Raven walked through the school hallway, the chatter of students blending into a dim hum. Her head felt heavy, her thoughts sluggish. I'm so exhausted. She'd had a rough night—so rough, in fact, she couldn't pinpoint when she'd fallen asleep or when Tim had left. She only remembered waking up tangled in her sheets, sweating, with her room in shambles.

Breakfast had been awkward—at least, she thought it had. Actually…had she even had breakfast? Raven rubbed her temples, the memory slipping through her fingers like sand. Everything felt warped, her mind fuzzy and unreliable. What happened this morning? Let's see - Tim officially moved out of the mountain and Lar Gand took his room. Wait, she paused mid-step, didn't that happen weeks ago?

Her head spun, and she braced herself against her locker before pulling her books out mechanically. Let's see, Garfield stopped me this morning. He'd wanted to check on her—ask about yesterday's fiasco…or was it something else? She groaned softly. Maybe I went back into the field too soon.

Raven closed her locker and turned, only to freeze in place. The hallway was empty. Completely empty. "What…?" she whispered, her voice thin and uncertain. She glanced left, then right, the silence pressing down on her like a weight.

"Rachel?"

The voice came from nowhere and everywhere at once. She spun, her breath hitching.

"Rachel?"

Her pulse quickened as she backed away, her eyes darting around the barren corridor. She stumbled as she felt a cold grip on her upper arm.

"Rachel!"

"Ah!" she yelped. Her vision snapped back into focus, the bustling hallway reappearing in a rush. Students brushed past her, some giving her strange looks.

"Raven?"

She turned sharply, her heart racing. Richard stood beside her, his hand on her arm, his brow furrowed with concern.

"What?" she said, her voice tight.

"You okay?" Richard asked. "You were just…staring at nothing."

Raven blinked at him, trying to make sense of what just happened. "You didn't see…? But there was…" She trailed off, her gaze darting around again.

"Are you sick?" Richard pressed, tilting his head.

"No," she said quickly, shaking her head. "No, I just had a rough night."

"Yeah, I bet," he said with a smirk. "Tim's tracker showed him at the mountain until 2 a.m. last night. Coincidence?"

Raven rolled her eyes, brushing past him. "I'll see you at lunch."

Raven's eyes grew heavy as her literature teacher droned on about the upcoming final while writing on the chalkboard. Why am I so exhausted? Her vision blurred, the classroom tilting slightly as she struggled to keep her eyes open. She pressed a hand to her temple, but the haze only thickened.

As the teacher turned to face the class, his voice a steady monotone—Raven's heart skipped a beat. She gasped loudly, nearly knocking her desk over as a pair of glowing, demonic eyes and crimson skin filled her view. "Trigon!" she cried, her voice breaking the stillness of the room. In an instant, the vision vanished. Her teacher stood there, blinking in confusion, his plain features betraying no trace of the monster she'd seen.

"Rachel?" he said slowly, his tone cautious and tinged concern. "Are you okay?"

Raven's chest tightened. Her classmates' stares burned into her, their whispers swirling around her like static. She swallowed hard, her palms clammy against her desk. "I…" Her voice faltered. She blinked rapidly, willing the image of her father's face to stay gone. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears. "I'm not feeling well," she managed, her words barely above a whisper.

The teacher's expression softened. "Why don't you go to the nurse's office?"

Raven nodded numbly, gathering her things with trembling hands. The weight in her chest refused to lift as she stood. With each step toward the door, she felt the stares follow her.

Instead of heading to the nurse's office, Raven stumbled into the girls' restroom, her head pounding and her body trembling. She dropped her things onto the sink and cranked the faucet to full blast, splashing cold water on her face. I'm burning up, she thought, feeling an odd mix of heat and cold rush through her. But despite the chill of the water, her hands were freezing.

What's wrong with me?

She scrubbed her face harder, her reflection blurry as she gazed into the mirror. Her eyes widened, and her breath caught in her throat. Three pairs of red, glowing eyes stared back at her. Raven gasped, stepping back, her heartbeat racing in her chest. "No…" she gasped. "You're dead."

The voice was unmistakable, deep and gravelly. "Girl, did you think you could defeat me that easily?" her father's voice growled from behind her.

Raven's breath hitched. Her powers flared up wildly around her, crackling uncontrollably. The mirror cracked and splintered as a blast of energy shot out of her left hand, tearing at the walls and ceiling. "I killed you!" Raven cried out, her voice strained. The energy flared even more violently around her, sending bathroom stalls flying across the room.

Trigon's voice laughed in her mind. "See? The darkness is pouring out of you. No matter how much you fight it, it will always be a part of you. Better get used to it, daughter; I'm not going anywhere."

