Robin's P.O.V.
I was griping the edge of the table so tightly that my fingers were beginning to numb. Anger and worry grew inside of my body, slowly engulfing me. I looked up at the screen desperately, hoping that Starfire would pop back and say it was a joke and that she was ok and happy. But it was real, an actual psychopath hurt Starfire just so I can join him; it was so real and realistic that I didn't believe it, because I didn't want to. My body shook slightly. I felt as if someone took one of the cords from my life support so I can just suffer and struggle to survive.
Raven wasn't usually discussed or shocked, but she hid her face behind her cape during most of the ordeal. Beastboy was sobbing quietly while shielding his eyes, and Cyborg would occasionally rub his eyes to shield them for few seconds. As for me I pulled a brave face, I didn't look away at all, I didn't think I blinked either, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't close to tears.
"I," my voice cracked but I continued."I have to join him, only way to keep her safe..."
"No Robin, if you join him no one's ganna be safe. We have to come up with a plan." Raven said with a look of concern.
I clenched my fists. This entire thing was my fault. Also, coming up with a plan was going to be hard, especially since we have no clue where she was. I just wanted her here, safe and sound. Knowing that I will wake up in the morning seeing her bright smile. Being able to go to the roof with her and talk, carry her to bed when she falls asleep on the couch. But I couldn't do that, not anymore. Even if we do get her back will she ignore me? It was my fault this happened... If only I hadn't made her wish to run away...
I turned and faced the Titans. I slowly examined out current condition. Beastboy was sitting on a chair at the breakfast table and he still had tears streaming down his cheeks but he looked up at me for awaiting orders, as if he wasn't crying at all. Cyborg was pacing around the room with his hands on his head and his eyes shut tight, he was breathing deeply, I'm assuming to calm himself down. Raven was waiting for my orders and tried to focus on me, but her powers would zap and melt things around her. As for me... well... I feel lost, broken, depressed... but most of all I felt anger, a need to destroy, a need for revenge , the exact same feelings I got when my parents died. I now have another ,stronger, reason to bring Slade to justice, and in my opinion his justice was death. He has caused too much havoc in Jump City. Who am I kidding? He has caused too much havoc in MY life. I thought again about my team's condition, and long story short we are a complete mess.
"Look... Ah...I-I...," I stuttered. "We can train harder and uh...," the anger built in my system, then I finally broke. "Who the fuck am I fucking kidding?! We... Us... God damn it, I'm fucked up right now! I-I just can't... I swear if I see him one more time in my life!" I finished while I collapsed on the couch while burying my face into my hands, thinking of a plan to save Star.
The whole team looked at me in shock. I often never really swore out loud... I only swear in a whisper to myself or in my head. I just felt that the entire world was falling apart and I was failing at gluing it back together. I clenched my fists and looked up at my worried teammates, the rage continuing to grow inside me.
I stood up and walked up to the ops. Technically this is the ops room but we call it a living room, seems more normal. I began typing into the ops computer. I was trying to pinpoint the location that Starfire's communicator went offline. The computer automatically opened up a map of Jump City and began scanning it. The Titans crowded around while I crossed my arms across my chest. We waited patiently until the computer buzzed, signaling she wasn't in Jump City. I stood their wide eyed at the computer screen, hoping she wasn't too far. The computer continued to scan the suburbs. I kinda wished she was within the perimeters of the city, but if not then I truly do hope she's at least in the suburbs. The suburbs is already and hour away from where we are... And if something happens we won't be there in time. The computer buzzed agian, signaling she wasn't there either. At this point my hands were on my head, trying to stay calm and not think to much, because my mind is where my true nightmares come from and sometimes I think that if I think about them... They might come true. The computer then began scanning somewhere else until it began beeping. I looked down at the screen, using the mouse to examine the area.
"Whoa is that the one creepy town that's abandoned?" Asked Cyborg.
"Yeah, Starfire might be there, or around there so lets get goin'." I said.
"That place sounds...interesting." Said Raven in monotone.
Beastboy just shivered.
"How long are we gonna be there?" He asked.
I thought for a moment. That place is about 2.5 hours away, and if something's their we need to be there immediately.
"On second thought, pack your things. We're ganna be there a couple of days."
"Dude! Lets stay in a hotel next town over!" Beastboy exclaimed.
"Sorry BB, that's not ganna work too well. So pack some stuff and be back here in 2 hours." I commanded while walking to my room.
Everyone obliged and went to their rooms as well.
