Opening the Closet Door a Crack

by still too old for this

Requested to find a missing professor of anthropology, the Titans begin a descent into the darkness where dwell madness and evil. Mystery and horror await our intrepid heroes. As for survival, that remains to be seen.

28. Chapter 28

I do not own anything relating to the Teen Titans.

Opening the Closet Door a Crack – Chapter 28

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The T-Jet made its way over the frozen land of Antarctica, heading for points north. After several hours, the sky began to lighten and the titans saw the sun for the first time in over a week. Despite all that had happened, it was a welcome sight. Onward the jet flew, over desolate white plains, until at last the ocean was sighted. Banking towards the northwest, the T-Jet flew onward, all the while the onboard computer continued to calculate the possible position of the lost island where R'yleh was situated.

Much of the flight occurred in silence. Although the emotional release of leaving that frozen wasteland lifted their hearts, too much had happened. Too much loss, too much acrimony. Even with their newfound relationships, the recent past weighed heavily on them. And so, they flew in silence, awaiting the location of their final destination.

Finally, after several more hours, the computer finished its calculations. "Here it is, translated into latitude and longitude, 47° 9' latitude, 126° 43' longitude."

Raven checked the onboard maps. "Robin," she responded, "that's the middle of nowhere. There's no island there, there's not a speck of land for over a thousand miles in any direction."

"Hey bird brain, you sure you punched in the numbers right?" Beast Boy said with some derision.

Gritting his teeth, Robin replied, "Yes, jackass, I punched in the numbers right. And if you don't shut your mouth, I'll punch out your lights."

"As if you could! You couldn't…."

Raven interrupted, "Quiet, both of you! I swear to Azar, if you two don't knock it off, I really am going to send you to different dimensions. At a minimum, I'll remove BOTH your voices so I can get some quiet."

"Friends," Starfire interjected, "since legendary R'yleh is called sunken, wouldn't it make sense that no visible island be there? The city is probably under water."

After a moment, Robin replied, "Makes sense. We'll head for those coordinates and see what's there. If there's nothing visible, we can always head underneath to the ocean floor and see what's there."

And so they flew on. When they were within an hour or so of the coordinates, Raven began to feel an uneasiness within her. It was an odd feeling, as if there was a heavy disturbance nearby. Almost like the heaviness of the air before a thunderstorm, but less, obvious. More along the lines of a buildup of forces that are portentous in their character.

After this continued for several minutes, intensifying with every passing moment, she spoke. "Robin, there's something up ahead, something big. It's affecting all the magical currents within the area. I don't know if it's dangerous, but it's a major concentration of force."

"No, X'hal, please let it not be Great Cthulhu risen." Starfire looked pale. "Can you tell? Is it him?"

Raven paused before answering, considering, reading the auras. "Nooooo, I don't think so. From everything you've said, I would expect a malignancy underlying the forces on par with my father, if not more. There IS some, but not what I would have expected. It seem to be, almost quiet. Still, it almost feels like someone is conducting some tremendous ritual and is focusing, harnessing vast powers."

"We'll know in a few moments. The area should be in sight soon." Robin answered.

In an undertone, Beast Boy said to Raven, "Rae, will you be all right? These…feelings, they won't be too overwhelming?"

"Do we have any choice?" she gave the changeling a small smile, trying without words to reassure him that she would be fine and not to worry. "Gar, I know you've always worried about me. Even though I've never acknowledged it, I've always appreciated it, thank you." Then her voice became firmer, "BUT, I'm a titan just like you. I'm not about to shirk my responsibilities." Another small smile flew across her face, "I'll still match you, feat for feat, and come out on top."

"OOOOhhhh, you like to be on top. Now I know." Beast Boy gave a lecherous smirk. Raven suddenly began to blush.

In a harsh whisper, "That's not what I meant, you….you….ooooooooh." Raven's face set into a firm scowl. The changeling let out a laugh and hugged his love.

"It's always so much fun to tease you." Then his face turned serious, "Hope I'll always be able to do it. Rae," he paused, "this is the big one, isn't it? We've been able to handle everything up to now. But, this Cthulhu, Vic, everything….." the shapeshifter's head fell. "Can we do it?" He sounded almost ashamed.

Raven looked at the green teenager that she had finally admitted she loved. "Gar, look at your life. Look at everything you've overcome. How can you still doubt yourself? From what you've told me of your time before the titans, I can't believe everything you've gone through and survived. Why would you doubt yourself now?"

"Because I've failed so often." The darkness, the depression that always threatened the heart of the green hero showed itself. "So many have died that I wasn't able to save. Will I be able to do anything, will I show myself worthy of you?" And he looked at her with fear in his eyes, a fear of rejection.

