I want to thank all you readers for being patient with me. Life has been incredibly busy, and to be honest I've lost a lot of the momentum that I had when I first started writing this story. I also want to thank the reviewers. Your reviews help me to keep writing and not abandon this story, so thank you.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own The Flash.
Three weeks ago
Barry came back to consciousness slowly. His eyelids felt far too heavy, but he managed to get them open.
The sound of the bulky door being opened, its rusted hinges squeaking, caused the young man's heart to race despite not completely understanding why. Footsteps reverberated on the concreate floor, getting louder as they came closer to the chair Barry was restrained to.
The broken young man's eyes looked up to where the figure stood, towering over him. The figure reminded Barry of a shadow.
The shadow man spoke, voice booming, "Look at you, finally awake. I was starting to think you fell into a coma."
The thundering voice caused a shiver to crawl up the superhero's spine. This was a bad man. Barry knew that much.
The man took a step closer to the broken young man and reached out toward his temples. Barry's thin body jerked weakly in response.
"Noo… don't do this to me…" Barry mumbled feebly.
"Soon enough, you'll be much more compliant." The man failed to console.
Then his hands made contact, and an intense, excruciating pain took over the speedster's body. It was too much. The broken young man reached his breaking point.
"No!" Barry screamed.
Adrenaline surged through the speedster's body. The room lit up as golden lightning raced across his skin.
The shadow man went ridged with shock and surprise.
Barry's body began to vibrate, and he somehow managed to phase through the restraints. When the speedster stood, he stumbled.
The kidnapper tried to grab him, but Barry anticipated that and ran from the room.
As he sped through the hallways, his mind raced, but one thought was clear: 'Get out of here. Get out of here. Get out of here.'
Soon enough, he found the exit. The evening sun almost blinded him as he stepped outside for the first time in months. Squinting, he continued to run through the city.
But the adrenaline rush began to diminish, and he slowed. Barry collapsed in an alley behind a dumpster. His body shook as he tried to catch his breath.
"Wait, wait, wait," Joe asks, confused, "so you know where Barry's kidnapper is?"
Cisco answers as he types, "Well… not exactly. When I vibed Barry, I saw him escape from where Mind Melter was keeping him. I just need to find exactly where that was, which I'm searching for now."
"How do we know he's even still there?" Wally questions.
Cisco answers, "Well we don't. But this is more than we've ever had to go off of."
"Is there anything we can do to help?" Joe asks.
"Not at the moment. But I may need your help when I find this guy." Cisco responds.
Joe crossed his arms across his chest. "Anything to take this madman down."
The vibing superhero suddenly straightens up. "Yahtzee!" He cheers, "I found where Barry was being held. Looks like the basement of a storage facility outside the city." After more typing, Cisco continues, "There's a heat signature. Someone's inside."
Joe speaks up, "You think that's him?"
"Only one way to find out." Cisco responds, "Time to suit up."
"Come on, Barry. Speak to me." Iris encourages as she sits in the med bay beside her best friend.
The speedster hasn't left the gurney, as Iris can't bear to bring him back to the pipeline that's meant for criminals. The power dampening cuffs are still tight and secure around his wrists, so everyone feels that Barry won't be a danger.
Not that the superhero has tried to get out of the restraints. Since Cisco vibed him, Barry has been detached. He refuses to look anyone in the eye or say a single word.
"Are you hungry, Barr?" She tries again.
No response comes from the young man.
Iris slowly reaches her hand out and places it on Barry's forearm. Barry remains still. He doesn't lean into her touch, but he doesn't flinch away either.
Just then, a loud commotion erupts outside the room. Shouts from Joe, Cisco, and even Caitlin can be heard. However, one loud, booming voice that Iris has never heard before stands apart from the rest.
The young woman stands and is about to see what is happening, but a sharp intake of air beside her causes Iris to whirl around to look at Barry.
His wide eyes are on the doorway. His face has paled dramatically, and his breath comes in quick gasps.
Before Iris can say anything, Joe, Cisco, and Wally come into view, quickly leading a bulky man in power dampening cuffs through the hallway. Barry's wide-eyed gaze follows the hulking figure.
Caitlin rushes into the med bay after the group passes. She throws a concerned look at the speedster before turning to Iris.
"They caught him." The bio-engineer whispers.
Iris feels a mixture of feelings. She feels hope that her best friend will soon be back to his normal self, but also worry for Barry. Seeing his kidnapper must be sending him back to some dark places.
"Barry?" Caitlin tries to take his attention from the doorway to no avail. She gently presses two fingers to his wrist and counts the seconds faintly. "His pulse is too high. I'm going to give him a slight sedative." She explains as she plunges a syringe into the crook of his arm.
The speedster's eyelids begin drooping. Before he completely nods off, he mumbles so quietly that the two women in the room almost miss it, "No, don't. Don't do this to me."
Iris could feel the tears begin to pool in her eyes.
"He's been through a lot of mental trauma," Caitlin speaks softly, observing Barry's relaxed face.
Iris purses her lips, looking from the unconscious hero to the hallway and back again. She needs to face the revolting man that tortured her best friend, but she can't leave Barry here. Not when he's so broken. Not when he's hurting.
Seeing this internal conflict, the doctor offers, "Go confront that monster. I'll stay with Barry."
Iris hesitates, unsure of what to do.
"Don't worry. I'll get you if anything happens."
"Thank you, Cait." Iris offers a nervous smile before striding out the door.
The atmosphere is somber when Iris enters the pipeline. Her father's jaw is locked, and his eyebrows are drawn together. Cisco and Wally stood with their arms crossed over their chests and shoulders tense. Cisco hasn't changed from his Vibe suit.
Finally, her gaze falls onto the man behind the glass. His figure is tall, and his chest is wide. Under his thick facial hair, his face is screwed into a sneer.
"This… this is him?" Iris stammers, looking to her father.
Joe nods, his eyes never leaving the meta in front of him.
"He won't talk, though," Wally speaks up.
Striding forward, Cisco responds with, "We'll see about that." Coming face-to-face with Mind Melter, the hero continues, "You hurt my friend, so I won't hesitate to do what I need to get you to explain everything. Including how to fix him."
The villain's sneer morphs into a mocking grin. "Fix him? There is no fixing him."