"Shut up!" Raven screamed, her head spinning with pain. She lashed out in fury, sending another blast of energy at the mirror, shattering it into pieces.

She paused, panting, her mind racing. This is bad. Her breath was ragged. The world around her felt wrong—everything out of sync. Looking down at her hands, she felt lightheaded. What's happening to me? She stared mostly at her left hand as the ring pulsed around it.

Suddenly, her world tilted, and Raven stumbled. What the…? Before she could process it, the bathroom was gone. In an instant, she was outside, in uniform—cape billowing as she stood at the edge of a chaotic battle. The Team was fighting a fire-breathing meta-thing.

"Raven! Look alive!" Red Robin yelled, narrowly dodging a blast of fire.

"Right," Raven murmured, disoriented. She didn't have time to question what was going on or why she kept blacking out. She felt dizzy, her legs shaky, but she leapt into the fray, feeling like she was moving through molasses.

"What is this thing?" Beast Boy asked from behind the cover of a car.

"I don't know," Wonder Girl answered, blocking a fiery blast with her bracelets. "But whatever it is, it's angry."

"Kid Flash," Red Robin called out, "make sure all civilians are clear."

"Got it!" Kid Flash saluted before dashing off.

Raven's hands trembled as she stared at them, feeling strange—disconnected. Everything around her felt warped, like a dream slipping out of her grasp. She struggled to stay grounded, her surroundings moving in slow motion.

"Raven."

Her head snapped around at the sound of her name. Her eyes scanned the area, looking over the buildings and the crowded streets.

"Raven, over here."

Raven followed the voice to a shadow darting into an alley. Without thinking, she dashed after it, leaving the fight behind. The alley stretched on for what felt like miles, each step feeling like it took too long. She finally skidded to a stop at the edge of a cliff. "What?" she gasped, stumbling backward as pain shot up her arm.

"Well, well."

Raven whirled, her fists clenched. "Enchantress," she spat. "What did you do to me?"

The Enchantress smirked, circling Raven. "I've been trying to break into your mind for so long. Who knew a cheap, cursed ring was all it would take?"

Raven's eyes flicked to her hand, where the cursed ring glinted ominously. She hadn't taken it off for days. Why hadn't I noticed? She examined the ring more closely. Tiny thorns dug into her skin, sending a sharp sting through her fingers. She tried to pull it off, but pain exploded up her arm, searing her to the core.

"Ah, ah, ah," Enchantress tutted. "It's going to take more than a yank to get that off."

"Then how do I get it off?" Raven demanded.

The Enchantress grinned. "That's the beauty of it, dear. I have no idea."

"Why are you so fixated on me?" Raven pressed, feeling her stomach twist. "Up until a year ago, I had no idea who you were. And I still don't really know."

"Well, at first, I needed you to open a portal. Now? Now, I just need to kill you," the Enchantress said with a twisted smile, launching an attack with a wave of her hand.

Raven blocked the blast with a shield, but her power felt weak. She was weakening, and every time she tried to use her left arm, a sharp pain shot through her. Sweat poured down her face, her body trembling. She summoned a surge of black energy, but when it hit the Enchantress, she felt it all! Raven gasped in pain, stumbling to her knees. All the pain, all the agony, the fiery fury she always released on her enemies—she felt it all, coursing through her body in an overwhelming wave. Raven clutched her stomach as nausea twisted inside her.

"Ooh," Enchantress taunted. "That looks like it hurt."

Raven groaned, struggling to catch her breath. Is this what my enemies feel? She felt a flicker of reluctant respect for those who took her hits and kept fighting.

"Oh, look," Enchantress said gleefully, glancing over her shoulder. "We've got company. That's my cue to leave. Tootles," she wiggled her fingers in a 'goodbye' gesture before disappearing in a wave of smoke.

Raven looked up, heart sinking as five of her six brothers—Envy, Greed, Lust, Sloth, and Wrath—appeared before her. "I destroyed you," Raven whispered, voice shaky.

"Looks like someone didn't do a good enough job," Envy sneered.

"This is a trick," Raven insisted, trying to steady herself. "I know it is. I'm not falling for this, Enchantress!" Raven lifted her left arm to create a portal, but before she could step through it, something heavy slammed into her. Her body was sent flying, rolling several times before she shakily stood to her feet.

"You're not going anywhere," Envy growled, and the brothers closed in.

"Fine," Raven said through clenched teeth, balling up her fists. "Looks like I'm fighting."

"Anyone have eyes on her?" Red Robin asked through his ear intercom, his voice barely audible over the torrential downpour as he recklessly sped through the slick, rain-slicked streets.

"Negative," Beast Boy responded, his tone tense.

