Chapter 2: Speed
I dreamt I was falling. Falling and falling. Then I realized I wasn't going down, I was going forward, I was flying! Wind rushed past me as I pierced the sky like a fighter jet. I soared through the open sky carefree and filled with joy. Until... ahead of me, a large grouping of gray clouds began to emerge out of nowhere. They filled the horizon and filled me with dread. I was headed right for it! Before I could react I saw lightning amongst the clouds and soared right in! Instead of clouds or the feeling of water vapor against my skin, I was in darkness. Pitch black space. No, there was a light. A golden yellow light illuminated the space around me. I looked down and saw that the light came from my hands. Tiny yellow sparks flew off my fingertips as long thin trickles of electricity traveled up and down my hands and to my arms and even throughout my entire body. It felt... incredible-indescribable, and then I woke up.
When I opened my eyes, I was in a hospital room. I expected to feel groggy or just plain dead, but I didn't. I felt alive and clear. It was like waking up from a power nap ready to go. Remnants of a dream where I was falling faded from memory. I sat up abruptly and startled a nurse.
"Oh!" She said and rushed to my side. "Mr. Allen if you could please stay seated I'm going to get a doctor, okay?" She handed me a cup of water and hurried out the door.
I drank the paper cup of water greedily. I hadn't realized how parched I was. When the doctor came in, a look of awe and curiosity was clear on her. She grabbed a stool and sat close to the bed. For a second all she did was stare but then said, "Mr. Allen, it is a pleasure to meet you. Officially, anyway. Can I ask, what's the last thing you remember?"
"Falling," I said automatically.
"Falling?"
I rubbed at my face trying to rack my brain. I said softly, "The storm. I drove right in it." Wait, Cisco! I sat up straighter, concerned, "My friend—"
"Rode with you in the ambulance. He's just fine, Mr. Allen," the doctor said. "Do you remember what happened while you were in the storm?" she questioned.
"No— I," I started to say when suddenly, images of the lightning rang through my mind. It was beautiful and frightening. The colors... There were so many colors. "I guess I was hit by lightning," I found myself saying. I don't know why I chose to keep the unnatural colors of the storm to myself. "That's all," I said.
"Hmm," she pondered. Throughout the talk she had begun to lean closer to me. Hanging on every word I said. Maybe hoping I'd say something specific. She composed herself and gained a look of sympathy. "Mr. Allen, I'm sorry to tell you but you've been in a coma for the past six and half months."
"Six months!" I repeated, stunned. "Why didn't you lead with that!" I said.
"I didn't want to overwhelm you. You've only just woken up."
I nodded in understanding, calming myself. Six months. I've been out for half a year! The news was taking its time to sink in. I almost didn't believe it. But there was no reason to suspect the doc for lying. It was all just so weird to experience. You only hear about people going into comas on TV. I didn't even know anybody who knew someone in a coma.
"But what's strange—" she said, cutting off my inner turmoil. "—is, your body has been going through quite the change..." I inched forward confused. The doctor explained, "See, when you were brought in you kept going into seizures every time you began to flatline. One of the nurses felt your chest and felt your heartbeat. She said it was beating inhumanly fast. I thought our machines were failing but they just weren't keeping up. Remarkably your body underwent the reverse of muscle deterioration. Truly, you are a medical marvel. I'd like to start a medical study of you. But I figured you've been in a coma for half a year. You probably have some people you'd like to call."
I was hesitant about being a lab rat, and told her so. But I added, "Look I've spent six months asleep, I don't have time to be studied. If I start feeling sick I'll give you a call."
The doc didn't seem pleased but resigned to my wishes anyhow. "I understand. If you have a change of heart, then let me know." She helped discharge me from the hospital and walked me all the way out. Stepping out the hospital doors felt exhilarating, like I'd spent my whole life in a cave and now I was seeing the light. It was an odd analogy, but it fit. My feet felt light and my mind, sharp. It was like I was a different person. My mood shifted when it dawned on me that my father must be worried sick. Henry Allen, my dad, was held up in a max security prison for a crime he didn't commit. I had to visit him to let him know I was alright.
On the way there I called Cisco to let him know I woke up and I was doing well. He apologized profusely over what happened with the storm but I repeatedly told him it was neither of our faults and that I was glad he was alive. Through a choked voice he had told me, "You saved my life, Barry. You're a hero, man."
The compliment kept my cheerful mood stable as I made my way into the prison visitation rooms. It was always hard to see my dad in here, but I'd never let him know that. Two guards walked through a door with my father in handcuffs. He looked tearfully relieved and had to restrain himself from running over to hug me. When we sat he said, "Oh, Barry I was so worried. I'm so glad you're okay."
