Chapter 13

I laughed as I tortured Raven. With my knife, I cut big gashes in several parts of her body. That bitch must be punished for not taking advantage of something so rare and valuable. Love.

I whispered in her ear, "Never take love for granted. Little Garfield loves you and you refuse to see it, you lead him on, and then rebuke him, you little whore."

Raven replied angrily, "I love Beast Boy, so you've got nothing."

What? Did I miscalculate? Does she truly love him? No. She's just trying to trick me. And to think she almost managed to do so. She's a clever one.

I stabbed her right over her elbow, which, according to some research I did, is a very sensitive place. She howled out of pure agony. I grinned. The fact that she never screamed was beginning to irritate me.

Then, everything went wrong.

The little green one yelled out of hatred and anger. Seeing the woman he loved in so much pain must have drove him mad because, in a matter of seconds, he turned into a horrible beast. He easily broke the chains that bound him and instantly attacked me.

I panicked and muttered an incantation that sent the monster flying. Unfortunately, the animal flew straight to the robot man and set him free as well. Just my luck.

I needed to take control of this situation. I quickly ignored my captive on the torture table and turned my all attention to the robot and the green man that had managed to escape. Idiotically, I completely forgot that if I wasn't focusing my powers on Raven, the spell I casted on her to make sure she can't use her powers would break and she would regain all her strength.

The girl stood up and cast a spell that set the rest of her friends free, "Now," she smirked, "Let's have some fun."

The group began to attack me.

I stayed on the defensive for most of the fight since I could never find an opening to attack. There were too many. I knew if I were to keep this up, eventually, they would manage to get the best of me.

"NO! This wasn't supposed to happen," I thought. "I must end this quickly."

I automatically switched into an offensive position and began fighting with deadlier attacks. Sadly, I couldn't do damage to any of them because they were being protected by Raven's shield.

"I need to take her out…" I thought.

I threw a hex that sent Raven flying into a wall. I smiled as I watched the shield vanish before my eyes.

As a counter attack, Raven sent a piece of cinderblock hurling towards me, which I could easily avoid.

I was going to win.

Then, I noticed it. A green object fell out of Raven's pocket. It was a clover. A four leafs clover.

Memories flew into my head: The time my dad cheered me up after school. The time my mom and I went on a search for four leafs clovers. The time Carla and I first became friends. And most importantly, the time when Aiden first said, "I love you."

I was no longer cruel and evil. I was no longer Mackenna.

I am free. I am the optimistic girl that only wanted love even though she never knew she did. I am Malerie.

All of a sudden, I felt a stab at my chest. It was the cinderblock Raven hurled out of retaliation. It managed to hit me when I wasn't paying attention.

I collapsed on the ground but I felt no pain. I was in shock.

Moments later, Raven ran to my side, "She's not dead!" She said to the green one, "I can still heal her!"

How could she be so kind to me after all I've done to her and my friends?

"Don't bother." I said, "I'm already dying."

"Don't talk!" She insisted. "You'll only make it worse, Malerie."

Malerie… It has been a while since anyone has called me that…

"I've got a tumour. I'm going to die anyways so let me talk… I want to thank you."

"Thank me for what?" She seemed confused.

I smiled, "For freeing me from the evil that I was. For freeing me from Mackenna." I began having problems breathing. "And for knowing my story, letting me die as Malerie… Thank you."

I could see the young girl crying. She reminded me of me. I squeezed her hand trying to comfort her.

"Hello, Malerie. I've missed you." I turned my head and saw Aiden, standing there with his ridiculous grin.

I knew I was hallucinating from all the blood I lost but I didn't care.

I shook my head, "I'm not afraid of death Aiden; I'll go by myself even if it's painful. I'll always carry on the dream we had together. Being with you was so wonderful, the only good thing that had ever happened to me. Thank you."

I turned my face to Raven once more and smiled. I'm sorry, Raven.

I looked at the ceiling with tears in my eyes.

I closed my eyes and I began hearing everyone's laughing voices.

"Malerie! We've been waiting for you!"

All of a sudden, I saw everyone I've ever loved, Mom, Dad, Carla, Aiden, all of them were waiting for me with their hands held out, welcoming me. I'm not afraid anymore. I'll show them that I can make the dream called happiness come true. You, Raven, you taught me this.

Thank you, Raven.

Thank you for everything.