The Flash: Discover what makes a hero
Chapter One – Innocence
Central City stood tall and proud beside the Missouri river, its tall skyscrapers sparkling angelically as the light from the sun reflected off the sheen glass; creating a similar effect to the shimmering river below. Cars and people rammed the city's streets, as they began their daily commute once more in the quest to go get 'lunch'.
Flittering through the wind softly, a small dried leaf rode the currents across the city; twisting and turning majestically as it softly floated towards the ground. Coming to a rest on the cold harsh sidewalk, the leaf was instantly crushed by the thick leather boot of one particular commuter.
"Hmph" The woman sighed as she dragged her sole along the stone ground to remove the leaf from the rubber bottom of her sole. Turning, she proceeded to join the bustling queue of people into the city's theatre. Submerging herself through the thin glass doors, the young woman smiled as the warmth of the theatre wrapped around her. Sighing softly, she proceeded to take a deep breath of its familiar musty smell.
"Alicia?"
Turning, the young woman; Alicia, greeted a familiar face. Her best friend, Andrew. "Andy!" She exclaimed as the security guard approached her and embraced her in a tight hug.
"It's good to see that you still visit, even after so many years!" Andy smirked sarcastically as he unravelled his arms away from Alicia.
"It's only been three months, Andy" Alicia commented as she began to slip her leather jacket off from her shoulders. "I start my new job tomorrow"
"Oh yeah, and where was that again?" Andy asked curiously as he took the jacket away from Alicia, his arm encircling her shoulders in a friendly motion as he began to lead her towards his office which sat nestled between the two stairwells.
"It was at the museum across the road" Alicia chimed, her eyes alight with curiosity, "See! I'm not moving away too far! I can still be your coffee runner!"
"I'm surprised you left us in the first place" Andy commented as he opened the small cream painted door to the office. Walking inside, Alicia leant against the wooden desk of one of the other security guards, her arms crossing over her chest as she watched Andy close the door and begin to hang up her jacket.
"Andy, you know why I had to leave" Alicia droned as she began to play with her nails, "The money at the museum is better"
"I know" Andy sighed as he walked over and collapsed in his office chair, his hands clasped tightly across his lap. "I know"
"Remember, you're still my one and only friend in this city. Just because I'm changing job roles doesn't mean I'm abandoning you?" Alicia paused, biting her lip as she noted the defeated look in her ex co-workers eyes. Eager to change the topic of conversation, Alicia tilted her head in the direction of the guard's desk; her eyes linking with the framed image of a little girl. "How is she then?"
"Oh!" Andy smirked as he turned to the picture. Leaning forwards, Andy clasped the picture tightly between his calloused hands, as he ran a finger over the younger girl's image. "Little Jess turned two yesterday!"
"Wow" Alicia noted as she leant against a nearby desk, her eyes wandering over to the CCTV monitors of the theatre. "She's getting big, I still remember picking you and Monica up to go to the hospital!"
"Yeah" Andy sighed as he placed the picture back on the side, "I think she is also getting a little sad that her daddy isn't always around when she needs him"
"It must be hard, working half the night and half the day" Alicia commented as she continued to watch the black and white images of the theatre and hallway, people were slowly filing into the theatre, chatting away ready to enjoy the afternoon's performance. "Have you ever thought of, perhaps, leaving as well?"
"I have, I need to be there for her. It's not just about me anymore." Andy answered instantly, "I have applied for a security position at the bank" The man smirked as he also joined Alicia in staring at the images on the screen. "Much better hours"
"No more night time antics then." Alicia chuckled as she stood up from the desk and began to head towards the door. "What will this theatre do without the both of us? Eh?"
"It would be an awfully boring place for one" Andy smirked as he rose from his chair, embracing Alicia in one last hug. "Come back again another time, Yeah?"
"That's if you're still here" Alicia mumbled as she pulled away from the hug, her fist lightly punching Andy in the arm as she backed away for the door. "Because, I know you, you're going get that job" who wouldn't want to hire you?"
Andy beamed as he nodded slowly. "Thanks Ali, Anyway off you go- I've got to begin the last checks of the day and you're usual viewing starts around about now"
Waving Alicia closed the door behind her as she headed up the stairs and towards the theatre. The walls were a light cream wallpaper, one which matched the dark crimson carpet which spanned the area of the entrance. Artistic interpretations of angels and heaven spanned the walls as it gave the theatre a majestic feel.
Pausing from her architectural reverie, Alicia caught sight of her reflection in a nearby mirror, turning the young woman carefully adjusted her appearance. Her long auburn hair hung in loose curls, framing her lightly freckled face. Wide grey eyes stared back at her with sadness, as deep dark bags clung underneath them. She looked a right state as per usual.
Shaking away her thoughts, Alicia corrected her white blouse before submerging herself through the open oak doors of theatre and into the main seating area. Although the theatre was not as packed as it usually was, there was still a healthy number of people turning out to watch the Les Miserables performance.
That was until screams began to erupt from the main reception. Confused, Alicia jumped to her feet, her eyes wide as she slowly walked back to the oak doors she had passed through. The rest of the audience, seemed to take the screams as warning and began to run towards the fire exit doors at the back of the theatre.
Reaching the open oak doors, Alicia pressed herself against the wall beside them, before peaking around to get a view of the foyer. In the middle of the room, stood a man clad in a blue winter's coat, thick black googles hid his eyes as he held a glowing white gun up towards the ceiling, a mist slowly radiating off it and floating to the ground.