A lifetime of hiding her emotions warred against her feelings. Raven answered the best she could, "You'll do what you always do, more than anyone, including YOU, expects. You'll surprise us all. You always have. You always will." The two fell into silence.

The T-Jet flew on.

Roughly half an hour later, Starfire let out a cry, "There, over there, I see something." The warrior princess was pointing to the northwest.

In the distance, there was an island that had no right to exist. Out of the sea, a great stone pillar rose, below it, from a distance, an island of mingled ooze, mud and weedy Cyclopean masonry emerged, the corpse city of R'yleh, built in the measureless eons beyond history by the vast, loathsome shapes that seeped down from the stars.

It was more than a mere mountaintop that protruded from the waters, an entire city had emerged. How far down and for how long the island had lain, no one could know. The energies, the power necessary to raise this malignant city from the ocean floor was almost incalculable. Yet it had been done. And now, now sunken R'yleh was no longer sunken, but exposed to the surface after millions of years of slumber.

Rather than attempt to land in the midst of that ruin of horror, Robin landed the T-Jet on the shore of the island. Parking the craft along the shore, the titans, in silence, for this land demanded silence, made their way to the shore. As befitting a land that had slumbered under the restless waves for eons, the sands were crawling with the remains of creatures that had not seen the light of day for millennium. Although all were dead, as was much of this horrid island, the sliminess, the sheer abhorrence of these creatures caused the titans to recoil in disgust. Walking inland was an exercise in delicacy as each step had to be carefully placed to avoid the foul remains of some protoplasmic corpse.

All the while, there was an underlying sound, a murmur, reminiscent of religious chanting, that pervaded the background noise of the land.

"Robin," asked Starfire, "should I fly ahead and scout out the area?" The princess had made the offer, as it was one of her regular duties, but it did not appear that she was eager to fulfill it.

After a moment, the boy wonder replied, "No, I don't think so. From what we're seeing here, I'm not sure it would be a good idea to split our team. Safety in numbers seems to be the order of the day."

And so, the titans marched on, making their way towards the great stone pillar that reached to the upmost reaches of the sky. And with every step, the background murmuring grew louder.

The titans passed monolithic towers, buildings of unimagined heights. All of which were covered in slime and ooze as the cleansing properties of the light and sun had not yet had opportunity to sterilize the remains of these undersea monstrosities. It took hours under the blazing tropic sun. The path to the giant pillar at the heart of the island was not a straight one. While any one of the titans could have moved quicker, the malignancy of the city cautioned against such a rash action. Even the most impulsive, hyperactive of the team, Beast Boy, was quiet, solemn, waiting for what lay ahead.

As they walked, the titans passed Cyclopean statues of beings unimaginable, concepts for which humanity had not yet even begun to formulate an idea. Great carven monoliths covered in green ooze that sent primordial chills down the spine of each human, or near human, of the party. Buildings for which the geometry was WRONG. Angles that were acute one moment, obtuse the next. Spheres that at one point extended to the horizon, then at the next were less than a fingertip. Cylindrical cones that suddenly had corners and edges. All of which distorted the senses and chilled the mind.

And everywhere, everywhere, hieroglyphs and bas-reliefs of beings that resembled some type of creature that could, at best, be described as a cross between a humanoid, a squid and a dragon. Scaly tentacles that emanated from every pore of the creature. Even that could not do it justice, as the stone effigies were weak attempts at capturing the majesty and the horror that was Great Cthulhu.

All the while, as the titans made their way inland, the oppressiveness of the land infected Raven. The sheer heaviness that came from whatever foulness lay ahead pressed down on her. Occasionally, she would stumble, eyes tightly closed, as she mastered herself and was able to resume her trek. Beast Boy, at those times, would hold her, guard her, and help her to her feet. Aware that what lay ahead was have, he would have taken the burden from her, he would spare her anything, everything, to keep her safe.

Although not as aware as her friend, Starfire too felt the oppressiveness of the surroundings. Knowing the true dangers that faced them, the warrior princess strode forward, if not calm, then resolute, accepting the task that lay before her.

And Robin, his thoughts were his own.

As the murmurings grew louder, more clear, the titans had traversed to the center of the island. Rising over one final ridge, the sounds became identifiable. The same phrase repeatedly intoned:

Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'yleh wgah'nagl fhtagn

Below them, in the clearing, lay a tremendous open courtyard. Titanic blocks circled the perimeter of the yard. On each block, save one, were either a statue of some hideous protoplasmic being or the remains of some ruined being. On the final block, nearer to the far end, was a figure laying recumbent.

