006
— i saw the witch —

THE TOWN WAS QUIET, A PERFECT SCENE PULLED STRAIGHT FROM A CHEAP CHRISTMAS MOVIE. Rachel and Tarren walked beside each other leading Gar, Tim and Dick to the house from Rachel's visions. It was a tall, double story dream home; read bricks, perfect white fence and perfectly pruned bushed by the gate. "This is what I saw," Rachel said with a nod.

"In your vision?" Gar asked.

"No, we picked it out of the yellow pages," Terran muttered, shaking her head.

"What are the yellow pages?" Tim asked, leaning forwards slightly.

Terran looked back at him, her eyebrows furrowed. "It's a book that holds everyone number—"

"Te," Rachel called. "Not important."

They started to walk through the fence gate, Dick walking ahead of them. He looked up at the stone pathway to the door and sighed, turning to look over his shoulders at the others. "Stay close. We don't know what we're gonna find." Terran and Rachel followed closely after Dick. Once the door opened Terran could hear a slight echo of the fifty's song, Mr Sandman echoing through the cold dark house.

As Gar closed the door behind him and Tim, the song faded out before starting again. Terran flexed her hand, a swelling feeling taking over her bones. "This place reeks," Terran whispered, peeking her head around the side of a wall and into a sunroom.

"Of what?" Tim asked.

Gar sighed, "Of death."

Dick nodded to the side and Gar led Tim to the left hall, through the sunroom. Terran and Rachel followed Dick down the long hall. Rachel paused at a cabinet, inspecting a photo of a young girl and her parents. Dick turned, letting her linger for a few moments before calling her name, "Rachel. What do you sense?"

"Loss," Rachel said, her eyes not moving from the photo frame.

"Fits with death," Terran muttered. She placed her hand over Rachel's and moved the photo back into its place on the wooden cabinet.

Dick walked ahead, slowly into the kitchen. He paused to flick the music off, the house settling into an eerie silence. Terran and Rachel stepped closer, the footsteps more noticeable in the still air. Rachel tried to move ahead but Terran grabbed her arm, stilling her. Her bones pulsed, like an electric swell as her eyes focussed on the end of the counter. "Wait," Terran ordered, the swelling feeling growing stronger. Terren motioned for them to stay still while she walked on, her eyes darting across the floor. As Terran rounded the side of the island she paused.

Dick watched her freeze. "Terran," Dick called.

"It's bad," Terran muttered, her stomach twisting. A woman in a green shirt sat in a pool of what Terran guessed to be her own blood. Her head sat crooked on her neck, the gaping hole in her throat offsetting her spine. Rachel and Dick walked to her, Rachel moving to grasp Terran's hand as they stared at the pale woman.

Gar and Tim walked in next, Gar's steps faltering, and Tim made an uncomfortable gagging sound. Dick knelt, making sure he kept his distance. "Oh. Oh, Jesus!" Tim cursed softly.

"Go watch the front door," Dick ordered, glancing back at the boys.

Gar nodded at looked at Tim who still stood with wide, shocked eyes. "Hey," Gar called softly, spinning Tim around. "You heard him, buddy. They got it from here. Come on." Tim glanced at the woman once before following Gar out into the hall. 

Rachel knelt next, dropping Terran's hand and leaning forward to gently shut the woman's eyes. As Gar and Tim's footsteps faded, Dick looked up at Terran. "Terran, can you tell me anything about her?"

"Um." Terran shuffled forward, her hands coming up to squeeze her arms. "She died early this morning, but the injuries are older. Happened last night." She took a small step closer but quickly stepped back as she saw the attack through the woman's eyes. "It was violent, she was scared. She was in pain for a really long time."

A thudding upstairs made Terran jump slightly. Rachel and Dick rose to their feet, looking upwards. "You heard that?" Dick asked, looking towards Rachel who nodded softly. Cautiously the three made their way to the stairs, looking up at the second floor, the lights out not letting them see anywhere beyond the stairs. A small shrill cut through the silence and Dick rushed up the stairs. Terran and Rachel chased after him, into the hall, throwing random doors open on a frantic search.

"Rachel!" Dick shouted. Rachel and Terran rushed to the last room, at the far-right end of the hall. Rachel slid to the floor beside Dick next to the young girl from the photo, her eyes screwed shut, her body spasming quickly. "I think she's in shock. She might be seizing," Dick rambled, one hand checking the little girl's pulse.

Rachel brushed back the girl's hair, her eyes scanning her face. "No, she's in a nightmare," Rachel realised, trying to still the shaking girl, her pained squeaks and whines growling louder. "He left her this way."

