AN: Nothing new here, just cleaned up the chapter a bit.
Alienvspredator5-Jake is quite the little ninja isn't he. Well he's still got a few more things to learn, like running on water. Thanks for the review and enjoy the chapter.
Jake found himself in a darkened area, no idea how he arrived, no idea where he was. There were no defining characteristics, and no natural lighting of any sorts. There was a soft glow originating from nowhere in particular, just barely casting enough light for him to see there was nothing to see.
There was no feeling, no hot nor cold, not a sense of touch on his finger tips, no smells on the air, not even an echo to his voice. There was only one word to describe this "place", hollow. The world was hallow, devoid of all life.
He got up from his position on the ground and started walking to where he didn't know. Why, he didn't started walking. In this empty place there was no way to judge distance nor direction. Not even speed could be felt, when he ran he felt no air upon him not even a shift in his center of gravity.
This continued for awhile, aimless wandering until the silence was broken by a low whisper. The origin and content of the message were unclear but one thing was for certain. He was not as alone as he once thought. Every now and again he would feel eyes upon him, looking over his shoulder he would see nothing. He could almost hear faint whispers carried on the non-existent wind "Jake." They would repeat, over and over within his ears. They would grow louder and and fainter as time passed. Every time he would try to locate their origins they would cease, only to return once he started walking again.
After what seemed like an eternity of walking, Jake felt something behind him. The air grew colder, this was noticed as it was the first feeling he had felt while here. He spun around to find what was pursuing him. Once again he was met with nothingness. This time though he felt something there, the darkness was no longer the empty void that surrounded him. Now it was a veil, hiding a being within.
As the air chilled a light fog rolled in, though not obscuring anything directly, it added another layer of protection to his stalker.
His journey ended when a dull red glow in the distance appeared. At first it was a speck on the horizon. Then it bloomed into a sky dominanting aurora. It was encroaching on his position and no matter what he tried he couldn't find it in himself to look away. He stayed glued to that particular spot. Not even when when the red light engulfed him did he move.
Then movement caught his attention, a dark silhouette against the red mist. The figure harbored no interest in its surroundings, it merely walked straight and true to its target, Jake. Finally the figure emerged, and an all to familiar face showed through.
"Lieutenant, its been awhile hasn't it." Came the elder man walking into plain view.
Jake tried to speak, fight, run, anything but stand there but found himself once again frozen.
"Now Lieutenant, you know better than to fight it. Its no use really, the link between you and I grows stronger with each day. You'll not remain out of reach for long."
To say Jake was pissed was an understatement, he was out right furious. The hatred of an angry god burned behind his eyes. He lashed out against his restraints. Pushing the voices out of his mind. After relentless fighting he managed to turn his head and in shallow breaths managed to utter two words. "Fuck. You."
"You may still retain some fight, some illusion of hope. I'll tell you now there is no hope, you cannot fight what you can't understand. The Titans will fall, and you. You my dear Jake will be my instrument of destruction." Blood said circling him as predator would prey.
Jake was fighting tooth and nail to gain control back. After repeated attempts he drove back the grip Blood had on him.
He stood from the kneeling position he had been forced into. He stood and faced Blood, took him by his neck and spoke. "I will not fall, not again. YOU WILL NOT control me any longer. This is my mind, my body."
Blood laughed, his laughter grew in volume as he faded from existence. His voice still present, he spoke though he was no longer there. "No Jake, that is where you are wrong, this is not your mind. This is your nightmare.
These words echoing throughout the emptyness, the mist receded revealing not the void once there, but asphalt roads. Steel and glass, brick and moarter, buildings of all shapes and sizes took shape. Through it all, not a single soul was seen. He wandered and as the mist completely disappeared his suspicions were confirmed as a T shaped towet took shape in the distance. The sky remained a dull red hue, the air still cold, still carrying the voice of Blood to his ears.
"This is what you will accomplish in due time. You will rise to power not seen since the days when gods roamed the Earth, and you shall serve Blood." The voice still rang through his head.
He continued onward to the tower, for what he didn't know. But that never stopped him before.
Back in the infirmary, Robin burst through the door, while Cyborg finished restraining Jake. "What the hell's going on?" He demanded.
Cyborg pulled a syringe of an unnamed clear fluid and injected Jake with it. His writhing body slowed until he was once again still. "I don't know man, one minute he's just lying there next his beta waves went off the charts, and he was thrashing around."
"Any idea whats going on?" Robin asked looking over the charts, and being severely confused by all the scribbled lines on the paper.
The only comparison that remotely matches is Brother Blood's indoctrination. But he's not anywhere near here." Cyborg said whilst bringing the comparison up on the computer.
Before Robin even laid eyes on the computer screen he had flipped open his comm and was dialing Raven. "Raven, get to the infirmary. Just do it, I'll explain when you get here."
Raven was just enjoying tea in the vacated common room, when her comm when off. "What does he want now?" She asked out loud.
The orders she received were more than vague and she more than annoyed at having her down time interrupted by the spikey haired teen. She walked toward the infirmary intent on giving the boy a peice of her mind.
When she arrived she was greeted with the sight of her newest friend strapped to a bed, and Cyborg setting up some unknown medical equipment. "Whats going on here." She demanded in much the same way as Robin had earlier. She'd never admit it to anyone but seeing Jake there in that condition actually had her worried.
"That's what your here for." Said Robin from in front of his computer. "Cy thinks Blood may have something to do with it, I need you to open a link with Jake like before."
"What? Never mind. Why do you need me to do this?" She asked looking at Jake.
"He's unresponsive to all outside stimuli, we need a picture of what happening inside." He said tapping his fingers on his temple to emphasize his point.
"Alright, I'll see what I can do."
Raven settled in beside Jake's bed within a matter of seconds she was in her meditative stance and uttering her mantra. "Azarath Metrion Zinthos" Her eyes flashed a brilliant white as she reopened the link she had used before.
She appeared in a barren city, sky a deep blood red and a voice carried on the wind, "Well if it isn't your savior." The voice spoke. Then she saw Jake round a corner and walk toward her. She wasn't shure but he seemed to wince with each step he took. "Raven, how nice of you to join us." The unknown voice spoke again.
Jake walked up to her, "What are you doing here?" He asked, voice betraying just how tired he was and just much pain he was in.
She looked at the person before her and inwardly cringed at the state he was in. "You were in a coma, They sent me to check on you."
He ran a hand through his short hair, "Damn it. Raven? I'm...I'm in trouble here. Every second it gets harder to resist. His voice keeps getting louder, and..." he collapsed to his knees. "I don't know how much longer I can fight it."
Raven kneeled down to his level, "You don't have to fight alone." Raven got up and extended her hand.
Jake took the offered hand and let Raven help him up. Keeping his hand in a firm grasp Raven one more uttered her mantra. "Azarath Metrion Zinthos" Her eyes glowed black and a dark ring formed around them. The world around them faded from view as the ring grew in diameter and height. Soon they were engulfed in a familiar darkness. Raven's soul-self, once dark and unnerving to Jake, was strangely comforting to him. A cool embrace surrounding him promising a return home.
Jake awoke in a hospital bed, though it wasn't the most comfortable being that something was cutting off circulation to his hands and feet. Trying to move amy limb resulted in in a half hearted attempt to pull to limb off. Looking down at his right arm he saw it was tied to the bed with two inch leather belts. Only one thought came to mind and this thought was spoken aloud, "The fuck?"