Our Tragic Universe

~Raven~

After the incident this morning, I had decided it would be best if I stayed in my room. Subsequently, I would have more time to myself, but also be subjected to more interruptions throughout the day. After weighing my options, the original decision stood.

Time seemingly moved effortlessly as I completed varying tasks in the parameters of my own room. I had an eventless day. It then came to my attention that not once had any disturbance come to me, and it seemed the day would remain uneventful. The peacefulness and serenity around me dissipated as I crossed the room, passing an unusual object which had taken residence. Suddenly, my entire being underwent the sensation of being engulfed in flames. My father's face appeared, looking straight into my soul.

I screamed.

I didn't realize I had until I snapped out of whatever trance I was in. Flames faded, red went to gray, and I was again back in the familiar silence of my room. I heard worried voiced and hurried footsteps coming closer. I locked my door without a second thought. I still stood in the same spot, it had only been ten seconds. The world around me began to fade, and I couldn't fight it.

Again, I saw him. He was there, all four red eyes, glaring at me. Right beneath him stood the infamous Slade, wielding hands of fire and my father's mark upon his forehead.

"What do you want." I spat. I was in no mood for such confrontations.

"Dearest daughter, why such harsh words?" He begins, his voice echoing in the vast space in which we stood. There was no exit, nor a thread of light. Even if there had been, I couldn't move from my spot.

"Don't call me your daughter." He laughed. It was loud and resonated all through the cave-like space.

"You haven't changed a bit, now have you? I don't suppose you're still in contact with Malchior?" No, he's playing you. He's trying to get you to change so he can play on your weakness, just like last time. Remember what happened? He could've killed them.

"Whatever you want, you know I won't do it. You have no power over me. Not in this world." A cold feeling, a bad cold, crept through the cave, enveloping me-paralyzing my entire being and pulling me closer to my father, and Slade.

"Listen closely my dear Raven," Slade begins. I wanted to attack him, to defend myself and get out, but I still couldn't move.

"There is one person that has been interfering with our plans. You two seem close enough, and I assume you will use assets like these to complete your mission." I could not quite decipher his words, they came out clear but became a crossword upon my hearing.

"The green one. Garfield, right?" No, this could not be happening. I wouldn't do it. No, I couldn't do it. He was...special. It's not like I wouldn't sacrifice anything for the entire team, but Garfield was a different story.

The symbols again formed on my body, but this time, in different sequences and orders. It was not the same as before. No, this was much worse.

"You have almost no time limit my dear," Slade continues. "Just get it done." Like before, fire envelopes me, and again I am in pain. Not like the past hour (or so it had seemed) but worse. The walls burn like newspaper in a bonfire and soon, I am in my own mind. In seconds, the various colors of myself surround me.

"I won't let this happen!" Anger begins, literally steaming.
"Won't let it happen? We've gotta stop this whole thing. I say we plan it out military style. Strategically." Brave says.
"What do you all mean! We have to protect our Beastie!" Love argues. Sadness is quick to her side.
"We're all doomed anyways, didn't you see him? And he had that Slade again. We'll never get out of this..." She says, not at all aiding to Love.
Knowledge is the next to speak. "I believe we should prioritize here." She loudly says, stopping all other chatter. "Start with the simple question: What are we going to tell the team? Next, we can move on to more complicated things, such as how to protect Garfield, and finally, how to get rid of Father Dearest." Confusion brushes over everyone, and none of the emotions seemed to comprehend what they'd been told. But I understood.
"Okay, what should we tell them?" I ask, shattering the thick silence.
"You were trying out a few new spells and something went wrong, they'll believe that. Besides, we don't have many other options here, It isn't like we're Beast Boy and always end up in the infirmary..." Happy quips.
"We could tell them almost anything besides the truth. But I suppose we should pick a new spell quickly because Robin undoubtedly will be asking questions." Sadness blurts Suddenly, I felt a sense of weightless and knew I was succumbing to consciousness.

"R-raven? A voice asks. I slowly sit up, a pounding headache pushing to the front of my face.

"Ugh..." I could not formulate a proper response, as words required thinking, and any thoughts caused me pain.

"Raven!" It was Beast Boy, and he was hugging me. Tightly.

"Um..." Was all I could say. No one else was in the med bay, and I was curious as to how long I had been 'unconscious'.

" I can't believe you were out for two days!" He blurted smiling. "I'm glad you're back!"

"Two days?" I ask. I was genuinely shocked. The most I assumed I would've been out for was an hour.

"I'll go get everyone." He said, promptly leaving. My state of confusion did not seem to bother him. As relieved as I was by his disconcern, I wished he had stayed a bit longer to explain what exactly had happened.