Well, this is the end… of part one! Scared you, didn't I? xD You, the reader, have my Crimson Shadows my most successful fan fiction yet, and for that, I thank you beyond words could ever explain. Chapter 10 will end Crimson Shadows, but look out for its sequel, Fate's Call, coming very soon.

Again, thank you reader for your love, support and devotion. In less than two years, I will be off to college trying to major in English/Literature, and hopefully, I'll still be writing FFs. Only time, and fate, will tell. And remember, follow your dreams, and soar. –Jason

This chapter's song is "Be My Escape" by Relient K (an awesome and meaningful song).

Crimson Shadows

Chapter 10: Ready for Redemption

I've given up, I'm giving up slowly,

I'm blending in so You won't even know me

apart from this whole world that shares my fate
This one last call that You mentioned is my one last shot at redemption

because I know to live you must give your life away…

Garfield "Beast Boy" Logan ended his life on that crisp, March day. The world didn't end; it kept spinning and people continued their lives as normal. Dreams and broken hearts lingered in the air. This young life meant nothing in the eyes of the universe, but to one lonely girl, that life was worth saving; nothing would stop her from fulfilling this destiny.

They say people are never truly gone until they are forgotten. Fate casted crimson shadows…

Sewage lines, under downtown Jump City.

Slade Wilson backhanded his apprentice square in the face, but the young changeling did not feel the pain. "You disobeyed me, Logan. I gave you orders and failed to follow through," the masked man stated calmly.

Beast Boy looked this man with pure hatred. "Go ahead, Slade. Hit me, abuse me, do whatever you want. Remember, though: it's a long way down to Hell." Slade was taken aback by the changeling's words, then boiled with rage. "You're dead to the world, you worthless piece of shit. I provided a chance for you rule everything in your path, and you gave it up. Do you realize how stupid you are?"

"If love is measured through stupidity, I must be one brain-dead fool." Slade only laughed. "We'll see, Logan. We'll see where we'll be in the end…"

I've been housing all this doubt and insecurity and
I've been locked inside that house all the while You hold the key
And I've been dying to get out and that might be the death of me
And even though, there's no way in knowing where to go, promise I'm going because...

Titans Tower, Jump City shore.

Raven Roth didn't feel anything. Remorse, anger, sadness… just words without meanings. She would do no matter what it took to save Garfield, because he deserved to be saved.

"Raven, its me," she heard Robin knock. "Come in." The masked teen entered with a hint of hesitation. "Listen, please don't get yourself hurt out there, Raven. Let us come with you." Raven forced herself to smile. "Please, Robin, I will be fine. This is a battle I need to fight on my own." Robin nodded, understanding. "I'm sure everything will be fine."

"Yeah, I really hope so too," she sighed, looking at the beautiful setting sun…

…I gotta get outta here
I'm stuck inside this rut that I fell into by mistake
I gotta get outta here
And I'm begging You,

I'm begging You,

I'm begging You to be my escape.

Raven was scared. She hated to admit it, but she trembling with the feeling of unknown. The sewers were dark and damp, filled with never-ending blackness. "I won't let Garfield succumb to this," Raven thought, and felt herself push on forward, because there would eventually be an end…

Garfield felt the earth below rumble with tremendous force, a beautiful radiance of midnight energy erupted into the cave. "What the hell?" Slade yelled, turning abruptly to the source of the chaos. The changeling only smiled. "Room service…"

I am a hostage to my own humanity
Self detained and forced to live in this mess I've made
And all I'm asking is for You to do what You can with me
But I can't ask You to give what You already gave…

Raven entered the cave and found her love screaming her name, tears streaming down his face. She looked to the left and found the man that had almost stolen everything she loved and cared about: Slade.

She emitted another wave of black energy and lifted the man's body high into the air, ramming it into the cliff above with a crack. The damage was only a scratch to Slade, who immediately jumped onto the empath, knocking her to ground. "Taking your life will be the ultimate pleasure," Slade laughed with malice.

"It certainly will," he heard a growl behind him, then daggers protruding into his skin. Slade screamed in pain and realized that his apprentice was now a tiger, whose claws now stuck from his back. Garfield threw the masked maniac into the air, and let him hit the cold, hard floor. Slade forced himself to get up. "This is far from over…"

"…because it's the beginning of the end," Raven finished for Slade, her eyes glowing bright white. She screamed in primal rage and the cave once again began to rumble violently.

Garfield suddenly had an idea. "Be strong, my Raven," he thought, and turned into a grizzly bear. He squeezed Slade in a tight bear hug and positioned himself over a crack that was rapidly spreading apart from the quake. Slade struggled to get free but found it impossible. …

Garfield looked below himself and saw the crack now revealed a stretching blackness. Without a word, Garfield let go of the masked man, and watched him scream, falling into the reaching darkness

Raven now saw Garfield standing over the crack. She flew down to try and catch him, but the crack was now too big, even for his bear size. Garfield changed back into his human form…

I fought You for so long…

…and smiled. "Fly, my Raven. I love you," Garfield Logan whispered. Raven tried to say something, but words got caught in her throat.

I should have let You in…

The changeling closed his eyes and smiled. He felt finally at peace as he fell into the void of dark…

Oh how we regret those things we do…

Raven sobbed into her cloak, her heart aching and straining, wishing, begging, that things had been different. She couldn't ask why; it was just the way it had to be. Nevertheless, it hurt so bad. How could she ever go on?

Raven looked one last time at the place her love had fell, and walked out the cave…

And all I was trying to do was save my own skin…

Two days later…

Raven walked alone. She felt unable to go on; life was pointless and it hurt just to keep on living. The empath walked to the spot where Garfield had once tried to end his life; that had seemed so long ago. She stepped on the platform and silently asked Garfield to forgive her… when her eye caught something unreal: Garfield's own belt. He would never go anywh-

"He's alive; I know it!" she exclaimed mentally. There was still hope in the world.