"I'm calling the paramedics," Dick said, standing up and grabbing his phone.

"Do it quickly. I'm gonna try and help her," Rachel shouted. Dick stepped from the room, the soft echo of his voice coming from the hallway.

Rachel sat back on her knees, her eyes and gem glowing as her purple magic spewed from her chest and enveloped the little girl. Rachel closed her eyes, letting herself move into the little girl's mind, her head shifting as she sifted through her mind. Dick stepped back inside the room, his arms crossing over his chest as he watched Rachel with worried eyes. "She can do this, she's done it before," Terran assured.

"When?" Dick asked, glancing at Terran.

"Sometimes I can get lost in limbo, like I get stuck," Terran said, her eyes not moving from Rachel's figure. "She's had to pull me out a few times. She can do this." Terran's fingers played with her bracelets and she couldn't tell if she was convincing herself or Dick. Probably both.

A moment later the little girl started to screech, her terrified screams fusing with the pained howls of something else. Terran dropped beside Rachel, shouting her name, but never touching her. Rushing footsteps grew louder as Tim and Gar barrelled up the stairs and burst into the room.

"Dick, what's happening?" Gar asked in a panic, his eyes darting between the screaming girl and back up to Dick. Terran grabbed Rachel by her shoulder, sending whispers through the air, trying to pull Rachel and the girl from the terrible dream. A moment later Rachel drew back with a gasp, the little girl's eyes snapping open.

Rachel immediately wrapped her arms around the little, holding her tight against her in a warm hug. "Hey. Hey. You're okay," Rachel assured, holding onto the little girl. She tucked her head into the crook of Rachels' neck, crying softly. "I saw him in the nightmare," Rachel relayed. "The man that killed Luthor. I didn't see his face. He's not far, but I don't know where he's hiding."

"That sound," Tim muttered, the echoing howls still bouncing through his head. "I never heard anything like that."

"I have," Gar said softly, his gaze shifting as his jaw clenched. "It's the sound of dying animals." Gar turned and silently left the room.

Terran turned back to the little girl, running her hands through her hair. She lifted her head to look at Terran. "Would you like to see something pretty?" Terran asked and the little girl nodded softly. Terran took her hand and filled her palm with a dozen daisy flowers. The girl smiled and plucked one out, spinning it in her hands. "Pretty yeah?"

❁

Cole visited Hazel once more before Tim called him, telling him and Kory to come downstairs to meet the others. Cole accessed Rachel's mind, searching deep through her subconscious and magic, searching for the man who murdered Lex Luthor. Once Cole had found it, Dick followed his direction to an old, large, abandoned building. They suited up and carefully stepped through the door, the smell of rotten flesh and soaking wood filling their senses. "It's a slaughterhouse," Terran realised, looking up at the old hooks that hang from the ceiling.

Dick glanced back at Gar. "Dying animals," Dick said.

Rachel walked to a small table with tools and bloody bowls. "He's here, somewhere close," Rachel confirmed.

"Did the knives and the blood bowl give it away?" Kory snarked.

Dick looked over the rotting walls, going through the layout in his mind before his eyes focused on a fair way staircase. "Starfire and I run point," Dick said. "Toxin, go with Beast Boy and Tim. Poison stick with Raven, keep sharp." Cole nodded and the group started to walk through the old building, Dick leading the way to the staircase, scrapping and thuds sounding above them.

They started to make their way up the rickety stairs, but Cole stopped on the top step, his powers flaring as an echo of a voice filled his head. Rachel turned and Cole flashed his eyes red, motioning behind himself. Rachel walked to him, and they descended the stairs, the wood creaking as they stepped. "What do you hear?" Rachel asked.

"It's garbled, like a bad TV signal," Cole explained, his boots echoing across the wet floor. "He's close."

Rachel walked ahead; her hands flexed at her sides. They stopped at the end of a hall, the door lined with chains, blood dripping from the roof to soak the wood black. Rachel summoned her magic, tearing through the chains, the door opening with a horrific creak. Rachel looked up at Cole and he stepped through first, making his way down the basement stairs, tilting his head as he searched for the voice. "Come out, come out, wherever you are," Rachel cooed, her eyes scanning the dark shadows as she walked beside him. "Where are you?"

Cole glanced over his shoulder, looking at a large symbol on the wall, a star with a line through it. "I know you're here," Cole said in a low voice, his eyes wandering further. "Your thoughts are louder than an opera. Come out." The rattling of chains made them stop and they looked back at the way they came, watching the door for a moment when Rachel suddenly was thrown onto her back with a kick and Cole was slapped to the side.

