Here's this month's chapter. I'm sorry it's a month late. A combination of exams and writer's block slowed it down but I think it's progressing the way it should. Hope you all like it.
I do not own Teen Titans.
Chapter 6 (Sunrise and Secrets)
Despite how deep she had been sleeping, the shattering noise of broken glass woke Raven up with a start. Her heart was still beating frantically in her chest and for a second she almost expected to see the monster from her dreams, watching her with those cold gray eyes of his glowing in the darkness.
What did that dream even mean when it happened so many years ago? Had he tracked her down? Perhaps he was just waiting for the right moment for revenge. She wouldn't put it past him. For all the crazy stuff that man did, stalking would not be beneath him. Could it really be just a matter of time?
She hugged her blankets close to her chest and tried to take a calming breath. In and out...in and out. Determined to let the dream fade from her thoughts, Raven became better aware of her surroundings and realized that she could hardly see with the dim light surrounding her. The small lamp that was usually left on during the night had gone out while she had been sleeping.
'There is no logical reason to be afraid.' She told herself. It was just a dream, nothing more. Besides a little darkness won't hurt me.'
But without being completely aware of her surroundings, she still jumped at every slight sound. Whether it was a car rushing past on a distant highway or even the creak of the house settling...she felt eerily vulnerable. As she began to get out of bed, she heard some strange scraping noises rumbling throughout the house, along with a little dog's frantic barking.
Glancing at the clock and scowling irritably, Raven felt her patience being pushed to the limit. All she asked was for a little quiet so she could calm down a little from that nightmare. Instead, it was the crack of dawn and before she could even get her morning cup of tea, all heck was breaking loose in her house. Deciding to give Kori a piece of her mind, Raven threw on one of her evening robes and stomped towards the living room with a scowl upon her face.
But as Raven turned the corner into the living room, all of her angry thoughts were replaced with those of disbelief. Her once neat and organized room and been turned into a disaster area.
Tables and chairs had been turned over and pushed against the doorways and her old sofa was shoved against the wall blocking any access to and from the foyer. But what was most startling of all, was the remnants of her living room window scattered all over the place. Silky was yapping and running across the glass shards and wood fragments, while Kori stood in the corner of the room with a blanket around her shoulders.
Kori's eyes were wide with fear and she was shaking a little. She seemed so distant until Raven placed a gentle hand on the poor girl's shoulder. "Are you alright Kori?"
"Oh Raven...I was just sleeping and then...oh what are we going to do? Has he found me? What if he tries to kill me in my sleep! We have got to do something...we can't just stand here. We have to get away! We have to find someplace where he won't hurt us. I won't let you be harmed too! Then when we're gone, we'll call the police and get this all sorted out. I'm sure they will know what to do." Kori rambled. She paced back and forth anxiously, obviously becoming hysterical.
"Kori! I know you are frightened but please calm down." Raven said gently. "The best thing to do in this situation is to not panic."
Her friend pointed to the boulder in the middle of the living room. "But do you realize what this means?" Kori demanded. "That rock was only inches from my head! He must know where I am hiding or else your window would not have been bothered with. He must want revenge and it's all my fault. I was the one who rejected that man who told me he loved me. I was the one who refused to tell him anything about my personal life. If I had told him what he wanted to know, maybe he would not have followed me that night. Maybe he would not have beaten me until I hurt all over."
Raven's eyes widened as she listened to the story. "It wasn't your fault Kori. You did the right thing. If he had truly loved you, that man would not have attacked you over something as meaningless as rejection. All that matters now is that you are safe. I can easily get that window repaired, so please don't concern yourself over something so trivial. What makes me wonder is how you found your way here so soon after he attacked you. It was so dark that night, with the rain and everything."
Kori smiled sheepishly. "Well, when I heard my photo shoot was going to be done in your new town, I just had to take advantage of it. For the last two weeks I've been hoping to visit you and catch up but well, it didn't exactly go as I planned. When I had told Victor that I was here, he was so insistent that you and I make up, but to be honest I was afraid. I was afraid that you would hate me. You were so angry when you left that I wasn't sure if I was still your friend."
Raven looked away guiltily. "You really thought I hated you? I thought you hated me! Besides that fight was so many months ago."
"Months, days or years" Kori sighed sadly. "It makes no difference. But it's how you would say...water under the bridge now?"
Raven shrugged. "Consider it forgotten. Besides, we have bigger things to worry about...like that hole in my living room window and the person who caused it."
Kori nodded in agreement as she looked at the room with all of its chaos. "Before the police arrive can I call Richard? He should know what happened. If he hears it from another source he would probably worry himself to death! Besides, it's been awhile since he last called. Maybe he found a clue?"
"It wouldn't hurt." Raven agreed. "Besides, I want to think a little before all those people come into my house. I hardly got any sleep last night."
The girls carefully avoided the debris and headed into the dimly lit kitchen. Raven busied herself with making some herbal tea and set the teapot on the stove to warm up. "This always helps me think." She explained when Kori stared at her questioningly. "After you call Richard I want to make a few calls of my own. I just have a feeling it's going to get worse before it gets better."
Her friend nodded in understanding. Raven went to sit down on her chair and placed her hands under her chin. Her eyes were closed and she sighed heavily.
"Kori before you go, I need to ask you something. At some point did you ever recall telling Malchior where I had moved to? Be honest because this is serious."
"I...I don't think so." Kori stuttered. "I'm pretty sure I kept your promise because once we graduated, people seemed to drift away. I haven't talked with some of my closest friends in years much less your old boyfriend Mal. Last I heard from him, he was still looking for you. He was pretty upset you kept him out of the loop with your whole moving away. Why didn't you want him to know Raven?"
Raven looked away. "I...I just couldn't, okay? It happened a long time ago and besides, you wouldn't understand."
Kori gave her a confused look but nodded her head. "All right. I guess you'll tell me when you're ready."
The red head took the phone and wandered off, dialing the familiar numbers the detective gave her. Once she was gone Raven gave a sigh of relief. Some things were better off forgotten but what if that dream was a sign? She shivered at the memory, holding her mug of tea close to her chest. No matter what she did, she couldn't shake the ominous feeling that had secured itself in her chest. Whether she wanted to face it or not, it was time for action. It was time to stop running.