"Negatory, mon capitaine," Kid Flash chimed in, his voice light despite the tension.

Red Robin squinted through the downpour, rain pelting his helmet, and asked, "Wonder Girl?"

"Nothing," she replied, after a brief pause. "Lar Gand hasn't seen her, either."

Red Robin sighed, his breath fogging up the interior of his helmet. He pulled over to check his wrist screen once more. His fingers were cold from the constant rain as he swiped through the data. He had tried to reach Constantine, but that had gone nowhere. Then, he contacted Batman, briefing him on the situation and telling him he wouldn't be able to return to Gotham, sending Robin in his place. Afterward, he'd alerted Black Canary. Now, he was left staring at the screen, watching as Raven's tracker flickered erratically.

The signal came and went at random intervals, vanishing for moments before reappearing somewhere else. From what Red Robin could tell, she hadn't left the city, but there was no discernible pattern to her teleporting. Her movements were erratic, seemingly designed to lead them in circles. Raven was staying away from populated areas, but Happy Harbor wasn't large enough for her to hide for long.

He rubbed his tired eyes, the weight of the situation sinking in. Just a couple of hours ago, Raven had asked him to stay with her. He'd been eager to agree, but when he woke up, her side of the bed was empty. At first, he thought nothing of it, assuming she'd gone to the bathroom. But when twenty minutes passed, and then half an hour, he started to worry. He'd checked the kitchen and the training area—nothing. The Mountain was quiet—no one was awake.

His heart sank as he reviewed The Mountain's sensor logs. Motion had been detected about fifteen minutes before he'd woken up. But the zeta tubes hadn't been used. He reviewed security footage from Raven's room. He saw her sit up in bed, her movements stiff, mechanical, almost robotic. She created a portal with her left hand and disappeared into it. The worry hit him hard—he'd seen too many mind-controlled people in his time to ignore the signs. He immediately called in the team, and within minutes, they were on the move.

A beeping interrupted his thoughts—Raven's tracker was back. "She's back," Red Robin announced, trying to keep his voice steady. "KF, I just sent you the coordinates."

"On it."

"Everyone, converge," Red Robin ordered, weaving through the rain-soaked streets of Happy Harbor, the sound of the downpour drowning out everything but the hum of his engines.

"Uh, guys…" Kid Flash's voice sounded uncertain, coming through the comms.

"What?" Red Robin asked, heart racing.

"She just… um… shot herself."

Red Robin's breath caught in his throat. "What?"

"Not with a gun," Kid Flash quickly said. "With her powers. She pointed her hand at her stomach and released dark energy," Kid Flash said, his voice quivering. "She's on the ground, writhing in pain. I gotta be honest, I'm afraid to get close."

"Don't," Red Robin ordered, his eyes narrowing as he pushed his bike faster. "Wait until everyone gets there. Just… keep her there. Somehow."

"And if she creates another portal?" Kid Flash asked, voice tight with apprehension.

"Keep her from entering it," Red Robin responded, his focus locked on the path ahead, the rain slamming against his helmet, a steady reminder that they were running out of time.

By the time Red Robin reached Kid Flash, Wonder Girl was already there, a green monkey perched on her shoulder. Lar Gand hovered close behind, his eyes scanning the scene warily.

"Surround her!" Red Robin ordered as Kid Flash jogged over to him.

"She opened a portal, and I literally ran into her to stop her from entering," Kid Flash said, panting slightly.

"Did she say anything?"

"Nothing I could make out... because I wasn't listening," Kid Flash admitted, sheepishly.

"Look at her eyes," Wonder Girl said into her earpiece.

Red Robin turned his gaze to Raven's face and felt a chill run through him. Her eyes were shrouded by a translucent, glazed film, giving her an otherworldly and unsettling appearance. "Raven?" he called out calmly, his eyes quickly scanning her for injuries.

She was still in her pajamas, now soaked through and clinging to her skin from the relentless rain. He forced himself to focus. Her disheveled hair clung to her face and arms, enhancing her ethereal beauty. Then he saw it: a massive, angry red welt stretching across her torso. It aligned with Kid Flash's earlier description of her injuring herself.

"Raven? Are you okay?" he asked gently. "I only ask because you're hurt."

Raven's gaze drifted to him, unfocused and distant. Her left hand crackled with dark energy, but the movement made her flinch, pain flashing briefly across her features. She was breathing heavily, each exhale shaky. "I'm ending this now, Enchantress," she declared, her voice low and determined.

The words hit Red Robin like a cold slap, but before he could fully process them, Raven thrust her glowing hand forward. A tendril of dark energy surged toward him. "Raven, it's me!" he shouted, diving into a roll just in time to avoid the attack. The energy struck the ground where he'd been standing, leaving a smoldering scorch mark.