A man, easily taller than Conner stood over Rachel, draped in black cloth, his face hidden behind a mask made of bone, mimicking a bird skull. He held a dagger made of sharpened bone in his hand and Cole jumped to his feet. "Absolutely not," Cole hissed. Purple lightning shot from Cole's hands, slamming into the man. He screamed, his voice muffled and demonic behind the mask. "Raven!"

Rachel sprung to her feet. Grasping the man with clouds of dark magic, Rachel lifted him into the air as he struggled against both powers. "Get fucked!" Rachel screeched; her eyes glowing bright. The power started to slide under the mask and Rachel stepped forward. "Who are you?!" Rachel tore the man's arms away and shattered the mask.

His hands fumbled for his pocket and Cole rushed forward. ''Rachel!'' Cole grabbed Rachel, pulling her back as the man flicked a lighter in his hand, setting himself and Rachel's magic a flame with bright orange fire. He screamed in pain as his flesh melted under the fire, the magic pouring into his body, disintegrating him, leaving nothing but the bone mask behind. Cole steadied Rachel on her feet as they watched the mask hit the floor. ''Holy shit, you okay?''

''He did that to himself," Rachel muttered, her hands coming up to squeeze her arms. "I didn't do that."

"I know, I know," Cole assured and Rachel nodded softly. "It's over now, no more nightmares." Rachel suddenly looked away, her gem glowing for a second. Cole's eyebrows furrowed, "You alright? What's wrong?"

Rachel took a few steps forward, her hands falling off her shoulders. "Um. . ." Rachel looked around at the pile of ash before shaking her head. "For a second, I felt something or someone. It's gone now."

Rachel turned back and Cole waited for her. "What's actually wrong?" Cole asked, his eyes flickering around and then back to her face.

Rachel shook her head and walked around Cole. "When the cops are done with this place, they should burn it to the fucking ground!" Rachel shouted as she made her way up the stairs.

Cole glanced at her and then back to the mask sitting in the pile of ash. Cole walked closer to it, kneeling in front of it. He reached out, running his fingers along the ridges of bone. "Don't touch that," Terran shouted, making Cole jump. "You'll get aids or some shit." Cole cursed under his breath as he turned around to Terran who laughed softly. "Let's go."

Cole turned and chased after Terran. "You can't get aids from bones," Cole shouted, running up the stairs.

"Really genius?" Terran laughed.

"Yes, that's how science works."

❁

THE NIGHT WAS A BLACK AS THE DARK SEAS, NOT A STAR IN SIGHT. The Titans were ordered to wait outside with the RV as Dick and Kory were sent to get Hazel and Conner. Kory stood to the side, watching Hazel closely. It was the first time she had seen Hazel since they had left Conner and Hazel at Lexcorp, and she hated it. Hazel's eyes had lost all their colour, her skin clinging to her bones; it made her look like a corpse. 

As the dark straight jacket was removed Hazel's joints clicked as her arms could finally stretch properly. "You're aware all of this was completely unnecessary," Kory hissed, her arms crossed over her chest as she glared at the security.

"Kory, it's okay," Hazel assured but her voice was still shaky. Kory took a deep breath and looked at Hazel, who offered her a small smile. "It's done now." A man came over and unlocked the collar. Hazel gasped softly, the lights flickering throughout the entire building as all her power that had been pushed down raced to the surface, even making her eyes glow for a moment. She took a breath and it was like she had never been trapped at all, her eyes were bright and her skin re-gained all its colour.

Kory stepped forward, resting her hand on Hazel's back to steady her, her bones still aching. "Alright, let's get you out of here," Kory said softly. Kory kept her arm around Hazel as she led her from the building, the security still weary of her. Rachel, Gar and Tim stood close to Conner, checking him over as Dick spoke with security and the police.

As soon as he saw Hazel, Cole sprung from his seat, shouting Hazel's name. Kory released Hazel and Cole warped his arms around Hazel, spinning her. Terran joined him, squeezing Hazel tightly the second her feet hit the ground. "Ow! Easy, easy," Hazel winced, and Cole stepped back. "I'm still a little sore." Hazel looked between them and smiled before hugging them both again.

Dick walked their way, placing his hand on Hazel's shoulder. They stepped apart and Hazel looked up at Dick, "You ready?"

"Uh yeah," Hazel nodded quickly, a slight laugh to her words.

