The Butterfly Effect

Chapter 6

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"There are wounds that never show on the body that are deeper and more hurtful than anything that bleeds."

Laurell K. Hamilton

"Just..." Raven placed a hand over her forehead and sighed. "Please leave. I can't deal with you right now."

"You used to love spending time with me, Raven. What happened?" he asked, taking a step forward and causing her to stumble back, hand slipping off the door handle.

"Malchior, I don't know how many times I have to tell you that we're over," she muttered through gritted teeth.

Malchior continued walking forward, practically cornering Raven in her own apartment. "I've asked you to forgive me countless times, Raven. What more do I have to do?"

"Leave," she narrowed her eyes and froze in her spot, fists clenched.

Malchior pushed her back on the couch and stared down at her, "Why won't you forgive me?"

"Just go away!" Raven jumped up and tried to push him back, but he snatched her wrists and held her in place.

"Leave her alone!" someone exclaimed from behind them and in the span of a second, Malchior was on the ground next to her. Dick held him down with an elbow to make sure he didn't move.

"Oh, Raven! Are you alright?" Kory hurriedly placed her arms around her, though Raven seemingly froze in place, silently staring forward. She felt nothing. No fear. No anger. No sadness. Nothing.

"Yes, this is Dick Grayson. I need an officer at ***** right away. I have a report on an intrusion and domestic abuse," she heard Dick talking in the background. "Yes, I have him contained."

"Friend?" Kory pulled her away and examined her. "Did he do something?"

"No," she finally responded by shaking her head. "No, Kory. I'm alright."

* * * * *

"Wakey wakey, eggs and bakey!" Garfield awoke to Victor's blaring voice. He groaned into his pillow and turned to his side. "Go away," he murmured.

"No can do, soldier. I'm here to stay," Vic replied, and Garfield felt him sit next to him on the bed. "You brought on quite a show yesterday, Gar. And you wouldn't tell me why."

Garfield groaned again and buried his head deeper into the pillow, "I don't want to talk about it."

"On other occasions, I wouldn't insist with you Gar but considering the condition I found you in yesterday, I really do want to know what triggered it," he continued.

Garfield removed his face from the pillow and turned to look at him, "I really don't want to talk about it, Vic."

"Was it something involving you parents? Or Tara? Or Jillian?"

"It had nothing to do with them," he sat up and knocked the back of his head on the bed frame.

"Then?" Victor asked again.

Garfield remained silent for a second before answering, "I ran into Raven after the party."

"Raven..." Victor furrowed his eyebrows, seemingly attempting to recall the name. "Oh, the elevator girl?"

Garfield nodded, "She was walking alone in the rain, I gave her a ride home but turns out she didn't have any keys so I brought her over to help..." he sighed. "I made a stupid mistake, slept with her, next morning we fought because she didn't want to talk about what happened or the fact that she was just using me to feel better."