I thought about the situation. Now that I was in my room alone I had time to think about the place we were going. Yes it's true, the place has become a legend over the years in Jump City, most people know about it, let me tell you why. It was an old gold mining town from a long time ago, it was abandoned right after 20 years or so, and people have said it was haunted and people would come and visit to see the hunting attractions. So now it's pretty much abandoned, a reason possibly because its in the middle of the driest region around. People say that it stopped raining there before it became gold mine town that's why many people died in that place, that for sure isn't true because it rains at least 5 times a year there. Others say that that town was used for conspiracies more than anything else like mining for gold. The mines in that place are really dark and had very bad ventilation that's another, reason people died in that place, they'd die from insanity. So the town had to include an asylum, Like the town itself wasn't creepy enough. But those are just legends and myths and stories, and personally I don't believe in that crap it was just a funny story to tell around the campfire. I never actually went there before since it is 2 1/2 hours away but people say that when they come back from that place they certainly feel weird and different people also have said that place felt very eerie. So I have no idea what to expect, but I don't believe in ghosts well sorta. With all this crazy shit that goes on you never know... especially on the crazy stuff that happens to us we just don't know what can happen and what can't happen, just can have to hope for the best right?
I was the first one out of my room with my stuff ready to go. I left out one important detail to the other Titan's but I don't want them to chicken out. The location that Starfire's communicator went off line was in the asylum in the town. I wasn't scared though I just wanted my Starfire back home where she belongs. The other Titans came pouring out of their rooms. I'm ganna have to tell them eventually, but I'll wait for when we're already on the road to tell them that, that way BB dosnt chicken out... Literally.
"Common. We've only got about 28ish hours left common!" I rushed.
But then the TV screen flickered. Slade was trying to make contact again. I grabbed all the Titan's bags and tossed them in another room, that way Slade dosn't know we're on his trail.
Time to face another torturous event.
Starfire's P.O.V.
I bit my lip. My entire body kept shivering and I kept hearing my own screams being replayed in my mind. The blood was now dried and crusted on my legs, arms, and abdominal. I was still very sore, and I was most positive my cheek had swollen a bit from that cut I took from Slade's sharp utensil. I didn't know how many hours have gone by but someone came next to me and I felt like its only been minutes since the gashing. I can tell that this person was a girl, but she was wearing everything black. She covered her face in a rag so I wouldn't see her.
"This will only hurt a bit..." She said while tilting her head.
She the brought out what looked like a shot. She stabbed it into my arm, obviously not caring for me. I screamed out in pain as she pulled back the back of the shot looking thing, extracting red, hot, thick blood. She then took the shot out carelessly and I winced.
"This here, that I'm holding in my hand is plan B." she told me while opening a door on the wall behind me going to another room.
I then heard her roll out a machine and saw her place it next to the cage I was in. She unlocked the door and entered. I was furiously trying to get my hands untied so I can escape, but I had no avail. How can I release myself from here? She picked up some hand cuffs that would glow a bright red, I can just feel my powers leave my body at the sight of that. It seemed familiar to the cuffs Mad Mod used to keep my powers from working. I tried to inch back but she cuffed my hands above my head. My body felt drained I felt slightly useless since I can't defend anymore, I was a 'normal' person with these special cuffs on, I couldn't help but thing about Robin.
I saw the strange, but familiar, girl take out the tube of blood and place it in the machine. The machine had tubes with three cuffs around them one larger than the rest. It had a long wire leading to another room, possibly sending some information. The machine beeped but was blinking red.
"I know, I know. You need power. And we've got power that has DNA which will help the process..." She said mischievously while tilting her head at me.
Process? What processes? DNA? What is this code she is speaking of? She then opened up two of the smaller cuffs and placed it over the red cuffs I was already wearing, they fit perfectly around the red cuffs, like if it was made to be like that. She then grabbed the large cuff and cuffed it around my abdominal. Wires, cables, and small tubes were connecting me and the machine, and I was scared and curious. The tall, confident girl turned toward the door and yelled out.
"Slade! We are ready for the process to begin!" She yelled out.
Slade walked into the room and I immediately flinched.
"Good. Go now." He commanded, the girl followed his orders.
My heart was about to beat out of my chest. I was frightened, what if he electrocuted me? I doubt that though because the machine was connected to a wire that sent information to the room in the back. Slade fiddled with my communicator. And began making contact with the Titans. Robin immediately answered.
"If you hurt her. I swear." Robin immediately said with a stern look on his face.
Slade just turned away and walked toward the machine.
"It won't hurt, it'll just feel... Uncomfortable." Slade said quietly.
The Titans looked at him and me worried.
"He canceled my powers! He used the cuffs of Mad Mod!" I yelled quickly"
Robin understood what I meant but the others needed some confirmation. I need to work a bit more on my English...
Slade flipped a switch and I immediately felt as if I were forced to hold the world on my body. I winced. I felt if I were dying of exhaustion.
"You see we used the special red cuffs to suck her powers into them and those metal cuffs suck it out of the red cuffs and transfer them into this machine to power it, her powers have traces of her DNA on it which will help the process move a bit quicker." Slade explained.
"What are you planning!?" Robin yelled.
I groaned, my life being sucked away and I had no control over my powers...
"Patients Robin. Patients. But I don't have patients so have you created a resolution to your predicament?"
Robin hesitated.
"Tick tock, Robin. You've got exactly 28 hours left. Only 28."
Slade ended the call and looked back at me with false pity. Then walked out of the room. Leaving me agian alone in the dark, with my scars, my growling stomach, my tears flowing down my cheek, my exhaustion, and my powers being sucked away to be used as power.