CHAPTER 2! I must say, I wasn't very motivated to write this one. Who knew the Flash was so hard to write for, huh:P Thank you guys for having your interests peeked, I love that and I hope I don't fail you now.
Casey Storm- SURPRISE! I love the Flash, as you know, and wanted to write something. Let's just say I'm highly impatient and couldn't wait, even though I should have. Thank you so much! It means I lot to me that you see my attempts at staying IC. I did have a good day and WILL keep writing!
Dancer4Jesus- Aw, thanks so much! Your sister and you picked a good show.
Walter- Thanks! I'll keep on going, no worries!
Jem Juliette Jewels Jade- Well, here it is!
Elijah blinked, fidgeting uncomfortably as he and his sister pushed themselves through the busy streets. His head was jumbled, over-crowded, and throbbing. The people walking parallel and opposite them just wouldn't shut up. The things they thought about was useless information, not worthy to be heard, yet Eli couldn't block them out. Reminders, memories, events, worries, there were countless things a person could be thinking of in the span of one minute. Eli slowed his pace unintentionally.
Sabena had to take the lead, grabbing her brother's arm and dragging him along roughly. They didn't have time for stalling, even for her crazy twin. The young teen weaved her way around people, ducking into alleys when she became suspicious of somebody. Elijah would have been helpful in this particular situation, but Sabena would be surprised if he could pick out one thought from a thousand. She was on her own, and in a crowd like this that made her nervous.
Jumping at a loud honk, the female twin breathed out when she saw it was just a truck driver's angry retort to being cut off. Her own anger flared then, replacing anxiety, and she glanced around her in exasperation. "That does it!" she hissed, shutting her eyes and locking in on her ability. She tightened her hold on Eli's hand, keeping their connection alive as she searched for something all these people could fear equally. A giant gorilla hanging from a city building, an explosion, or maybe an earthquake. The girl settled on making these people believe the person next to them was trying to kill them. Smiling evilly, she expanded her mindwarp to everyone within a mile radius of herself and Elijah.
Men and women all around the twins suddenly screamed out or begged, some even fought their 'attackers' in defense. The whole street, and the whole few streets ahead were raised in commotion, and Sabena pulled her brother through the ruffled crowd to get through and to their next location. "Hang in there, Eli," she comforted, lowering her arm to his shoulder to guide him more gently. Eli tried to smile in appreciation, but the thoughts that were running through his head had now changed to darkness and danger, and he sensed it all. Sabena meant well, but when she effected those around her with her ability, she was most of the time hurting him too.
Soon, the two left the city limits, and the blaring police sirens and other first responders, behind. Elijah's tie with everybody but Sabena was cut, and his own thoughts could be heard and dechiphered once again. He bent down for a second break, sucking in gasps of air to build concentration in his brain. After being so cluttered, his mind was taking a minute to catch up with freedom.
"There, there," Sabena mocked, but there was a hint of sincerity in her tone.
Elijah brushed her hand off his back, straightening and peering around him. "Where are we?"
"Just outside the borders of Central City," Sabena answered, glancing at their surroundings as well. "It's the only place we can be at peace." Eli nodded. It was certainly the only place, remaining close to home that is, that he didn't have to focus on a bunch of thoughts, and just read his own and his sister's.
They walked off the road, heading to a few bushes to hide themselves behind while resting. Elijah clutched the duffle he still had with him. "We nearly have enough," he mumbled, plopping himself beside his twin in exhaustion and unzipping the bag wearily. He sifted through the stacks and crumbled up pieces of cash, yanking out two sweaters. "Here."
"Thanks," Sabena leaned against a rock as she took the cozy attire, squinting up at the sun. "Who knew plane tickets for three cost so much." Elijah grimaced, laying on his back and closing his eyes.
Barry bit his lip as he watched the ambulance take the three deluted teenagers away, lights flashing but sirens quiet. He didn't need to assess the abandoned shack they were in to know what caused this. The chief wanted to write this off as a drunken night going too far, but overdrinking didn't cause paranoia. The speedster knew who did, though.
"Barry, you shouldn't be here," Joe murmured. "If Captain Singh knew you were here-"
"Joe, those three were behaving the exact same way as the victims at the mall," Barry interrupted, pulling his hand through a pair of blue rubber gloves. "There is a connection."
"Maybe so," Joe didn't disagree. "But your not technically allowed to be here."
"I just need a look around, try to figure those two meta-twins out."
The detective appeared defeated, glaring at his adopted son, but giving in by simply backing off.
Barry squinted, heading up the rickety steps to the upstairs. The place seemed pretty straightforward. Any furniture left was covered in sheets and dust.
The forensics scientist lifted a flap of a white blanket, peeking at the table and chairs under it. Unused and very old. Nothing screamed out to him, until he walked passed the second floor's third room. The layout of the room caught his eye, as well as the messy but recently active sprawl of things. Clothes and trinkets lined the cleaned dresser and floor, new bedsheets were neatly tucked onto the mattress, and the closest was haphazardly flung open in a rush. Barry backed up his steps, slowly entering the once abandoned room. This particular area had been used, unlike every other part of upstairs and most of downstairs. If his theory was correct, and at this point the speedster was ready to completely jump the gun, Elijah and Sabena Reynolds had taken refuge here in the past and present.