"I'm glad I'm okay too. How 'bout you Dad, are you doing okay in here?" I asked.
Dad scoffed good naturedly, "Seriously you're asking if I'm alright? Ha! How about you? Where've you been the past six months?" I gave him the rundown about how my project with Cisco led to us chasing a lightning storm. I told him about how I stupidly drove into the storm, how I thought I was going to die, and that I was in a coma the entire time. After I finished he pondered quietly to himself before speaking. I'd thought he'd be upset over what I did but he said through watery eyes, "That was a very brave thing you did, Barry. I couldn't be more proud of my son. I love you Barry," he said with a chuckle, "but promise me you won't drive straight into storms anymore!"
I laughed with him at the absurdity of it all. Inside I was relieved he wasn't upset. I could tell though, that he was deeply scared for me. But he'd never say that. "I swear I won't run into any more storms," I promised. We talked for a few more minutes before our time was up.
On his way out the door he added, "My son, the storm chaser," he chuckled and gave a warm smile.
Walking out and breathing fresh air I planned on calling another Uber or taxi to go home finally but there weren't any drivers in my area and I couldn't get a taxi on the line because my phone ended up dying. I asked a passerby and was told that the next bus stop was two miles away. I guess I'll walk. Slowly, but inevitably that feeling came back. That supernatural elation. It was halted when the bus I was waiting for drove past the bus stop.
"Hey!" I shouted instinctively. "Wait!" I yelled and started running after the bus. The bus didn't stop. If anything, it started speeding up! There was a swirl of movement from inside the bus. A terrified face sprang up to the rear window. An older lady pressed both hands to the window and mouthed Help. My eyes narrowed in confusion and then widened in horrific realization. I had to catch that bus! My first thought was to call the police but then I remembered my phone had died. The bus was easily outpacing me. That poor lady started pounding on the window before she was abruptly dragged backwards by an unknown person!
As if on command my legs started moving faster as I was solely focused on catching that damn bus! I didn't know what I'd do once I got to it, but I had to chase it! It wouldn't be right to just leave it be. If anything I could find someone along the way and get them to call the police. My heart started racing and my brain was flooded with adrenaline. Everything around me became a blur as I began to move at an impossible speed. My legs carried me all the way to the door of the bus in seconds! I looked inside and saw the driver, who was pale as a ghost, held at gunpoint. The man who held the gun was dressed in a black hoodie and black sweat pants both a size too big for him. Sticking out of the bottom of his hoodie was a bright orange shirt.
I shoulder checked the door and broke through! As soon I was in and no longer running, time caught up. The bus-hijacker looked up at me completely startled and swung his gun in my direction. Without a word he pulled the trigger! The bullet left the chamber in a flame. Time slowed and the bullet became no more harmful than a snail. I leaned left and the bullet sailed past me and broke through the glass window, leaving a perfect sized hole. The sound of the gun going off started to catch up just as the glass began to shatter. I looked at the gunmen in pure astonishment. He was still mid-blink. In an instance I reached out and grabbed the gun. When the thug registered what happened he looked at his hand in bewilderment. Then before anyone could do anything else, a fist sucker-punched the thug right in the jaw, knocking him out cold!
This time I was the one who looked surprised. The bus driver, having seen the opportunity, seized it with a southpaw. He quickly turned back to the wheel and slowed the bus to a careful stop. "How the hell did you do that?" said the driver.
"I don't know," I said honestly.
Police sirens wailed in the distance. The bus driver combed his gray hair, smoothing it out, and grabbed a pair of shades off the dashboard. He said, "You better go, kid. The police will have questions you can't answer."
I didn't know if it was right to leave a crime scene or an unconscious criminal. "Are you sure? But why?" I asked. I briefly glanced at the rest of the passengers who all shared a relieved, but still shaky, look.
"Hey, don't worry about them. Now, listen to me. You're faster than lightning kid, you could make a real difference," he smiled and took out some zip ties and cuffed the hijacker to a metal bar. He turned back to me and said, "The world needs more heroes, now more than ever."
I smiled, grateful. Deep down I knew he was right. Despite logic telling me to let the police arrive and investigate. How could I ever explain this... this speed of mine? I hopped out of the bus doors and ran down the street. And just like before, my legs moved at inhuman speeds. My arms worked in tandem and my mind was keen on interpreting every detail faster than my body. Before I knew it, I was on the street where my apartment complex was. A red brick building nestled in between two different store fronts. It was getting closer to dark now as I reached my home. Hardly out of breath I made my way up the stairs to my floor. I greeted a neighbor who was surprised to see me and went to unlock the door. After six long months I was finally home.