I am really sorry for the wait! I was kind of stuck, and life is an utter and complete mess...yeah. Not in the best of moods, and I apologize if this affects this story.

Note: Hal still has not received the amount of sleep he deems necessary, being preoccupied with his team and all, so this explains his rather sour mood throughout this. I like writing angry Hal...

"Explain this to me one more time." Hal stood there, arms crossed over his chest and eyes narrow behind his mask.

Kilowog sighed heavily, running his large hands over his face. He was seated haphazardly in a seat designed for someone of his height and weight. Despite that, he had thrown himself, almost in a lackadaisical manner, into the chair, his exhaustion and slight irritation present in his overpowering presence. "I've already told you, Jordan. We were talking after you had stormed out. He didn't seem to remember what had happened, something I still don't believe, and he was dizzy and paler than normal. He just passed out!" He threw his hands into the air in a frustrated manner.

The human shook his head. "It's partly my fault. If I hadn't been so preoccupied with stopping you and him from fighting, I might have noticed something."

The Bolovaxian shook his head. "Nah, don't blame yourself. I shouldn't have started anything."

A slight smirk turned the corner of his leader's mouth. "So you do admit to starting it."

Kilowog shook his head. "Shouldn't we be focusing on Razer and whether or not there's actually something wrong with the poozer?"

"Yes, you should." The door to the ship's infirmary hissed open, and the walking green-skinned artificial intelligence known as Aya entered the hall. Her normally emotionless face held the slightest bit of a rather startling irritation. "You should be worried for your teammate, Kilowog." Her pointed, ice-cold blue glare fixed on the Bolovaxian. "Your demonstration of the little concern you hold for your teammate is beginning to make me wish I had emotions so I could merely yell at you."

"What's wrong with Razer?" Hal cut in as he sensed the darkening mood, moving from his position of leaning against the wall and approaching Aya.

The A.I. turned to face him. "So far, what my scanners can conclude is that Razer is merely deprived of the amount of sleep that his species needs. But based on what Kilowog has informed you, our results do not coincide with each other."

"Is it safe to see him?" Hal questioned, nodding at the door behind them.

Aya nodded in return. "Seeing as Razer is not currently awake, I believe it is." She turned and entered the room, not bothering to see if they were following her or not.

Hal stopped in the doorway as he noticed Kilowog lingering. "Kilowog. What is it?"

The Bolovaxian fixed his crimson eyes on the smaller male. "The last time I was with Razer, he tried to kill me."

Jordan nodded. "Yes, I know. I walked in during the middle of the attack. He was in the process of strangling you to death."

The other shook his head. "No, it's not that. He tried to kill me."

Hal crossed his arms. "I thought we were over this. Do I look like I want another fight? Knowing you, that mouth of yours probably irritated him again."

Kilowog's eyes narrowed in a glare. "Hal, he tried to kill me. This wasn't like when he attacked an enemy of ours or something. He looked like a true Red Lantern and acted like one. He was merciless and had nearly crushed my neck."

The human waved his hand, stifling a rather large yawn. "If you're scared, Kilowog, then don't come in. It'll save us the trouble."

Kilowog growled. "I'm not scared, Hal, I'm just taking necessary precautions."

"Necessary precautions that include you hiding like a mouse from a cat?" Hal snapped at the other in a surprisingly harsh tone, not caring if the other understood the Earth animal comparison. He took a moment to recollect himself, resting his forehead in his hand before sighing heavily and continuing. "Look, if you feel like something will happen while you are in there with an unconscious Razer, then stay out here. Otherwise, stop wasting my time, quit acting like an idiotic fool, and get in here."

Kilowog stared in shock as the human turned and entered the infirmary. The Bolovaxian hesitated for the slightest moment before following.

Aya stood at a monitor, her back to the door, as her long and slender fingers moved at an almost insanely fast rate over the computer's keys as her blue gaze darted from the screen before her to the unconscious Volkregian and back. Hal stood leaning against the wall, seemingly half asleep and in a sort of dazed state. He did seem, however, aware enough to send the largest member of his team a dark glare, warning him not to step out of line unless he wanted to be scrubbing the ship with a human toothbrush for the next week.

Kilowog's crimson stare scanned the room, and it landed on the prone figure laid out on the medical bed beside Aya.