They all rushed back to the RV, Dick walking beside Hazel, her steps still a little slow. Hazel pulled herself through the door to the RV, Tim raising his hand for a fist bump as she walked past him. She laughed at him and gently bumped her fist against his as she slid into the seat beside Terran and Gar.

Hazel winced slightly and Gar's arm rested against her back, moving on instinct to keep her steady. Hazel looked up at him and he smiled at her. Hazel dropped her head onto his shoulder, and he pulled her closer, holding her against his side.

"Why don't we play a game?" Rachel suggested, pulling out a stack of UNO cards.

Laughter filled the RV as they played their fourth round on UNO, they even set up a set of cars of Krypto. He would push his nose against the card and no matter what colour or number it was they would play, even if it messed up Cole's UNO. He dropped his head onto the table and Tim petted his back, laughing at him. Gar shuffled through his cards, placing a blue 2 on top. "No, he's got two," Rachel shouted in annoyance.

"Ha! Yes," Hazel leaned forward, placing the draw two down with a laugh. "UNO!" Rachel huffed through her nose, searching her cards. Hazel knocked Gar's shoulder softly and showed Gar her yellow 9 and he nodded, already planning the moves to make it yellow, if Krypto didn't first. Terran groaned and picked up the two cards. Conner chuckled and showed his cards to Krypto as Tim picked out a card. He slammed it against the table with a large smile.

Conner looked up as he pulled out a card. "It's just a 7," Conner said with a shrug.

Cole set a multicoloured card down and sighed deeply. "Red," Cole huffed, leaning forward on his elbows again.

"Cole! What the shit man?" Rachel complained, trifling through her large stack of cards. Her hands faltered for a moment and she looked up, starring off at nothing. 

"Rache?" Terran called, her hand moving to grasp Rachel's.

Rachel looked at Terran before looking up at Haze, making her set her cards down. She met her eyes and then the sense of magic and power rushed over her bones. "We're not alone," Hazel said in an uneasy voice.

The RV slowly stopped as red flashing lights shone through the windows of the RV. "Why is it never easy to leave this town?" Dick groaned. Ahead of them stood a woman in a long black cloak, a tall bladed staff in in her hand; dark blood-red lightning bounding down the road, attaching to cars and buses. The rest of the Titans stood walking toward Dick and Kory to look out the front window.

"This is just a hunch, but I'm gonna assume she's a bad guy," Kory muttered.

She was too far for Hazel to see her face, but she recognised the witch's power. "She killed Lex," Hazel said, the energy from the dark magic spilling over to Hazel.

"I second that," Terran said with a nod.

"Are you certain?" Dick asked, looking up at the girls.

"It's not over till we stop her," Rachel confirmed.

"Then let's finish this," Kory nodded.

Dick stood, "Suit up."

The Titans stepped from the RV and the woman turned towards them, her features still hidden by the night. She smiled as she took small steps closer, her staff glowing gold as it nearly grazed the ground. Tim took his staff and extended it but Cole pushed him behind him.

Conner stepped up first, his veins tensing as he stared the witch down. She held her hand out and beckoned Conner closer. Conner's rage spilled over, and he jumped into the air, firing red lasers from his eyes, the hot beams running across the tar road, tearing it apart. As the lasers reached her, she held the staff out and shot the power back at Conner, flinging him backwards in less than a moment. Conner shot past the Titan's, flying backwards and crashing into the windshield of a nearby car, smashing the glass.

The woman started to walk closer, and Rachel ran forward and on top of a nearby car. She pushed her hands forwards, her power flowing out towards the woman. As the Titans stalked closer, the woman pulled Rachel's power to her staff and tore it backwards. Rachel fell backwards rolling off the car and crashing to the floor with a thud. Terran ran to Rachel, Tim following quickly at Dick's orders.

Hazel tried to fire at the woman, but Nightwing ran forward, his batons in his hands as he rushed towards the woman. Hazel lowered her hands; afraid she might hit him instead. He fought for a few moments before the woman held her hand up, freezing Dick in place. She flicked her wrist, and he flipped over, smashing his head against the concrete.

"Poison!" Terran shouted and Cole ran to Rachel's side as she stood up. Terran ran past Kory and pushed her hands forward, a large force tearing at the road and barrelling towards the woman. She slammed her staff down, catching herself on the road before she could be pushed away. The witch sent the force back at Terran, but she ducked behind a car before it could reach her.

