A/N: Sorry for the [very] late update. I've been especially busy and suffered some writer's block. The good news is, I think I've finally decided the direction I want to take this story, which is why this chapter was so easy for me to write. To be honest, I'm not entirely proud, the characters were slightly off-ch

Chapter 4: Windows

"Monsters are real, and ghosts are real, too.
They live inside us, and sometimes they win."

-Stephen King

Raven reclined against the arm of the old couch, her ankle, now tightly bandaged, was resting on a pillow. Next to her was a glass of lemonade, and a book that she had already read twice. She would've asked for another novel to read, but doing such would call attention to Red X, whom she had no desire to speak to.

In some ways, if she closed her eyes, the place seemed like Titans Tower. The TV was loud and blaring, reminding her of Beast Boy. The greasy smell of French fries and the myriad of aromas coming from the kitchen could be mistaken for Cyborg's cooking. And if she tried really hard, she could pretend Robin and Starfire were dancing to the music playing on the radio.

But no matter how desperately she wanted to be back at home, it wasn't a possibility. Her purple eyes began to water as she stared out the large window. In the distance, just over the trees, she could see her home.

Robin was probably pacing the floors anxiously, waiting for her to return. Or maybe he was shuffling through his files, though Raven guessed he probably did that several times already. Starfire was undoubtedly near Robin, maybe crying for Raven, maybe comforting Robin, most likely doing both. Cyborg was probably in his bedroom, too tired for video games; too despondent to do anything but lie in bed thinking. Beast Boy. Beast Boy was harder to figure out, especially since Terra returned. Was he mourning for her like the rest of them? Or was he out on a date? Raven liked to think the green shape shifter had the decency to do the former.

"You miss them?"

The question surprised Raven. Not because she was unaware of Red X's presence (he had been standing at the doorway for a good five minutes), but because she didn't believe he actually cared.

"Clearly."

There was a long pause; leading Raven to believe the thief had left the premises.

"You know I can't take you back."

Gritting her teeth, Raven balled her fists. She had already come to that conclusion the minute she woke up in his wretched home. It would take somebody truly imbecilic to think otherwise.

"But it doesn't mean you have to be such a downer about it."

The whole day, Raven had managed to ignore every snide comment that escaped the thief's mouth. She was used to moronic remarks, having spent a lot of her time with Beast Boy. But there was something about Red X, something that she was not accustomed to, that bothered her to such an extent that she could no longer contain her hatred for him.

Raven stood up, almost slipping due to her ankle, but she was standing nonetheless. Her fingers gripped the side of the couch and she jumped over it, stumbling on the landing. Only a few inches from Red X, her hand reached for his neck, her fingernails clenched into the skin, probably drawing blood. But Raven didn't care.

Her eyes were glowing red, and her teeth were jagged. The voice that escaped her was anything but human.

"You think you can tell me what to do?"

Something tugged inside Raven, and the face she had worn just moments ago was replaced. All her emotions dissipated leaving only one left. Her size doubled so she was looking down at her victim now. Victim. Raven's mouth twitched into a crooked devilish smile.

"What's the matter? Afraid?"

Raven could only assume so. The mask covering Red X's face prevented her from seeing his expressions. He was like a doll. Emotionless. Not alive. Not able to feel the pain. She could do anything to him and it wouldn't matter. The same plastered expression worn on his face was permanent.

Behind the mask, his eyes were probably frightened. His mouth was probably agape from shock. His heart rate probably doubled. The noises his throat made indicated troubled breathing.

But his mask, the mask displayed nothing. Blank.

"Raven," Red X gasped, his hand grabbed onto her arm, trying to pry off the hand grasping his throat.

No avail. Raven wouldn't let go.

"You're dead to me," Raven spat, clutching more until…

Dead. Kill. Demon. Hell. Trigon.

Her head hurt, and she screamed out in terror and in agony. A memory she had pushed away clawed back into her mind, splitting it open. Her vision became black, then white. Then, the room was gone and Red X was gone. Raven turned to her right and her sight refocused. There, on the steps of Temple Azarath lay her body, small and resting, each breath causing her chest to rise and fall in a comfortable rhythm.

Her mother was next to her, Arella, beautiful as always. She softly patted Raven's hair, stroking it until the disciples appeared before them.

"She cannot stay," One of them announced, in a monotonous manner.

"That child is a demon, she must leave immediately, or there will be no hope for Azarath," Another added.

"Do you remember what happened to Juris?" Someone else said.

The disciples all nodded in solemn understanding and agreement.

Arella stood up, calm and collected, her fingers leaving Raven's hair.

"She will be brought under Azar's teachings, no harm will come to Azarath."

"Remember the prophecy, Arella, it is only a matter of time."

Raven's smile faltered, her eyes widened, turning to their regular purplish hue. Letting go of Red X, both entities fell to the floor. Raven gasped, her hair falling in front of her face. Across from her, she could hear unsteady breathing.

"What's going on?" Red X choked out. His voice was raspy and strained.

Raven didn't answer. She couldn't answer. What was going on? She couldn't remember the last time her emotions controlled her. She couldn't remember the last time she was so terribly upset or terrified that such a power unleashed from her, almost killing a living being.

Killing. Her mind focused on that one thought. She had almost killed Red X. She had almost killed. Her head ached, and the voices of the Azarathians invaded her mind yet again.

"She is a curse."

"A demon child."

"She cannot stay here."

Tears streamed down Raven's pale face. She was a monster. They were right. They were always right. She was the devil's child, there was nothing but evil inside of her. How could she have convinced herself that something so destructive was no longer apart of her, when it was hiding under the surface the entire time, waiting for its chance to jump?

Her lip quivered. She almost done it, she had almost—

Turning her head, the hood fell onto her shoulders with a swish, revealing her lugubrious expression.

"Leave me alone," Raven whispered softly, no force behind her words. She turned away, expecting—hoping—he would go.

"Look-I," Red X began, running through words and phrases in his head. Despite his present mindset, his thoughts remained reflective of his past. Sympathy tempered his typical façade.

"Leave me alone," Raven repeated, stronger now, verging on anger.

Red X feared she would snap, and contemplated on whether to do what she suggested. But then again, he didn't take orders from anyone.

"I'm-"

"Leave me alone!" Raven shouted, her knees hit the ground and she dug her face into her hands. "Leave me alone."

Leaning down, Red X extended his hand, motioning towards her face, and touching it tentatively at first. Raven tilted her head up slightly in protest, her mouth moved opened slightly as if she were to say something. Expecting to be reprimanded, Red X prepared to move his hand back. But the scolding never occurred. Instead, Raven's jaw locked, and she gazed down dejectedly, accepting the aberrant action.

Before the moment could be ruined with awkwardness and questions, Red X quickly wiped the remaining tears sliding down her face, and withdrew his hand. He silently left the room.

Limping over, Raven returned to her position on the couch and closed her eyes, falling asleep in a matter of minutes.

The sky was dark, but a yellow light flooded into the room. Shivering twice from the draft, Raven sighed as she stared out into the open woods, longing to be home. A figured moved past her, and Raven felt a much needed blanket land on top of her body. Embracing the warm material, she snuggled underneath it. She listened closely as footsteps treaded towards the door and hinges squeaked as it was starting to close.

"Goodnight, Sunshine."

The door shut.