*Hi! Please forgive me for being gone for so long! I was dealing with a few things, but I think I have everything under control now! I'm sorry this isn't very long, but I promise, there's more to come.*
*For Joel*
Torment
Rain began to pelt the streets of Gotham City. Raven's eyes were dull as she stared at the ceiling. Since her room was white on white, her mind started to fill the "empty space".
She saw disturbing images and would often wail and grind her teeth. She heard voices that would constantly mock her.
Security no longer cared if she screamed. Many of the guards, Henry especially, loved the sound of her screams. She was ignored, just like the rest of the patients.
She cradled herself. Since she had been misbehaving, the staff took her privileges away. She was no longer allowed to shower, change her clothes, or even use the bathroom. Instead, she was given a metal bucket and forced to defecate in it.
She was also not allowed to eat in the cafeteria anymore. Instead, Henry brought her meals which often consisted of leftovers from the other patients. Raven had tried to starve herself, but was force-fed in the end and shocked afterwards.
There was no way to escape.
The sound of the door opening made Raven jerk her head up. She had been crying in a fetal position in the corner. She had expected Henry but was surprised to see a woman.
Her hair was blonde and tied back in a ponytail. Her blue eyes met Raven's.
Raven felt herself let her guard down, knowing she was a woman.
"Miss Raven?" The woman asked gently.
Raven cleared her throat. "W-what?"
The blonde woman slowly closed the gap between them. She knelt beside her. "Henry is on leave for a few weeks…I was told to start keeping an eye on you."
Relief flooded through the former and she began to cry tears of gratitude. "I…hate this…I…hate…myself…"
The woman took a look around the room. "I think you've had your privileges taken away long enough…Raven…are you able to stand?"
Raven lifted her head all the way and immediately panicked the moment she saw that all too familiar remote in her hands. "No! Please, oh Azar, No!" Raven scooted herself away from her as quickly as possible, her eyes wide with fear.
The woman's eyes widened. "Raven, relax! I'm not going to hurt you!"
Raven started to sob uncontrollably. "He told you to! Please, no more…"
The woman pursed her lips and placed the remote on the floor. "I'm not going to hurt you…who are you referring to?"
Raven uncovered her eyes. "Henry…the one who visited me before you…the one who…hurt me."
The blonde woman cleared her throat. "What…did he do to you?"
Raven uncurled her legs from under her. "He hurt me…here…" she pointed in the area between her legs and shuddered.
"Raven…" she stood up and extended her hand. "Let's get you cleaned up. You're getting your privileges back today."
The former took her hand and forced herself to stand. "You…you won't hurt me?"
"No," replied the woman.
Raven wiped her face. "I…don't know what to say…"
"You don't have to say anything to a friend," she said softly.
The word friend rang through Raven's head like an old, broken bell. "F-friend?"
The woman escorted Raven out of the room and toward the bathroom. "Yes. Raven…do you…have any memories outside of being checked into the asylum?"
Raven's eyes blinked slowly. "No."
"I see…so…you don't remember…your friends."
Raven shook her head. "They were never real. Just…figments."
The woman's blue eyes met hers once more. "I sincerely hope you consider me a friend, Raven."
Raven looked away. "You wouldn't want me as a friend…and if you did…you'd have to go away…just like the others…I'm probably imagining you right now…"
She shook her head. "I'm real, Raven." She opened the door to the bathroom and allowed Raven inside.
Raven stepped in, excited to shower and change her clothes. The woman handed her a clean dress and shoes. "…Who are you?" she asked quietly.
The woman smiled and answered, "My name's Terra."