Razer looked even worse than when he had last seen him. His face was eerily emotionless, and his skin was a pale and sickly looking white that could not be anywhere near healthy for the young and powerful Volkregian. His ring had powered down in his dormant state, and his dark gray and black civilian clothing seemed to hang off of his frame as if he had lost a substantial amount of weight. Ragged and hoarse, barely audible breaths could be heard rattling inside of his chest; threy sounded so painful that the Bolovaxian could not help but wince in slightly sympathetic pain.

"What data have you collected on him so far, Aya?" Hal appeared next to the walking artificial intelligence, not bothering to stifle the huge yawn that nearly made him stumble.

"Razer, from what I can tell, is suffering from massive sleep deprivation, malnourishment, and dehydration." She turned to face the human, clear blue eyes bright as if with some warring emotion. "These symptoms have just recently appeared on my scanners, however."

As if responding to the statement, on his bed, the pale Volkregian stirred, groaning quietly. His long-fingered hands twitched, and he shuddered violently as he turned on his side on his bed.

"Aya." Hal stared down at the panting Volkregian, face holding no emotion.

The artificial-intelligence shook her head. "Nothing that will resort in an unwanted consequence is happening." She turned and headed for the door. "It would be best to let Razer rest. He will need it."

I was stranded in a dark and cold abyss. I could see nothing, and I doubted anything that happened to be in here with me could see me, either.

Shivers wracked my body, and my arms unconsciously wrapped around my torso, attempting to trap the little heat I had inside. A blanket of pitch black hung over my eyes, but I knew they were open and searching for a way out of this place.

A deep and hoarse laugh sounded, echoing throughout the dark space. I winced as the waves of sound increased the dull ache in the back of my head, and I bared my teeth as the shudders began to increase in brutality.

"Wherever you are, know that when I find you that I will gut you like a fish and hang you to dry." My voice was a weaker than I intended, but at least, I could talk. My mind was filled with violent fantasies relating to what I would do should I find my captor, things that would make even the Guardians on Oa would cringe.

The horrific laugh sounded again, filled with dark malice and intent.

Razer...we both know that you are bluffing and that you cannot do anything to me.

Something whipped past me, making me spin around with my dagger extended. My ring seemed to not want to work at the moment, but at least, I had my physical weapons on my person.

Do you really think that those will harm me? I am nigh indestructible.

"Nigh indestructible is not completely indestructible. You must have some sort of weakness." My body was shaking harder, and the painful throbbing in my head was becoming worse. What was wrong with me?

You fail to understand. You cannot do anything to me...because I am not real.

A figment, that was all this being was? A snarl curled back my pale lips and my eyes narrowed. Heat threatened to overwhelm me as my ring began to power up as my rage increased.

All of this was some sort of twisted nightmare? Just some bad dream?

It only made my anger increase, but I had yet to figure out why I was so irritated. I had had nightmares before, after the death of Ilana, and those were the most gruesome. I would stand in the fire, screaming in rage and despair, and then he would show up and offer me vengeance.

All I had to do was wake up. Yet I seemed unable to do so.

I am not nor will I ever be real. Not in your world and not in mine.

"Your words are twisted, specter, and I fail to understand your meaning." Who or whatever this creature was, it was really starting to annoy me even more than I already was.

Am I really? Or do you simply not desire to hear the truth?

"What truth do you speak of? What do you know that I do not?" The darkness was beginning to waver, and the faintest traces of a silhouette began to appear. Who or whatever was moving towards me was about my height and body shape, it seemed.

Suddenly heat overcame me, and pain tore its way through my body. It was great enough to send me to my knees, and it was suddenly difficult to breathe.

A pair of cold and skeletal hands appeared on my shoulders, dragging me to my feet and steadying me roughly.

Cold and chilling laughter echoed all around me, dark and demented enough to send chills down my spine. As I looked up and the murky darkness cleared.

My heart froze.

Standing above me, with a cruel and vicious smirk, was...me. Only...it wasn't me. This version of me was taller, with the same amount of muscle as I had now, but he seemed more powerful than I was currently. I was dressed in my civilian clothing, but a strange and dark liquid covered the sleeves and pant leg hems, dripping steadily onto the floor. My eyes were crimson, bloodthirsty and sadistic, with slit black pupils. A dark smirk curled back my seemingly bloodless lips to expose fangs that were longer than my current set.

Nothing. You know absolutely nothing.

Before I could retaliate, a fist was flying towards me and I was knocked unconscious.

Once again, I apologize for the wait, and for how short this chapter is. I really am kind of starting to lose inspiration for this story, so if you guys have any ideas, feel free to let me know.