Caitlin continued to gaze down at her watch, pacing back and forth in the cortex.
"Why is he always late?" She whined.
"Yeah.. He isn't picking up his phone either." Cisco set his cell down on the table and glanced up at Caitlin, a large grin stretching across his face.
"What's so funny?"
"I think someone got lucky last night.." Cisco, not being able to contain himself, burst out laughing. "He had that date, didn't he?"
"Oh boy." Caitlin ran her fingers through her hair. "There could be a meta attack at any moment and he's off kissing some girl?"
"Oh come on, Cait. Cut him some slack." Cisco threw his feet up on his desk, and cracked open a soda. "Why are you so uptight about this?"
"It's not really about Barry, I just feel bad for Iris." Caitlin sat down in a chair next to Cisco.
"Speak of the devil." Cisco said, picking up his phone and answering the call.
"Hey. We were just talking about you." Cisco clicked the speaker phone so Caitlin could hear as well.
"Hopefully all good things. Is Barry there with you? I figured he'd be at the house but he isn't."
Cisco started to laugh again, but took a deep breath and held it in. "No. He's still out with that girl. Most likely stayed the night, if you know what I mea…"
"Yes! Yes! I know what you mean don't continue please."
"Sorry, Iris. This must be hard for you." Caitlin spoke sadly.
"I'm okay. I have to get to work. Bye guys."
Caitlin shot Cisco a glare, making him raise his hands in a defensive manner. "What!?"
"A little sensitivity next time." Caitlin rolled her eyes. "Boys."
Barry's head was ringing. He was cold and confused. When he finally came to, it took him a moment to process where he was.
The walls were metal and rusted over, a stench of oil drifted in the air. The place was immense, there weren't any windows to give him an estimate of what time it was. The only light source was a pile of trash set on fire.
"A warehouse?" Barry mumbled.
Next he examined what was restraining him. Two long chains cuffed around his wrists, hung him from the ceiling. Then instinct kicked in. Barry attempted phasing out from them, but something was preventing him from using his speed. Instead he only chafed his wrists, causing warm blood to trickle down his arm.
Barry let out a squeal of pain. Bad move.
"Ah. I see you've finally woken up." A woman's voice echoed in the shadows.
Barry was still dizzy, still hazy on the events that lead him to be hanging from chains in a cold warehouse.
The woman slowly became more visible as she approached him, a metal object in her hands.
"I'd have to say, you aren't a bad kisser."
A chill ran down Barry's spine, and it wasn't because of the draft. "Penny?" Events leading up to now, started to flood back to Barry.
"You know, I spent two years researching The Flash. Watching everywhere he went, learning who he was." Penny tipped his chin, making eye contact that Barry immediately broke.
"I don't know what you're talking about." His throat was dry and his voice was raspy.
"Oh don't play stupid with me, Barry. That will just make me more upset, making this more painful." Penny lifted up the metal object in her hand, and it was clear now that it was a knife.
"Why are.." Barry coughed. "Why are you doing this?"
"When your little particle accelerator went off, you got special powers." Penny slid the tip of the knife up Barry's cheek. "I was in my house, watching TV with my dad, when a wave of energy passed through my livingroom, sending us flying across the room. When I came to, my dad was lying next to me - dead. So now you're going to pay for that, but first, I need a witness." Penny left the room.
Barry hung his head and let the darkness envelope him.
The thumps of the approaching footsteps are what let Barry know Penny had returned, but there was something else, someone else. An extra set of footsteps. Barry shot his head up, immediately tears blurred his vision.
"NO!"
Duct Tape covered their mouth, and their head bobbed up and down. Blood trickled down their forehead and it was clear they were barely conscious.
Penny sat her down in a chair in front of Barry, and used a rope to tie her hands and torso to the chair.
"Now, Barry. Here's how my little game works. There are two types of torture, there's physical torture, and there's mental torture. Were going to start with your head." Penny snapped her fingers and another figure came out dragging the body of another known face.
"Stop! Please!" Barry screamed, ripping at his chains. "I'll do whatever you want! You don't need them! Please!"
"We have our two subjects, pick one."
"For what?" Barry growled through clenched teeth.
"So nice of you to ask. One of them is going to be subject to a little test."
"And the other?"
"You'll see."
"No." Barry snapped. His voice trembling as tears left his eyes.
"I didn't say you had a choice. Pick one, or I'll kill her." Penny grabbed the female's hair, ripping it back to expose her neck, and then pressing the cool blade against her skin.
"Stop! Okay!"
"Good. Once they wake up, I'll expect a decision." Penny left the room.
Barry went limp. Hanging his head and crying so loud it was amazing no one could hear him.
Oh boy. Here we go...
