Fan Fiction ❯ Phoenix's Rise ❯ It All Comes Down to This Part 1 ( Chapter 34 )

Chapter 34

 

It All Comes Down to This Part I

 

“We've got signals from each one of the Guardians' communicators!” Bumble Bee cheered from the computer console.

 

“Well, where are they?!” Beast Boy asked impatiently.

 

“Uhh . . . their . . . rooms.” Robin began to laugh as he read the coordinates for each Titan, and realized that they'd been so wrapped up in locating their friends . . . they'd literally gone right past them.

 

Phoenix appeared to be sound asleep on her bed when Robin went into check in on her. Even though he tried to walk silently out of the room, Phoenix woke up.

 

“I'm sorry, Phoenix. I didn't mean to wake you up. Just go back to sleep.” Robin apologized as he made his way back towards the door.

 

“Don't worry about it. I couldn't really sleep anyway. What was the commotion just now?” Phoenix yawned as she sat up.

 

“Everyone went running to check on the others. I managed to convince them to let me talk to you alone for now.” Robin grinned. “You should've seen Port's face when he found out that Chrome-Dome was one of the Guardians. If it wasn't for the fact that we didn't know where you guys were, I think he would've come up and kicked Chrome-Dome into kingdom come.” Robin sat down next to Phoenix, wrapping an arm around her shoulder, pulling her close. When he leaned in to kiss her, he pulled back, a look of pure horror plastered on his face. “Why do you have a cut right here on your neck?! And why are your arms and legs so bruised?!”

 

Embarrassed, Phoenix turned away. “You of all people should know that it's entirely possible to get hurt during a fight.”

 

“Not like this. What happened?” Robin gently took her hand and touched the deep purple marks that lined her arms up to her elbows.

 

“I was getting tired. I was the only mortal, everyone else was physically incapable of tiring. After a while . . . I got pretty sloppy.” Phoenix started to cry. “I killed the Dark Air-Guardian by accident. I stabbed him . . . even though he was an evil creation . . . there was so much blood.” And what if I lose control and do it again?

 

Robin walked quietly out of Phoenix's room. The sleeping pills had finally taken effect. It hadn't taken long before Robin realized that the physical, mental, and emotional damage that Phoenix had sustained was driving her inside. She had been in near hysterics for what had seemed to be forever.

 

“Is she going to be okay?” That's what Robin could hear everyone was whispering, even though they tried not to let him hear. “Who would've thought that Phoenix could go insane from one fight?” “She seemed so tough.”

 

She knew Robin had given her some sort of medicine, but didn't care. The deep, pure sleep was welcomed. Only dreams could spoil it, and even though the drugs were supposed to stop them . . . dreams came. One nightmare after another terrorized Phoenix's subconscious, each worse than the last, ending with the Olympus Battle.

 

Blood was everywhere. Phoenix could feel it on her skin, soaking through her clothes, filling her lungs . . . but she couldn't wake up. All she could see was crimson . . . blood . . . everywhere. Instinct took over now, and she just flew. Up. It didn't matter; she just needed to get away . . .

 

Robin and the others heard the fire alarm, felt the water from the sprinkler system, smelled the smoke from the charred wall and curtains, and felt the draft from the melted window. No one could say anything, but even if they did, it wouldn't change the fact that Phoenix was gone.