As he scrambled to his feet, he saw Raven stagger, her face contorted in pain. For a moment, it looked as though she might collapse, but she steadied herself and locked her foggy eyes back onto him.

He quickly tossed smoke pellets, the small explosions hissing in the rain and blanketing the area in thick clouds. "Don't hurt her!" he called out to the others. "Just try to restrain her!"

Raven gasped, choking as black smoke filled her lungs. This isn't possible… my brothers can't do this. The thought struck her like a hammer. They're not even real. How is Enchantress making them do this?

Lust lunged forward, conjuring a lasso of black energy that crackled ominously in the rain-soaked air. His crimson eyes burned with unnatural intensity. Raven's left hand moved on its own, unleashing a rapid volley of shadowy bolts. To her shock, Lust deflected each one with his forearms, the dark energy dissipating harmlessly against his skin.

No way, Raven thought, her breath hitching. That shouldn't be possible.

Before she could react further, Lust closed the distance between them with terrifying speed. The lasso snapped around her right hand, the binding cold and oppressive. Panic flared in her chest, but instinct took over. Dark energy erupted from her left hand in a beam so powerful it sent Lust hurtling backward. He crashed into his brothers with a force that left them momentarily stunned, their glowing red eyes wide with disbelief.

Raven stumbled, doubling over as agony tore through her left arm. She clutched it tightly, her breathing ragged. Pain radiated from the limb like fire, threatening to consume her, but she gritted her teeth and forced herself to stand.

I can't stop. Not now. The thought burned fiercely in her mind. I won't let Enchantress win.

The Team watched in stunned silence as Raven sent Wonder Girl flying into the bushes with a single blast of dark energy. Rain poured down relentlessly, drenching everything in sight and making the ground slick with mud. Lar Gand darted after the semi-conscious Wonder Girl, while Red Robin quickly analyzed the situation. "She's only using her left side for some reason," he observed, his voice calm but urgent over the comms. "We need to attack her right."

"Got it," Kid Flash said, zipping into action. He glanced up at Beast Boy, who circled above in the form of a hawk, his feathers darkened by the downpour. "You hear that, BB?" he called out.

The hawk let out a sharp caw, tilting its wings to signal understanding.

"Good," Kid Flash muttered, rain streaming down his goggles as he began circling Raven at superhuman speed. His movements churned the puddles into a swirling cyclone, flinging water and debris into the air. "We need to work together," he said through his earpiece. "I'll distract her. You go for the takedown."

Above, the hawk screeched and dove, its sharp descent cutting through the sheets of rain. At the same moment, Kid Flash's vortex intensified, whipping around Raven. Her dark energy flared, shadows lashing out and slicing through the swirling water with precision, but her movements were slow, her left shoulder sagging.

Seizing the opening, Beast Boy shifted mid-dive, his hawk form morphing into a tiger just before impact. He barreled into Raven, sending her sprawling across the rain-slicked ground. Mud splattered as she skidded to a stop, her dark energy flickering weakly for a moment.

"Stay down, Rae!" Kid Flash shouted, darting toward her. "We're trying to help you!"

Raven's glowing eyes snapped open, her expression twisted with fury and anguish. "Back off!" she screamed, her voice reverberating with an eerie resonance that seemed to blend with the distant rumble of thunder.

Shadows erupted from her left hand, twisting into tendrils that lashed out violently. They wrapped around Beast Boy, flinging him with staggering force into Kid Flash as he closed in. The two collided and tumbled across the wet ground in a tangled heap.

Kid Flash groaned, sitting up and shaking his head as rain dripped from his soaked uniform. "Okay, that could've gone better."

Nearby, Beast Boy transformed into a gorilla, pounding the muddy ground to steady himself. "She's not holding back," he muttered, his breath misting in the chill. "What's plan D?"

Before Kid Flash could respond, several birdarangs sliced through the rain, arcing toward Raven. They exploded at her feet in a brilliant flash, scattering mud and smoke. Raven cried out, stumbling backward as she clawed at the mud in her eyes, the rain mixing with tears of pain.

"She's in agony every time she uses her powers," Red Robin's voice crackled over the comms, cool and analytical. He emerged from the shadows, his cape streaming with water. "Wonder Girl, status?"

A groan came over the line. "I think I'm gonna puke," she admitted weakly.

"Can you fight?"

"Yeah… just give me a second," Wonder Girl replied, her determination audible even through the static.

"Uh… guys?" Beast Boy said, his gorilla form tensed as he pointed toward Raven. She appeared to be battling herself, her glowing white eyes filled with turmoil. His voice was thick with unease. "Something's happening to her… again."

Before anyone could respond, Raven's left hand shot to her neck.