At the far end of the yard, there was an immense stone carved stone door with a squid-dragon bas-relief. Around the edges was an ornate lintel, threshold and jambs. Given the disturbing geometry, the titans were unable to determine whether it was actually laying flat, like a trap door, or slant-wise, like an outside cellar-door.

In front of this monstrous door, between it and the titans, were the gathered members of the Esoteric Order of Dagon, the Deep Ones, hidden for eons under the sea, on desolate islands and shadowed Innsmouth. All awaiting this momentous time, when at last the celestial forces were properly aligned, and they could resurrect their abhorrent leader, their king, their priest who would usher in the return to glory of the Outer Gods.

Great Cthulhu.

In a whisper, Raven said, "There must be hundreds of them."

"Thousands" responded Beast Boy.

It was true. There were thousands. All standing still in the vast courtyard, arms raised, these frog-like humanoids, with their hairless heads, webbed hands and feet and bulbous, unblinking eyes filled the entire courtyard and beyond. All solemnly intoning their mantra:

Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'yleh wgah'nagl fhtagn

In his house at R'yleh, dead Cthulhu waits dreaming

"Azar, the eldritch concentration that they're generating. The focus, it's enough to raise this sunken city from the ocean floor." Raven was stunned at the sheer magnitude of the force that was being generated by the thousands of Deep Ones.

"Raven, is it enough to raise Great Cthulhu from the dead?" asked Starfire in a tremulous tone.

The purple haired sorceress nodded slowly. "This amount of mystical force could do almost anything. These are not normal human beings. They're magical, ancient creatures who can barely exist in our reality. Their forces are beyond imagining."

"Then, how do we stop it?" asked Beast Boy.

"Why would you want to stop it?" replied Robin.

The three titans looked at their leader in surprise. Robin had removed his mask to get a clearer view of the proceedings. His face alight with joyous rapture, bright blue eyes filled with madness.

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A bit of a short chapter, I'll admit. However, I've been waiting AGES to finish this chapter with that sentence. Next two chapters will also been somewhat shorter than usual, but I'll make it up to you with the finale. Yes, there are only three left. I know exactly what's going to happen (always did), just a matter of getting my mad, scattered thoughts onto paper. (OK, onto the computer, sue me, I'm old fashioned.)

I'm now up to 4100+ hits for the story. While this last chapter didn't get quite as many hits as the previous ones (only 50 vs. 70-100 for the prior four), I'm NOT complaining. It's quite a bump from the 20-30 I was getting at the beginning. To all of you who have joined me and are continuing to stay with me until the end, I am eternally grateful.

I am grateful as well for those of you who are kind enough to post a review of the chapters. I would write regardless, but your kindness is icing on the cake. Onward.

Ijpowers92 – My friend, I am extremely humbled by your posting of my story on TVTropes. To be included with such works as the Joker's Wild is beyond anything I could have expected. I am extremely grateful and hope that this work will justify your tribute.

ForceIsStrongWithThisOne – You know, my friend, you may have been the ONLY one to believe that BB & Raven never got past first base. If you will remember, it was Starfire who suggested that they chromatic couple completed the ritual. Raven never agreed (and I never stated). As you surmised, greater dangers lies ahead on this unholy island.

Kenzie – As you might have guessed from my reply to Force, no one said they actually enacted the Ritual. Given how reserved Raven is, I also would have been surprised if she did. But I wanted to leave it nebulous. Sometimes, the characters get away from me and go off on their own.

Novus Ordo Seclorum – Again, people (including you, my friend) read into the story what you want (hope?). Nowhere did I say they 'did it'. Only Starfire assumed. And as you can see from this chapter, the boy wonder has fallen. How many will remain at the end? Only I know.

Hawkgirl90 – THANK YOU. You were the first to point out the twist ending. I thought it an appropriate, nebulous end to the mountains arc. Did the antenna break of its own accord? Did Cyborg actually SEE something that drove him mad? How did the wall get repaired? These are the mountains of madness. There are more secrets there than mortal man could expect.

Malconvoker – Welcome to the story, glad you could join us. Sir, even if all you know is the titans from the series, that will suffice. My intent in the story was to introduce Lovecraft to the casual reader. Given that you already know of it from "Call of Cthulhu", you're several steps ahead. I'm happy you are enjoying the tale and hope the last few chapters don't disappoint. You are correct, NO ONE goes into the Mythos and emerges unscathed.

Deadly Sinner – I'm going to try to get the last three chapters over the next two weeks. Can't promise (beloved wife may have input on my time), but this has been ongoing for four months, it's time to wrap it up.

Soulseekerthe13th – Welcome to Robin's madness, next chapter, we'll see how far down it goes.

Until next time my friends, sleep well.