Chapter 2: Path to Freedom

Raven's P.O.V

Bright neon lights flashed throughout the entire dark building. Music boomed through the huge speakers, while hundreds of bodies moved senselessly to the beat. The dance floor lit up with vivid flares of color, and a mix of excitement and alcohol hung in the thick air. Raven took all this in while standing in the shadowy corner of one of the biggest nightclubs in Jump City, Royals.

"Oh, Azar, why am I here?" she murmured. Raven, however, already knew the answer to this question. Royals had always sparked an interest in Raven. Whenever on a nightly patrol with the team, the club's liveliness managed to captivate her attention, if even for the slightest of seconds. Everyone entering always had a smile upon their face and their auras buzzed with energy. That night curiosity finally drove Raven to Royals, along with the glimmer of hope to stop thinking about Robin. But loneliness throbbed in her heart as she realized everyone there had a friend to dance with.

"I should have never came here," Raven thought. Walking towards the exit, she squeezed through the maze of people. As she was closing in on the door to freedom, someone slammed into her. Caught off guard, Raven stumbled backwards barely maintaining her balance. She looked up to see a girl hardly able to stand on her own two feet glaring at her.

"Watch it, you freak," the girl sputtered. Raven almost recoiled at the smell of the alcohol on her breath.

"Technically you bumped into me," Raven pointed out.

"I didn't ask you to reply, freak," she hissed.

"I would refrain from calling me a freak if I were you," Raven warned, a tiny black ball of energy sparking in her hand. The girl threw out a fist towards Raven's face. Just as Raven was about to block the fist, a hand clamped down on the drunken girl's wrist. Raven turned to see a short, dark skinned girl staring daggers at Raven's challenger.

"Is there a problem here?" the girl questioned.

"Get your hand off me," the drunk girl slightly tugged at the unrelenting hand.

"Sure thing sweetheart," Raven's new found ally yanked down on the girl's arm causing her to careen forward onto the floor.

"Maybe if you weren't so drunk off you're a** you could keep your balance," the girl laughed. Raven was surprised the girl went out of her way to lend a hand.

"Thank you," Raven said. She turned to continue her way out.

"Don't tell me you're leaving because of this not-so-hot mess," the girl called. Before Raven could reply, the girl clutched her hand and led her to the bar. Raven and the brazen girl sat down on the comfy, soft leather chairs and swiveled towards each other. Raven couldn't believe how kind this girl was.

"I'm Aria," she introduced herself.

"Couldn't you have gotten kicked out for pulling her like that?" Raven asked.

"I highly doubt that, not when my brother is the DJ," Aria replied, gesturing towards where the turntable was located. Raven's eyes widened slightly when her eyes followed to where Aria's gesture had gone. The young boy she saw had gorgeous, fulvous brown eyes almost obscured by his shaggy blond hair. But it was the fact he was white and Aria clearly wasn't is that threw Raven off.

"It's a long story," Aria explained noticing her surprise.

"Oh, I'm Rae by the way," Raven said, careful not to disclose her true identity.

"It's nice to meet you, Rae," Aria smiled. Raven relaxed as she began to feel comfortable around the cheery girl.

"So what brings you here to Royals?" Aria queried.

"Interest, I guess," Raven replied.

"Interest?" Aria repeated, raising her eyebrows.

"Well, I've never really done this type of thing before. I guess I just wanted to feel the excitement," Raven explained.

"Well then, Rae, I guess you came to the right place and met the right girl," Aria laughed.

"Is my sister giving you any trouble?" a new voice piped up. Raven glanced to the side and was faced with the DJ himself and his great looks.

"And this Rae, is my crappy brother Hale himself," teased Aria.

"Well Aria's amazing brother Hale says it's nice to meet you," Hale said, smiling.

"H-hi," Raven replied tentatively.

"Hale!" a voice boomed.

"That is my cue to leave. Sorry for the short introduction, Rae," he grinned. Raven managed to give him a short nod back in silent reply as she watched him leave, a little surprised and dazed by the immediate feeling she had towards him. Whether it be the auras from everyone else in the room affecting her or her own emotions coming out in full force at least, she wouldn't get the chance to decide as a new song blasted through the speakers.

"Ooh, I love this song!" squealed Aria. She dragged Raven onto the dance floor before she could protest. Raven stood there awkwardly, unsure of what to do. Everyone around her was dancing in sync with the music. She closed her eyes and took a breath, and slowly the pounding music began to consume her and she let herself go. The vibrations felt like they were throbbing inside her as the beat pulsed. Raven became one of those dancing senseless people. Just for a few minutes, she felt invincible. When the song ended all Raven could do was smile.

"Come on, I need to go to the bathroom to fix my hair," Aria spoke. Raven followed her into the bathroom, a small flash of pain pulsated in her head from the bright lights. They stopped in front of the huge mirror once inside and it was then she noticed Aria's hair. Seal brown hair with burgundy highlights fell in waves down Aria's back. Raven observed as her new friend "fixed" her hair. Aria used her slender fingers to scrunch up her mane before vigorously flipping her head side-to-side.

"Aren't you just messing up your hair?" Raven inquired.

"No I'm just adding extra oomph," she rationalized. Raven subconsciously touched her now long hair which was in a high ponytail.

"Rae, I have a problem with you," Aria went on. "You have the perfect hourglass shape, which frankly most women would kill to have, yet you're not doing anything with it by wearing those ragtag clothes." Raven glanced down at her civilian clothes. She had on a loose fitting black t-shirt and dark blue baggy jeans.

"I really don't have much besides this," Raven admitted. Aria's eyes widened in shock and her mouth dropped open.

"Oh dear lord, that should be a crime," Aria gasped. "That's it, we're taking you shopping tomorrow."

"Umm, I don't..."Raven began.

"No ifs, buts, maybes, or whatever about it," Aria interrupted. We are getting you a decent wardrobe. Okay?

"Okay," Raven agreed. She glanced down at the watch on her wrist.

"Crap it's two in the morning, I need to get home," Raven thought.

"Oh, it's late, I should be going," Raven announced. "I'll meet you at the Greenbrier mall tomorrow at three outside the food court."

"Alright, if you're not there I will hunt you down," Aria threatened. Raven, for the first time in her 21 years, actually looked forward to shopping.