Rage - Chapter 2

Raven wouldn’t have believed him, if it wasn’t for the tone in his voice. He sounded weak and desperate. He sounded honest.

They were the words she had been patiently waiting to hear spill out of his mouth ever since she fell for him years ago… But something wasn’t right. She felt no joy or excitement or fulfilment, only fear. Something was wrong. Something was terribly wrong.

“G-Garfield,” she stammered, fear consuming her. “where are you?” she had already reached the door of her dark room and yanked it open in haste. All she heard from the phone was an outburst of coughs and splutters, and low groans of what sounded like pain.
“Garfield! what’s happening?!” she screamed into the phone. “Why aren’t you answering?!” she demanded. There was a deep breath on the other side of the phone.
“…I-I l-love you, Raven.” Beast Boy repeated in an almost silent, raspy voice before the phone clicked.

He’d hung up.

“GARFIELD!”  Raven shrieked in horror. Even though she wasn’t certain of what was going on, she still struggled to hold back her tears. She was preparing for the worst. Feet tapping hard on the floor, she ran through the halls, heading for the centre of the tower as she redialed his number into the phone and called him. No answer.
“PICK UP, PICK UP, PICK UP!” she whimpered, tears threatening to escape her eyes. No. She wouldn’t cry. She was overreacting. That was it- No, she wasn’t overreacting- was she? she didn’t know-
“Raven?”

She stopped dead in her tracks at the sound of her leader’s voice. Some help!
“Are you okay?” Robin asked as Cyborg and Starfire came walking up behind him. All of them had the same concerned, confused look on their face. They must have heard her. Who wouldn’t?
“N-no! I think something’s happened to Beast Boy.” she quickly explained, again redialing his number into her phone. Nothing. She threw it to the ground in fear, anger and frustration and raked her hands through her hair, the tears already streaming down her cheeks. She couldn’t hold it in. She collapsed to the floor and started sobbing uncontrollably. She already had a terrifying idea of what had really happened.
“C-calm down!” Robin exclaimed uncertainly as he rushed and kneeled before her, grabbing her slumping shoulders firmly. “what happened?”
“I-I don’t know! h-he just called me and was acting really weird and was coughing and spluttering and he’s not answering his calls and-“

The light above them popped. Starfire let out a short squeal of shock and Cyborg jumped a little. Robin only looked at it, sighed, and hugged the terrified empath.
“You need to calm down, okay? speak slowly. How was he acting weird? did he say anything  that suggested he was in trouble?” he interrogated in a soothing voice. Raven’s teary gaze dropped to the floor. She didn’t want to tell them what he said to her. But if his life was truly on the line…
“He said he loves me…” she muttered almost silently, her voice a grim whisper that suggested what he said wasn’t as comforting as what it should be. Cyborg didn’t get it. Instead, he laughed.
“That’s whats got you scared? c’mon, that was obvious for ages-“

He didn’t get a chance to finish his ignorant comment, because Raven didn’t dare let him. Her eyes glowed red at the sound of his laughter, her shaking body broke out of Robin’s already tightening grip (Which only tightened because Robin was trying to prevent her from doing what she was about to do now) and rushed towards Cyborg in a sudden outburst of rage.
“Your best friend could be in trouble, and you laugh?!” she hissed and tried to lunge at him, only to be held back by Starfire’s alien strength. “What the hell is wrong with you?!” she screamed as more lights around them flickered.
“Raven, stop!” Robin yelled as he came to Starfire’s aid and held the enraged empath back too. Cyborg’s gaze dropped to the floor.
“No, no it’s okay. I’m sorry.” He said glumly, “But don’t you think Beasty can handle himself? you’re overreacting. I’m sure he’s fine-“
“You didn’t hear him, Victor.” Raven growled, her eyes still flaring in anger but her body calming at his apology. “You didn’t hear his voice.”
“I know I didn’t, but-“
“We don’t have time for this!” Raven snapped, breaking out of the two pairs of arms which struggled to hold her, “I’m looking for him. Don’t bother telling me to calm down. I know I am not overreacting.” she said before pulling her hood over her face and soaring out of the hall. She didn’t need to waste time just because they wanted to spend it by figuring out if she is overreacting or not. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to take her phone with her just in case something came up…