The shell cracked open.
Slowly at first, before the inner structure of the cocoon finally gave way, and an unconscious Wally West collapsed, his starved, limp figure crumpling to the concrete floor of the dark, cold underground hall.
Arise, Wallace, a haunting, metallic voice spoke, his words resonating through the air like a malignant curse.
Arise, he spoke again, the order reverberating with a chill, this time in Wally's mind, calling forth his consciousness.
You have been freed from your limitations. Lord Savitar has given you his blessing.
Wally's eyes slowly flittered open, and he coughed.
He was cold.
So, so cold.
How long had he been in that thing?
That - that cocoon?
That pillar of obsidian that held him without any air, left him suffocating each second, yet pulsated with raw energy that flushed through him, power singing through his body.
A few hours? A couple of days? Weeks, months, years, even?
Wally couldn't tell. He glanced around, his vision still blurred, until he noticed the jagged, ebony shards littered around him.
The cocoon had shattered.
Al- Alchemy had to have done that, Wally realized, groaning feebly as he tried to sit up, looking around.
Behind him, a long, chipped case of dry silvery-white leather.
It was human shaped. It was a husk... Wally realized, chilled sweat covering his skin.
His husk - this was the dried chrysalis remains of his previous human body. This was not good, not good at all, Wally panicked, icy adrenaline fleeting up his spine as he tried to rise.
He didn't recognize where he was, before he remembered that he was still in that underground hall in the sewers - where the cult had been.
Where Alchemy had summoned him.
Alchemy was still here somewhere, Wally thought, quickly rising before his own dizziness forced him to stumble, a new feeling humming in his bones.
Wally looked down at his hands. No more callouses along his knuckles, no more familiar papercuts between his index finger and thumb. No more thick scars at his wrist where Zoom had painfully chained him to the wall.
His hands, still somewhat delicate like they had always been, were smooth now, Wally realized, folding and unfolding his long fingers. They were completely devoid of the scars and blemishes he had become accustomed to, as if the scars and cuts had been healed. They felt... new.
These weren't his hands.
These weren't his hands, and Wally noticed that his body felt the same way, fear flushing in his chest - these weren't his hands, this wasn't his body, Wally was alive again but at the same exact time his old body was lying dead behind him in a husk - what had Alchemy done?
Wally tried to run away, before he noticed the strange new sensation kicking into his bones.
It was a paradoxical, almost nauseous, combination of new strength and weakness.
As if someone had shot electricity into every atom of his body, the surge of fresh energy dizzying him. His skin was sticky. He was burning with what must have been the worst fever of his life, and the bones of his arms and legs felt as if they would break if he tried to test his weight on them.
He felt... somewhat dead, if that was even possible.
Fighting against his own heavy-headedness, Wally lifted a frail arm, bringing the hand to his face.
"Where... am I?" He croaked softly, "What did you do to me?"
I have revived you, Wallace, the ancient voice responded in his head again. Your transformation is complete. Our metamorphosis was successful.
Wally winced at the stinging sensation in the core of his mind, and stumbled as he tried to turn around.
"Alchemy. Where are you?" he demanded through clenched teeth, shutting his eyes, hands at his temples, "Get out of my mind. Get out of my mind - show yourself."
He gasped out loud as pain shot into his skin like a million, burning needles.
Wallace, you do not sense my presence? the voice asked, making a fast rough sound that must have been a chuckle. You truly cannot discern where I am?
"Get out of my head," Wally begged in a quivering voice, his voice breaking at the last word. He clutched his forehead, weeping. "Please - get out. It hurts. It hurts my head."
I cannot, Alchemy responded, laughing cruelly, Lord Savitar has blessed us both with unfathomable power. Only a fool would undo this new gift. And the only way to revert this is death.
"Death," Wally stammered, mewling as the pain snaked under his skin, "Blessed us both - you've possessed me. You're possessing me."
Wally screamed out loud as the painful sensation returned, crushing every inch of his body.
You picked my heart up off the ground, do you not recall, Wallace West?
"That- that stone. The glowing one - it was your heart?" Wally gasped, trying to stumble away out of this hell, before Alchemy's grip forced him to hold still.
The shock was numbing, and Wally choked for air as Alchemy took over his body to respond. Yes, Wallace. It was a trap all along. You wanted your speed, and I wanted a new body. In the end, we were both willing to go to great lengths to get what we want. The other victims - Edward Clarisse, Frances Kane - they were not worthy. They could not hold this power without failing. But you - the voice chuckled darkly again - you hold great potential, do you not?
A taste in his mouth like stale blood. Wally couldn't bring himself to reply. He only trembled with weakness as Alchemy took more and more away from him, stealing control. His eyes were clamped shut so tightly, Wally began to see spots. Splotches of color, blood, attacking his sanity, before the swirl of colors formed visions.
Memories.
Barry screaming as Wally picked the glowing rock off the ground, suddenly becoming encased in an obsidian pillar.
Wally meeting his sister, Iris, for the first time last Christmas.
Joe and the SWAT team, pale from fear as they pointed guns in the underground as Savitar revealed himself. Zoom kidnapping Wally, taking him to a whole other universe. The underground street racing league. Wally ramming his'68 Camaro into Black Siren to save Barry during the Metapocalypse. Francine dying in the hospital.
