Freedom

14

RAVEN
I roll over, naked. Stripped of my clothing, stripped of the barrier I built, stripped of everything and yet, I am happier than ever. I press my head against Robin's chest. My fingers trace his scar, gently. He stirs in his sleep and puts a protective arm over me.
This is the first time I didn't wake up screaming from nightmares. This is the first time I knew Robin didn't think of Slade. This is the first time that we both slept through the night, together.
"Once upon a time," he murmurs with his eyes closed. "There was a boy with a fucked up life. And there was a girl with a fucked up life."
I kiss him, slipping my tongue into his mouth.
"And they... mmm..."
The communicator rings and we both grunt.
"I will finish that story," He promises.
Robin rolls over and flicks up the communicator. Cyborg appears on the screen.
"Yo, Robin, where are you at?" Cyborg asks. "Raven hasn't come out of her room yet, and we have no idea what the hell is going on."
"Sorry, man, just went for some early workout," Robin excuses. "Raven must've gone to some depressing café or went out to play chess."
"Alright," Cyborg says unsurely. "When are you coming back?"
"Soon," he says and closes the communicator. "Now, where were we?" He rolls over, on top of me.
A feeling.
A feeling on the breech of freedom.

We reach the Tower just after midday. Robin goes in first and then I go in after to make it not seem too suspicious. We head up to the common room where Beast Boy and Starfire are still glued to the TV. Cyborg adjusts something on his bionic arm, completely occupied to even care.
"I'm going to head to my room, catch up on some meditation," I say to Robin.
"Okay, catch you for dinner," Robin says. Just as I am leaving, Robin turns to me. "Hey, Raven, remember to not imprison yourself."
I nod, taking the comment as simple and reassuring.
I walk into my room, going to the bathroom. I open the bathroom door and turn on the shower. I take off all my clothes and step in. I regret washing Robin off of me, but I really do need a shower.
I finish washing myself and step out. I do my usual routine, dry, brush and fix. Drying my hair, then brushing my hair and then fixing my face to not look so zombified.
I walk out of the bathroom and stop at my bed. One of my books are opened on a black page with white writing.
The prophecy states that on the day marked, the daughter of Trigon the Great will destroy the world and rule hand in hand with the greatest villain of all time. The world's people will bow to them and do every command.
The prophecy will be complete in the Temple of Ode. The prophecy will come to pass.
I rip the page from the book finding a letter is attached to the back of it.
Dear Raven,
Your friends will be destroyed.
Now you think I will destroy them, but I won't.
Your father will torture and kill them.
But I have a deal for you.
You come to the Temple of Ode today.
Your friends will live.
You stay here.
Your friends will die.
The choice is yours.
Love, yours truly, Slade.
I crumple the paper. Two choices. Two choices, which are not choices. But instead, slavery. 

ROBIN
"Where's Raven?" I ask. "It's almost dinner."
"I don't know, man," Beast Boy says, pressing the buttons on the game controller furiously.
"I will go check her chamber of room," Starfire announces. She begins to fly down the hallway and I follow.
Starfire opens the door and calls for Raven. There's a note on her bed along with her gem. Starfire picks up the note, reads and drops the note.
"What does it say?" I ask.
No answer.
I rush to the note. In cursive writing:
I'm sorry.