day out and wonder why you tolerate them. A good question…but not one you have to worry about anymore.

Before Jinx could ask what she meant, orbs the size of a child's fist began to circle around Raven. Raven plucked one out of the air and held it up. Jinx could plainly see Gizmo's screaming face inside.

Jinx: What have you done?

Raven: Hmm? Oh, just tiding up the place. Putting all the garbage where it belongs.

Smiling in what was a strangely reassuring manner, Raven began to toss the orb up and down like it was merely a baseball.

Raven: Don't look so horrified. As long as the ball is intact, your friend is fine. Furthermore the orbs are nigh unbreakable.

Raven pulled her arm back and hurled the orb against the wall. It shattered instantly. Raven scratched her head.

Raven: Or was it nigh impossible to not break? The translation was a bit iffy. Oh well. You still have the rest of your friends, right?

Raising her arms in a shrug, Raven made all the orbs smash into the ceiling. Jinx covered her ears as the pained screams of those she cared about the most filled the room. Just as quickly, everything went silent.

Raven: A-whoops. Well, that was entirely my fault.

Jinx: This can't be happening…

Raven: Can't it? Face it, Jinx. I've taken everything from you. You've got nothing left. Flamebird got the ball rolling, but I completed the deal. You've lost. I have everything, you've nothing. I have friends, a lover, and a heritage I'm proud of. What DO you still have?

Jinx held her head. What did she have? Everything was gone…and how was she going to explain this to Slade? Her life in the tower was over, just like everything else! What did she have? What did she have?! The answer cut through her brain like a hot knife.

Jinx: (whisper) Hate.

Raven: Hmm? What was that? I didn't quite hear you.

Jinx leapt at Raven, catching her off guard as she brought her fist directly into Raven's stomach.

Jinx: I said, HATE!

Coughing, Raven was then backhanded. She staggered, dazed. Wasting no time, Jinx attacked in a rage. Not magic used, no magic needed. Jinx had couldn't think of anything other then making Raven pay. Soon Raven lay on the floor, coughing. She chuckled.

Raven: Well…there go my ribs. W…well done, Jinx. Now finish the job.

Jinx froze. Finish the job…yes. Yes, she SHOULD finish it. End Raven's life like she had ended the lives of her friends. She pointed a finger at Raven and it began to glow. …end it. …end it. Jinx closed her eyes and shook her head, lowering her finger.

Jinx: No.

Raven: What?
Jinx: My friends would never approve of taking a life. I'll have my revenge…by dragging your worthless butt to jail.

Raven: B…but I…

Jinx frowned. Something was wrong…she caught a glimpse of something under Raven's hood. Something that shouldn't be there. Jinx knelt down and reached for the hood.

Raven: NO! Don't touch me!

Naturally Jinx ignored the outcry and pulled her hood down. Piercing eyes glared back at her, but not the red ones she expected. No, what stared back were a set of bright pink eyes with cat like pupils. It wasn't Raven at all. It was herself. Jinx drew back. Her clone bared large fangs at her.

Clone: Yeah, that's right. Fear me. Fear what you really are.
Jinx: So that's it…none of this was real at all.

Clone: Oh, I'm real. You know I am. I'm a part of you, Jinx.

Jinx shook her head.

Jinx: But my friends are fine…none of that happened…

Clone: But Sonic is still dead.

Jinx: …yeah. I know…and even though it hurts…I proved that I can fight through that pain. Through the pain of loss and still do what's right.

The clone hissed.

Clone: But you're still a freak! You still will one day turn on your friends! You know it!

Jinx: …maybe.

Jinx forced a smile, knowing it would make the other Jinx furious to see it.

Jinx: But I have a feeling they can take me.

Clone: Y…you…you…

The clone shrieked and burst into flames as the sun suddenly cut through the haze outside. Jinx backed up, startled. Looking outside, she saw that everything was as it should be. The sky was normal, the water a crisp blue, and the city stood proudly in the distance.

Sonic: You know, babe, usually I'd be upset to see you beat yourself up, but I think you did the right thing this time.

Jinx whirled around. Leaning against the wall was Sonic, smirking at her in that smart ass way. It was like a dream…well, a lot of it had been like a dream. In any case, she had to say something before she woke up.

Jinx: Sonic, I'm so sorry…I should have been there…

Sonic: Why?

The question caught her off guard.

Jinx: What do you mean, why? You were sick! You needed…

Sonic: We got sick all the time! Remember when Blackfire got the flu and kept sneezing black bolts from her nose? It took us forever to repair the damage to the carpet and walls.

Jinx laughed.

Jinx: And we had to buy a new couch.

Sonic: She was so sick she couldn't even fly, so when Kilowatt went on that rampage and started draining power plants, we had no choice but to leave her behind. And you know what? Nothing happened. By all accounts, I should have been fine. I WOULD have been fine. I chose not to be. I chose to fight rather then run away.

Jinx bit her lip.

Jinx: But why? Why would you do that?

Sonic: Because this is where we started Jinx. You and me. It holds too many memories. I couldn't do nothing. And to be fair, I REALLY didn't think I was going to blow up.

Jinx: …I never even got to say good bye.

Sonic: I'm here now, aren't I?

Jinx: You're not real…you can't be.

Sonic: Hmm…you're right. Well, we've got this bed here. Maybe you and I can take a moment to see how real I am.

Jinx: …I take it back. You're Sonic.

Jinx's tone was serious, but she couldn't stop the smile from spreading across her face. She wrapped her arms around him and he stroked her hair.

Sonic: C'mon…say it.

Jinx: Good bye, Sonic…

HIVE Tower: Med-lab

Jinx rolled in the bed she had been placed in.

Jinx: (muttering) I love you…

Mammoth: Uh…that's touching and all…but I'm kinda seeing somebody.

Jinx snapped awake like a bolt of lightning.

Jinx: GAH! I didn't mean you!

Mammoth: Dream?

Jinx blinked and looked around. Now that she was back in the real world, she immediately recalled downing that potion. It wasn't what she was expecting, but she had to admit…she felt much better. With a faint smile, Jinx shrugged.

Jinx: Something like that.

Mammoth: You feeling better? You had us all freaked when you just passed out like that.

Jinx: You know something, Mammoth? I am feeling better.

She would still miss Sonic…but at least now she knew he didn't blame her at all. Jinx knew now that everything was going to be alright…assuming they could find a replacement before the Titans made their move. Knowing them, when they figure out they had been beaten to the punch at killing one of them, at least three of them will be in a rage.

Cemetery

Raven folded her arms and glared at the tombstone in front of her. Shade stood behind her, wary of any angry out lashing she might do. Raven clenched her fists tightly.

Raven: Damn you…DAMN YOU! It was supposed to be me! I was the one who was supposed to bury you! Break your bones, tear your flesh, and shatter your spirit, those things were to be done by my hands! …Jinx was supposed to be broken by me.

Shade made a questioning grunt. Raven shrugged.

Raven: I don't know. I just feel…something about Jinx. A connection of sorts. It doesn't matter why. It's just how it is. Live with it. I do. Tsk. This is angering me beyond belief. There isn't even a corpse to taunt her with. Shade, carve over the tombstone. Be creative.

Sighing, Shade took his finger and used his claw on the stone. Raven said creative, but Shade had a simple message in mind.

Message: I'll see you soon. Raven.

Raven looked at it like an art critic, tilting her head and rubbing her chin. Finally she patted him on the head.

Raven: I like it. Let her know I've been on her precious Sonic's burial soil. Let her know I've tainted it. I like it very much. Good boy, Shade. Let's go home.

Shade eagerly followed Raven.

THE END