Titans Genesis: Raven

15. Rachel Roth

Rachel sits next to Tamdin's bed and holds his hand. Waiting for him to wake up. She knows that when he wakes up, he's going to need their support. He just lost his brother. Poor Tamdin. Poor Tenzin. Even though Tenzin was the one who opened the door, She still feels it's her fault.

Those things were after me. Because I'm just like them. I'm just like them and no one bothered to tell me.

Rachel still hasn't spoken to Harumi since last night's incident. She was taken to the infirmary after she fainted. When she woke up in the morning, Harumi came to visit so Rachel pretended to be asleep. Whether Harumi knew she was pretending to be asleep or not is up for debate. The only thing Rachel knows is that Harumi walked out silently. Tears had filled her eyes after that. She doesn't know how to face Harumi now after everything that happened. After all the lies. How long has she been lying? How long has she known about me having powers?

Kiran sits next to Rachel and places her hand on her shoulder. "He's going to be alright, you know. The nurses said it was just a concussion."

Rachel looks at her tearfully. "Did that really just happen? Those demons were here in Azarath. One of them tried to strangle Mother Harumi and I..."

"You what?" Kiran asks.

"I...This is going to sound insane," Rachel says, looking down shamefully. "But I think I have powers..."

Kiran stares at Rachel in astonishment. "What? Are you serious?"

"Yes. I don't know how or why, but I do. I have powers now."

"But Rachel, that's great, isn't it? You always said you wanted to have powers like me. Now we both have powers. What's your power? Tell me."

"That's the thing that worries me. I still don't know what my powers are. But for some reason, these powers feel dark and dangerous. I'm not sure how to explain it but there is something inside of me. Something wicked. It used me to slaughter a demon last night. And it feels like it's been in there all my life, waiting to come out."

"Why would you think that?"

"Maybe deep down inside, I am dark and wicked."

"You can't think like that," Kiran says, "You're not wicked, Rachel. You're a good person. Whatever is inside of you can't be all bad."

Rachel wants to believe her. She really does. Yet, she feels Kiran is wrong. There's something awful growing inside her. Why it decided to come out this night is beyond her comprehension.

"Does Mother Harumi know?" Kiran asks.

That's an excellent question, she thinks as she bites her nails.

"I'm not sure," she says. "She saw me use them for the first time, but the look on her face, it's like she already knew."

Kiran raises an eyebrow. "For a place that's supposed to promote peace and sincerity, the monks here are full of bullshit. How can they keep something so important from you?"

"I'm not sure —"

"You!"

Sister Ami approaches Rachel and Kiran. "Get out!" she snaps angrily.

Kiran stares at Sister Ami, surprised. "But we weren't doing anything wrong."

"Not you. You can stay but she needs to leave," Sister Ami says, pointing at Rachel.

Rachel stares at her, eyes wide. "What? Me? Why?"

"Your presence is not wanted here. You'll scare the other patients. Haven't you've done enough damage already?" Sister Ami says.

"But what did I even do?"

"You know what you did," Sister Ami says.

"Hey, leave her alone," Kiran says. "What are you snapping at her for?"

"Why are you defending her? You know this is her fault," Sister Ami says.

"No, it's not," Kiran says.

"I didn't do anything," Rachel says.

"Oh so not only are you a trouble-maker but a liar as well," Sister Ami says, "Get out. Right now."

Rachel stares in shock but quickly gets up when Sister Ami marches over to her. Does she know about my abilities? Like Mother Harumi? Who else knows? Do the fathers know?

"Sister Ami, I swear —"

The sister's hand smacks her across the face and Rachel yelps. Gasping, Kiran gets between them and pushes Sister Ami roughly.

"What is wrong with you!?" Kiran snaps at her.

Sister Ami grits her teeth at her angrily. "You wouldn't be near her if you realized what kind of monster she is!"

"Rachel is not a monster, what is the matter with you!?"

"She's —."

"Sister Ami!"

Mother Harumi storms into the infirmary and confronts Sister Ami. She sees Rachel sniffling and rubbing her reddened cheek. Mother Harumi gives Sister Ami a venomous look.

"What have you done to her?"

"How can you still defend her?" Sister Ami snaps. "After everything she did last night."

Harumi hisses in anger. "She didn't do anything wrong."

"You lie for her as well? Knowing that she caused all those demons to attack us?"

Kiran jumps in Rachel's defence. "Rachel didn't do it. It was Tenzin. He opened the door and all those demons came out. Rachel tried to close it."

Harumi looks at her in surprise. "Tenzin?"

"Yes. It was supposed to be a game. A foolish game. We didn't know what kind of door he was opening in the end. We wanted to leave but he wanted to open more doors. Rachel tried to stop him from opening the last one but he was acting strange. His eyes changed. He got aggressive. And he threw Tamdin to the wall. He was the one who hurt Tamdin, not Rachel."

"Where is Tenzin?"

"...Dead," Kiran says. "He disintegrated when the door opened. When Rachel closed the door, a hand burst through. That wasn't supposed to happen, right? Once you close the door, they disappear from the other world, right?'

"Right. But clearly, that didn't happen."

"It doesn't matter who opened the door, does it? They still came," Sister Ami points at her. Rachel sniffles and looks away. Kiran puts her arms around her to comfort her. "For her. And they'll come back as long as she stays here. And if Azarath gets destroyed, it will be all her fault—."

"Shut it, Ami."

"You know I'm right!"

"That's enough!"

Father Torao's voice echoes against the walls as he and Father Yamada enter the infirmary. Father Yamada glares at both Rachel and Harumi. Rachel wipes her tears while Harumi glares back.

Rachel approaches the elders. "Father Torao, please tell Sister Ami I didn't do anything."

"You stay out of this, demon. You've done enough damage as it is."

"Demon?" Rachel looks at him in confusion. "Why do you call me that? Why?"

"Why don't you ask Mother Harumi?" Father Yamada tells her.

Rachel turns to Harumi who remains glaring at Father Yamada.

"Mother..."

Harumi doesn't answer. Rachel looks at everyone, confused and shocked.

"Is that what I am to all of you now?" Upset, she storms out of the infirmary.

Kiran gives at the four elders a pissed look. "You're all assholes!" She then goes after Rachel.