So here's the last two chapters. Sorry about the long wait but I still hope you enjoy the final pages of Never Again.

I do not own Teen Titans

Chapter 10 (Unexpected Results)

The house seemed so empty when Raven left; to the point where it felt as if even the building itself was waiting for something to happen. Morning sounds from the neighborhood echoed throughout the rooms, amplified by the broken window.

Cars drove by and birds sang in the trees, it was almost peaceful. Aside from the gaping hole and moved furniture, it seemed to be just a normal morning. Stepping carefully over the glass overlaid floor, Kori minded the chairs and tables that were pushed aside in her earlier panic.

"I wish I did not worry so much." She muttered to herself. "To think that Raven's house is out of sorts just because I was afraid of bad memories. Raven's right, it's probably nothing. She wouldn't have left if it was something to worry about. Probably some neighborhood kids…"

She considered looking for a broom to sweep up the glass but that would disrupt any evidence and Richard had specifically told her not to do that. He would come and investigate but that would require the crime scene to remain a crime scene.

Kori looked out the window again and frowned. There still weren't any police cars outside the house and she had called three hours ago. Where were they? Maybe it was bad traffic? Perhaps a robbery or something else that seemed to be more important?

Whatever it was, all this waiting was annoying. Richard should have been here by now!

Wandering around the house, she called for Silky. The dog had been shut in another room while they were waiting and she wanted his company. With the wind blowing through the open gash in the window, it made her feel like something was watching her. The noise creaked from the broken wood and the sounds did not seem so normal anymore. It was becoming kind of creepy.

The sun had barely risen when she went into the next room. Holding her drooling mutt tightly, Kori curled up on an old loveseat and closed her eyes. The dog's warm body covered her like a blanket and his soft breathing was luring her to sleep.

The wind and noises did not seem so loud in Raven's room with the door shut. She could almost forget what had happened. Besides…she was just so tired.

Being woken up early did little to help and while she really wanted to resume her vigil, her body had other ideas. As she began to nod off, she wondered why she had been mad at Raven in the first place. Maybe her old boyfriend wasn't coming back. It was an unrealistic thought anyway.

Being far from her old home, he couldn't have known where she was hiding. Plus, many days had passed and he was still just a memory. Maybe she was becoming paranoid.

Minutes ticked by as she slept soundly. So soundly, that it wasn't until she could feel something very sharp prickling her back that she opened her eyes and moved away reflexively. It was cold and it dug into her skin painfully that when she glanced up, she let out a shrill scream in fear.

It was him. He had actually returned and this time, he looked angry.

Her admirer was not the man she remembered. This man really looked like Malchior Draco. He was rougher and hints of boyish charm had all but faded. He looked thinner and his face was not unlike that of skull, with blue-grey eyes peering out from a mop of hair. He really looked insane.

Frozen with shock and fear, Kori stared at him and listened to Silky's excessive barking and growling. Malchior was gesturing with his hands to move and was becoming angry when she wasn't responding. Finally shoving the metal point just between her shoulder blades, Kori flinched in pain as she was forced to move away from the comfortable little room.

Kori moved faster and felt her heart beat quicken every time she could sense his presence. Why it quickened, she wasn't sure but there was still a deep rooted fear. He had returned, her admirer had returned and it seemed he was there to kill her.

"Go into the living room little Kori." Malchior's low voice whispered. "You're going to stay there until your friends get back. I think it's time we had a little reunion, don't you think? There's so much to catch up on. I bet Rachel never told you what happened between us."

Kori did as she was told and sat facing the broken window; Malchior was in front of her and was eyeing her curiously. "She actually didn't tell you? I'm surprised but then again, Rachel has always been a private person but really, being an accomplice to attempted murder does that."

"You're lying Malchior." Kori accused. "You always lie. Raven would never kill anyone. She might have been troubled when we were growing up but she would never try to kill someone!"

"Oh, but I'm not lying." Malchior grinned. "She had so much anger towards her father that we actually planned to murder him together. I bought the gun and she was going to shoot the man but alas, she was too much of a coward to finish the job. Your friend is not innocent, Kori."

"Maybe not innocent, but I'm certainly not guilty." Raven's voice broke into the room.

The young woman had just come through the doorway, car keys still in hand and she stared at the two with a deadpanned expression on her face. Her eyes narrowed when she looked at Malchior's bewildered expression.

"It's good to see you again Mal. It's been what? Three years since we last saw each other? It's amazing how much time has flown."

Malchior grinned widely. "Oh, this is too good! You've finally come to join the party Rachel! I even have another knife with your name on it. A much more painful way to die, don't you think? I tried guns but they are much too quick for my liking. I want to see your expression as you die."

Raven shrugged indifferently.

"I don't know, quick and painless has always been my style. I avoided you didn't I? Moving to Jump City and away from Gotham was a quick and painless way to avoid the memories but you…you've always were the brash and brutal type, weren't you?"

"Don't you know it!" Malchior said "I haven't forgotten what you did to me. Telling the police that I was behind the whole thing, cost me all those years in jail but you…you remained free."

Raven glanced at Kori before she looked down. Shoving her hands into her pockets, she sighed.

"I was never free…not really. I had to pay my dues and it was hard coming to terms with my past. It cost me my home, my family and almost…my friends. I almost lost my best friend because I was too busy being afraid of you. I'm not afraid anymore Malchior."

By now the man had forgotten Kori and was looking straight at her. Raven slowly moved away from him, eying Malchior coldly and watching his fingers twitch around the knife. It was already spotted with blood. Her breath caught in her throat but she forced herself to stay calm.

"Just for the record…" Raven began. "Were you the one who harmed Kori and destroyed my house? It certainly doesn't feel like a coincidence, especially if you're looking for…revenge."

Malchior grinned proudly. "So, you've finally noticed! Of course I did! I've been watching this house for days. Ever since Kori stumbled onto your front porch I've been waiting and watching. It was almost too easy to scare you. You've become a lot more timid Rachel."

Raven grinned evilly. "But not timid enough! I knew you would eventually come for me but I have something you never had."

She brought her hands out of her pockets and smirked as she revealed a small recording device. Brandishing it in front of his face, he tried to reach for it as she quickly backed away and hid it again inside her blue jacket. "I have a plan. You're move Malchior."

Furious, the pale man bounded forward with his knife in hand. Attempting to stab her, Raven quickly got out of the way and was surprised to see a blur of a body rush by her and throw Malchior to the ground. It was very quick but Gar, who had come from nowhere was pinning the man down in a fit of rage.

"Don't you dare hurt her!" He growled angrily. "You will never hurt her again!"

By now more people had entered the house. Commissioner Gordon, Detective Richard Grayson, Victor Stone and a few others were coming in. A few reporters were hanging about but one or two officers were in charge of keeping them away.

Richard didn't waste any time in handcuffing Malchior. The other man struggled against his restraints but it was hardly effective. Raven and Kori watched in dumbfounded silence before looking at each other in bemusement.

"So…it was a trap." Kori said finally. "Did you use me as bait? Why? Why did he say you almost killed someone? You said you were neither innocent nor guilty? What does that mean?"

By now Kori was growing angry. "Did you set me up Raven? Was that why you left, to leave me defenseless for Malchior to find me?"

Raven did not answer. Closing her eyes, a small tear fell down her cheeks and she slumped down to the ground. Holding her arms to her chest, she finally let out a small sob. It wasn't a lot but it was obvious she had been holding this in for a while. Finally, she looked up at Kori.

"I'm sorry." She said quietly. "I'm so…so sorry."