Opposite the man, stood a police officer. Although he wasn't in uniform, the man had a golden badge hanging around his neck. However, his presence appeared to offer little reassurance for the trapped bystanders surrounding them. "Stop this, Snart!" The officer ordered.
Alicia leaned in closer with intrigue as 'Snart' dropped his gun so that it was level with the officer. The effect was instant, within seconds Snart had pulled the trigger, releasing a streaming beam of ice cold energy towards the poor man. Remaining concealed, Alicia brought her hands to her mouth as she supressed a gasp for what was to come.
However, the shot never hit. If Alicia had of blinked she would have missed it, but from behind the officer a red streak followed by yellow lightening swiped forwards, colliding with the officer causing him to fly across the room out of harm's way.
"Alicia!" Andy shouted from the stage of the theatre, Turning Alicia pressed her fingers against her lips as she signalled for the guard to hide. "GET OUT OF THERE!" Andy repeated.
"ARGH!" A cry tore through the theatre. Ignoring her friend Alicia turned her attention back to where the officer had been standing, the room appeared empty except for the villainous Snart standing in the centre of the room and what looked like a red leg sticking out from behind one of the pillars.
Wanting to get a closer look, the young woman ducked lower as she ran forwards into the foyer, tucking into a spot behind the stone banister which lined the stairwell. "ALICIA!" Andy shouted, his voice barely audible from the foyer.
Pinching at the dark green tapestry which hung across the banister, Alicia peeped down into the lower level; pleased to note that her position gave her a better view of the mysterious man in red.
Although she couldn't see a face, Alicia could clearly distinguish the chest of the red man, his chest appeared to be heaving in quick short gasps. Frowning, the young woman noted a sparking substance clinging to the man's chest. He had been hit. "It burns" The voice hissed as if in response.
The man in the centre of the room seemed to smirk sadistically, as he readied his gun once more; pointing it towards the pillar. "I know your weakness. Let's see how fast you really are"
Once again a shot was fired at the pillar, encasing it in an icy shell. Turning her attention back to the man in red, Alicia was surprised to find that he had disappeared.
The man in red couldn't have been the red streak that had appeared from no-where? Could he? That was impossible.
Another beam of ice fired from the gun as it headed towards some bystanders, their faces one of pure horror as they cowered in fear. The deadly beam however, never hit them as a red blur engulfed them and they disappeared from sight; leaving the wall behind them to take the brunt of the blast.
"Oh my god"
Turning to the origin of the voice, Alicia was shocked to find the same couple cowered in the hallway across from her, the larger man embracing the woman as they both looked about the room in confusion.
Turning back to the foyer, Alicia watched as Snart pointed the gun at another couple trying to run away up the stairs to her left. However, once more, before the beam could hit them a red blur encased them and they disappeared from sight.
"What the-" Alicia murmured as she went to peep back at Snart once again, only as she did, the young woman realised that his attention was now on her; the cold gun pointed in her direction. Rising from her hiding place, Alicia turned either side to search for some cover to escape and found none.
Snart smirked and pulled the trigger, the beam heading towards her at an alarming rate. That was before something encircled her waist, and her vision became red. Wind whipped through her hair as she was carried away from the beam and back into the main theatre. The room a blur as everything moved too fast for her to comprehend.
As fast as it had happened, it was gone and she was lying face down between the rows of chairs of the theatre. Thankful for whatever had saved her, the young woman pressed her cheek against the suede of the red chairs as she peered through a gap and towards the entrance. From the doors she could see the familiar glow of the freezing gun, suggesting Snart had moved up the stairs and was now standing on the landing.
But where was his target? Wide eyed, Alicia turned back around; identifying Andy. Her best friend seemed to be frozen in his tracks, his eyes wide and face solemn as he appeared to accept his fate. Summarising, Alicia decided that after she had moved into the foyer, Andy must have decided to follow; taking the time to see the remaining survivors out before climbing down the stage and heading towards the entrance.
"ANDY!" Alicia cried as she jumped to her feet. With a shrill screech, the beam from the gun began its journey across the theatre. The ice tumbling in a wide arcing motion as it headed towards the chest of her only friend. She would never make it in time to push him out of the way, so instead she was made to stand and watch. In a flash of red and white, the young woman closed her eyes with anticipation, her fingers crossed and heart filled with hope as the red streak made its way towards her friend.
"NO!"
Opening her eyes, Alicia rushed forwards into the walkway of the theatre, her eyes watering at the sight before her. On the ground, where her friend had been standing moments before, was a body. Stumbling forwards numbly, Alicia felt the tears beginning to carve rivers into her cheeks. Her arms hanging limply by her sides as she approached the fallen security guard. Hovering over him, was the man in red; his hand clasping the Andy's shoulder.
Reaching them, Alicia fell to her knees as she stared down at the frozen corpse of her friend. His eyes wide and face in the same solemn expression it had been before, although all life appeared to have been sucked from him. Feeling weak, Alicia reached forwards her fingertips brushing his freezing cheek before struggling to force his eyes to close. It truly was a gruesome sight.
Sensing eyes on her, Alicia turned to face the man in red. Finally she got a good look at his face, but at what cost? Her curiosity got her friend killed. Swallowing away the dry knot in her throat, Alicia stared into the eyes of the impossible man who had saved her life. His eyes shimmered a mossy green colour as he appeared to also be on the brink of shedding a tear.
Struggling to form words to convey her gratitude, Alicia continued to stare with her mouth ajar, and tears streaming from her eyes. In response, the man in red smiled sadly, his hand moving to rest on her own shoulder as he squeezed it tightly.
They stayed like that for a few moments, before in a rush of air, he was gone again.