Smiling widely, Barry went through any item that looked out of place from the rest of the decor. Most of what he found was worthless, but painted a clear picture. Photographs in gently used picture frames, books with finger oil stains, and files and files of papers on the institution of one Ellie Reynolds and the many arrests of her kids. Barry's heartbeat thumped louder in his chest at the latest discovery, and he held the papers up to the light. That break-in at the police station almost two years ago made so much sense now. The only things stolen were these very files, and given that the twins supposedly had an alibi they weren't prosecuted.
Gathering the loose papers, Barry shoved them in his bag, and shuffled back out of the room. He tried to play it cool descending the stairs, but he tripped on the last steps and stumbled into Captain Singh.
"Allen," the captain spoke in monotone.
"Captain Singh," Barry winced, noticing his boss' hard look. Although, Singh almost always looked like that.
"What are you doing here?"
"Just ... assessing, sir," Barry answered quickly. He removed his gloves guiltily, tucking them into his coat pocket.
"Assessing?" Captain Singh raised an indignant eyebrow. "Last time I checked, your assistance was not required for this particular case."
"I called him down here," Joe stepped in, giving Barry a look, before attempting to repair the damage. "I thought we could use him."
"You thought we could use him on a cut and dry drunk case?"
"... Yep," Joe wasn't convincing.
"Look, Allen, get your ass back over to the station," Singh sighed, choosing to ignore the situation instead of dealing with it. He had learned many times to brush aside some of the antics performed by Barry. "You have your real job waiting for you there."
"Yes, sir," Barry mumbled, clutching his bag slumped over his shoulders protectively.
"All units report to Main Street," a voice from several of the cops' radios spoke. "We have a street wide fight in progress. I repeat, we need all hands."
"On our way," Joe said through the radio strapped to his jacket.
Singh and Joe marched off, within seconds the whole area was cleared of the police cars that were taking up space, leaving Barry behind with his bag and the files. He paused for a moment, pursing his lips, before speeding off to S.T.A.R Labs, chucking his handbag at a bewildered Cisco, and changing into his Flash suit midrun. They might kick Barry Allen out, but no one would ever turn down the services of the masked hero.
He pumped his arms, following the street signs to get to Main. He sped past a block, only to screech to a halt and turn around. There, and everywhere within a mile of here, had people either at each other's throats or screaming and crying in fear. It somewhat reminded Barry of the Rainbow Raider, but these people were driven by an obvious terror.
"Cisco," the Flash pressed on his ear piece. "Cisco I think I found the twins."
"Really? That's awesome!" Cisco's voice exclaimed. "Ask them what they think of the name Mental Twins, I don't know if they'll take offence to that or-"
"Barry, it's Caitlin. Do you see them?"
"No, but I found the aftermath of them," Barry murmured, prying a knife from a girl's shaky hands only to get pepper-sprayed from the elderly woman beside her. "Ah!" He cringed, rubbing at his eyes while attempting to squeeze the pain away. "I'm the Flash, ma'am!" The grey-haired woman took off running in the opposite direction, flailing her arms in a panic.
"Bare," Joe noticed him hunched over now. "Bare, it's good you're here- what's wrong?"
"I just got maised," Barry moaned, blinking his eyes and trying to regain vision.
"That's just they thing," Joe said. "These people aren't acting out in rage, but in fear."
"Thank the Mental Twins for that one," Barry mumbled, eyes shot red.
"What?"
"Nevermind," Barry realized the cops on the few blocks trying to detain the terrified citizens, and decided to speed up the process. He sped about, placing as many vicitms as he could into ambulances and police cars, and the rest in the hands of the officers' themselves.
He stopped to regain his thoughts and saw Iris jogging down sidewalk, and as soon as she ducked under the police tape it was mostly cleared of people. She had a pen and paper in hand and her eyes lit up when she saw the red suit.
"Barry!" she said in a whisper, stopping herself before she embraced him. His identity wouldn't be a well-kept secret if that image got out.
"What are you doing here?"
"It's all over the news, I thought I'd come down for some eye witness reports and to have a look for myself," Iris explained, peering around her. "Is this the same thing that happened at the mall?" Barry nodded, eyebrows furrowing under his mask.
"Do you think it's a meta-human?" Iris prodded him for answers.
"Two, actually," Barry admitted, dodging a fist as a victim got away from an officer and aimed to punch him.
"Two? Are they working as a team?"
"They seem to be," Barry answered sheepishly. He didn't want to tell Iris who these two were. The Flash was being bested by a couple of teenagers, and if that got around ... Of course, Iris wouldn't tell a soul.
"Barry, any sign of the twins anywhere?" Caitlin asked over the intercom, sounding concerned.
Barry squinted, focusing on his surroundings and the bypassers standing around to watch. No face stood out and none looked suspsious enough to check out. "No," Barry finally said in defeat.
Iris frowned, before realizing that he was speaking into his ear piece. "Can I help?"
"Depends," Barry said, smiling a little. "Do you want to interview a bunch of mental ward patients?"