Francine driving Wally through the countryside when he was younger, laughing kindly. A much younger Wally smiling when she stepped on the pedal, in awe of how fast the car was going, its speed.
The visions shifted, became brighter and more positive...
Wally saw himself in a leather jacket and dark jeans, driving his car to test out a new Nitrous formula, when a storm hit. His car exploded in lightning, and Wally was taken to a hospital, heavily comatose.
He envisioned - he could feel - the wind beating the city as he ran, charged and unstoppable. Friction burning away his shoes, tearing through his clothes, the smile stretched ear-to-ear across his face.
Iris took him to Ramon Industries - and Mr. Francisco Ramon himself designed and built Wally a new suit for him to run in.
Then - the crowd cheering madly on Central City's Flash Day, Mayor Brennan smiling as he handed Wally the Key to The City.
The inertia that coursed along with him as he ran, the heroic gold lightning crackling as it strung behind him.
The children he rescued, the lives he saved, Iris's warm voice guiding him through their comms network.
The countless villains he stopped, the energy singing in his veins, the yellow of his suit. His embarrassing yet funny attempts to flirt with that witty reporter, Linda Park.
Kid Flash, Alchemy taunted, Is this not what you wanted? Is this not the life you crave?
"Y-yes," Wally replied, on his knees, writhing. wanting the headache to stop.
Do you not want this power, Wallace? Alchemy tempted again. Is this not what you deserve? A hero. Is that not what you strive to be?
Wally groaned.
Your father does not trust you, and Alchemy stirred visions in Wally's mind again.
Countless memories of Joe congratulating and hugging Barry after a feat of running, then scowling and forbidding Wally from acting recklessly, telling him to stay safe. Iris pulling Wally to the side and trying her best to kindly explain to him, make him understand - that Wally could not be a speedster. It wasn't for him, that there were other ways to help people. Harrison Wells telling Wally that he may not get super speed, that having Barry and Jesse as speedsters was more than enough.
I trust you, Wally, Alchemy answered again, I believe you are worthy of this power. Don't you trust me in return? Don't you want to live to your true potential?
Wally tried to fight it, but instead fell to the floor, his limbs contorting with the shock, the immense pain.
He wanted that life - he needed that life. It was his in every way, and he deserved to prove everyone wrong. It was an innocent desire.
But Alchemy...
The cult. Iris's warnings. Wally didn't listen, and now he was possessed by some demon who-
You can trust me, Wallace, Alchemy soothed, the pain ebbing instantly ebbing away. Speed crackled in his fingertips, a small tempting taste.
You have your speed now, Alchemy added comfortingly, his warm words washing over Wally like a soft blanket.
But the more you fight me, the more it will hurt. Do you wish to anger Lord Savitar, who freed you from your cursed old life?
"N-no-"
Do you wish to die, Wallace West?
"N-n-no-" Wally whimpered, "Please-"
Then relinquish control. Or else-
Wally cried out loud as unseen monsters stabbed every inch of his flesh.
Give in, and I will teach you how to wield this new ability. Together, we can show the others what you are truly capable of. We will be unstoppable, Wallace.
"I- I-" Wally gasped, clutching his stomach, unable to form words.
What do you choose? Alchemy taunted calmly, A life with me, under service and worship of Savitar, the god of speed himself? Or death - the refusal to behold this gifted life?
Wally panted as he felt invisible hands bear a vise-like grip around his neck, a stony pressure pressing down hard on his windpipe. More colors spotted his vision, but this time, this time, they darkened instead of showing visions. Small ragged gasps left his throat as he tried to find air. He couldn't fight it. He couldn't fight Alchemy. He was almost out of time - and all Wally could think of was the fact that he was being made a priceless offer, and if he refused, he could be lose his chance at becoming who he really was.
Relinquish control and I will give you the life you have always wanted - a life where you are in control, a life where you are unstoppable. All it takes is an oath to trust me.
"I give in" Wally whispered, the pressure suddenly lifting from his neck. Tears trickled down his face, leaving him weak. "I give in. I - I want to be Kid Flash. I want to help people. I want my father to trust me. I want to be as good as Barry is, in his eyes."
The pain.
It finally stopped.
The dense fog in his mind cleared.
It had suddenly stopped, Wally realized in disbelief. It disappeared all at once.
Was that all it took?
He waited a minute for Alchemy's voice to reappear.
It didn't.
Then - a jittering sensation returned to his bones, and it was something Wally had never felt before, yet had always known.
The new, yet all too familiar, warm, energetic kick of energy - and oh, that beloved, undeniable and magnificent desire to move.
To escape.
To be unbounded, unrestricted - to feel the wind ripping over him, the pavement disappearing from under his feet as he pounded over the ground.
To run.
Wally finally exhaled, and felt a single shock of electricity comfortably pass over him. He opened his eyes, and could feel the sparks crackling in his irises.
"It is done," Alchemy answered out loud, but in Wally's own voice, "Now, we rise."
Then Wally rose off the ground, obeying the new voice in his mind that controlled him.
Come.
We must show the world who you really are, give the people of this city a taste of true speed. We will reveal the true extent of the Kid Flash's raw power, and the service to our Lord and Master, the God of Speed.
We will end all those who fight against us.
A smile glinted on his face, and Wally turned to leave the sewers in search of the Flash.
Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed!
Please leave a comment with your thoughts - and let me know if you'd like for me to continue! :)
- DBV