Beast Boy tried to rush forward but the woman spun her staff and the red lightning bounded up the road, electrocuting each Titan. Cole jumped out, trying to pull the lightning away from Tim and Rachel but it pushed him to the ground, the power unlike anything he had faced before. Hazel rushed in front of Gar, holding her arm up and transforming the red lightning into air. Kory pushed her arms forward, her blue light surging forward against the red light. The woman pushed all the red lightning towards Kory, and Kory slammed back against the car.

Hazel weaved her hands and the concrete under the woman's feet cracked making her stumble. The woman straightened and faced Hazel and her smile grew, almost impressed with Hazel. Hazel's eyes widened as she stared at the woman. Hazel took a breath and pulled the light to the surface ignoring the burn it brought with it. Hazel crossed her arms over before throwing them forward sending bright red light racing towards the woman but the witch was quick, creating a shield around herself. Hazel pushed harder against it and the light broke through slightly, enough to burn the right side of the woman's face. The light ran off and into the tar road, melting it and any surrounding cars.

Hazel threw her arms out, the red light exploding across the bridge destroying any cars but the woman was gone. Hazel fell to her knees, the red light still breaking through her skin in bursts of energy. "Venom!" Gar shouted, running to Hazel's side. His arms moved to her arms and the light vanished as she looked up at him. "Hazel, hey? Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Hazel nodded, looking back over her shoulder at the road.

"Venom! Toxin! Beast Boy!" Cole shouted.

Hazel sprung to her feet and sprinted to Cole's side, Rachel still unconscious in his lap. "Christ," Hazel muttered. Terran dropped next to her, taking Rachel's hand.

"Nightwing!" Gar shouted, looking up at Dick who helped Kory walk. They raced over to the others, all watching as Rachel's stone illuminated for a minute before fading. Her black and blue hair drained of all its colour and turned a ghost white.

"Rachel," Terran whispered, leaning forward and running her hand across Rachel's cheek. When she didn't answer her, Terran looked up at her sister with wide eyes. "Hazel, what did she do to her?"

Hazel took Rachel's free hand and ran her fingers over her knuckles. Rachel's power had always had a trace of dark magic, something that Hazel could feel and sense before even seeing her. But now there was nothing. Hazel looked up at Kory and Dick before back at Rachel, "Her powers, they're. . . gone." Their eyes winded as they stared at Hazel, but she kept her eyes on Rachel.

Dick moved first, scooping Rachel into his arms and racing her back to RV, everyone close behind. Dick laid Rachel on the floor of the RV, holding her head up as Terran slipped a pillow beneath her, making sure her neck was steady. Terran grasped Rachel's hand tightly, brushing back the white wisps of hair that fell in front of her eyes. "Is she gonna be okay?" Terran asked in a panic.

"Her heartbeats steady," Conner confirmed.

"Te, can you give me some space?" Hazel asked, crouching beside her little sister. Terran reluctantly nodded and stepped back, making her way to Kory and Gar who had made space for Cole and Hazel to kneel by Rachel. Kory wrapped an arm around Terran, squeezing her tightly as Terran started to chew on her nails in worry.

Cole knelt down beside Rachel, and Dick took a small step back, but he didn't move very far. Cole reached forward, his hand pressing against her temple. He quickly took his hand back and started to pick at his fingernails. "She's freezing," Cole muttered. He looked up at Hazel who nervously chewed on the skin of her fingers. She cursed and pressed her hand to Rachel's forehead, her skin chilling quickly. "Is it okay for me to wake her?"

Hazel nodded softly, "Very slowly. You're just going to call for her, okay?"

He let his eyes grow red and reached out for Rachel. He took Rachel's hand, his thumb brushing her knuckles. He let his hand naturally warm her skin before he took a deep breath, forcing his power into her mind as slowly and carefully as he could, "Rachel, can you hear me?"

For a moment there was nothing and Hazel could feel the RV fill with dread. "Now wake her, slowly," Hazel ordered and Cole nodded softly. Cole closed his eyes as he focussed, the veins in his hand glowing a bright red as he focussed. Rachel's eyes fluttered for a moment, slowly opening to stare at the roof of the RV. Then she shot up with a gasp.

Hazel and Cole kept a hold of her arms, making sure she sat right as she breathing picked up. Her eyes scanned everyone's faces, her eyebrows creasing in confusion. "What happened?" she asked, her breathing easing as her eyes landed on Terran and Kory.

"We were attacked. You got hit pretty bad," Dick explained quickly and Rachel's eyes snapped up towards him. "Are you okay?"

"No," Rachel muttered. Her hand tightened around Hazel's and she started to panic again. She tore her hand from Cole's, both her hands moving to hold onto Hazel's, her nails digging into her skin, "I can't feel you." 

— rapture —