CHAPTER ONE: THE DAY SHE DIED

Nobody could have prevented Ella from dying really. Well, other than the person who shot her, of course. Barry could think "oh I wasn't fast enough" all he wanted but she would never blame him. It's her own fault, really, for being the way she was. There are things she can blame him for, but surely not for her dying that first time.

The day hadn't started any different from any other day. Ella had her routine going. Her life was sleep, coffee, books, and repeat.

She saw Barry most mornings at Jitters. He often stood in line with Cisco, with his animated face and warm eyes. He always gave Ella a reason to smile, even if they've never really spoken. Sometimes Barry came with Caitlin, with her rigid posture but sweet smile. She cared so much for the people in her life and it made Ella so glad people like that existed.

As for Ella herself, she sat in a comfy chair, tucked in the corner of the cozy coffee shop. It isn't just Barry and his friends that she watches, though it was the highlight of her day. It's really everybody that walks in between 8-8:30am. It's the girl named Marissa that comes in every morning before school with a bright smile but sad eyes because her mother is in the hospital. Or Jim from the car shop a block over with a stern face but is in the middle of his wife divorcing him. How does Ella know these things? No one tells her, but fading into the background is a talent of hers. Her little corner is where angry phone calls or private conversations are taken.

Why does she listen like this? Well, what else was she going to do? She didn't connect well with others. Ella was quiet around people she didn't know, but could never get to the point of actually knowing the person. She was always friendly to everyone she encountered, but nothing ever made it to a personal level. Often times past the "hi, how are you's" and the "fine, thank you's", she's at a loss of words. It's like her brain flat lines all activity and she couldn't even speak her name.

So she just listens instead. It also gives her comfort… she'll tell herself because she listens when no one thinks anyone is listening, maybe somebody was listening to her when she thought no one was. Maybe somebody has connected with her but she just hasn't met them yet because they're just as quiet as her.

Or maybe she's doomed to live in the loft above her work with Leonardo DiCatprio; her brown tabby cat, currently the only man in her life. Ella is an only child, sees her parents on holidays, and somehow she's managed to hold on to some friends from the year she spent away at college, but only a text here and there, before dropping out and returning home when her grandmother died.

Her grandma, Adeline Winters had been a loving women. Always so patient with crinkly laugh lines around her eyes and arms always ready for a hug. Ella adored her. Grandma never pressured her to be more open or to speak when she didn't want to. She was always encouraged to have a book in her hands when she was at Grandma's, which wasn't particularly hard considering Grandma had owned a bookstore, passed down from her father before her. In the summer before 9th grade, Ella got a job there and spent every waking and not at school moment there, all the way up before the day she left for college at 19.

Ella had no idea how Grandma could produce someone like her mother but she somehow did. Maybe her mom took after her father, who Ella never met. Grandma always encouraged her to follow her dreams, her mother always encouraged to find a job that made the most money. And working at Addy's Bookstore was not where she was going to make the most money.

It was the saddest day of Ella's life when her grandmother died. Her mother called her right before her morning class started and she dropped everything and left, and never came back. Grandma left her the bookstore and encouraged her yet again to follow her dreams with a special note she keeps locked away in her apartment. So she dropped out, took a business class at the community college, and the rest is history.

Not many 24 year olds can say they own a successful bookstore in Central City, but she was happy she could.

So 8-8:30am was coffee/people watching. 9am-8pm was books. Two hours of free time till 10pm that normally consisted of takeout and Netflix, and then there was sleep till 6am, and her day started over again.

But the night she died her free time was her tied to a chair in an empty room, with cuts streaking blood down her face and dripping down her arms. A now-painted red blade was held comfortably in the hand of a masked figure, and they sliced another tiny slit in her whenever she screamed "I don't know!" when asked, "Who is the Flash!?"

There was just one piece missing from the equation, one thing she wasn't able to understand. Somehow someone knew that she knew Barry's secret but the thing is, nobody knew that she knew. Nobody. Ella is a good secret keeper; always has and always will. She hadn't uttered one word to anybody about the identity of the Flash, not even to Iris, who sometimes stops by the bookstore.

So how did they know?


All Wells/Eobard/whatever you wanted to call him wanted was to get back to his time and that was all he would exchange for telling Barry how to time travel back in time to save his mother. Except when he went back in time to do it, the future him slowed down just long enough to shake his head no, and then take past him out of the room, and down the street to safety. Which left him alone with his mother and he got to be the last thing she saw before dying.

Barry didn't save her. It haunted him every day and every night. He was right there and didn't save her. And it wasn't more than an hour later that someone else he loved died and he couldn't save him. He was suppose to be a superhero. He was suppose to save people. But if he couldn't save the people closest to him, then what was the point?

It was quiet in the lab today. All there was to hear was Cisco typing away at the computer. Barry really didn't know what he was doing here, but it was better than at home with his family, who never asked them, but looked at him with questions in their eyes. Somehow Cisco could look at him with no questions. He wasn't sure how his friend understood, but he was sure that's where he wanted to be just then. Barry did have plans of actually doing something, some training, anything, but all he could muster was to just stand there, trapped in memories.

And then there was a beep at one of Cisco's computers and his typing stopped. "Barry, there's a kidnapping at Addy's Bookstore, the one-the one in front of Jitters, and oh! Hold on…" The typing began again, more frantic this time, and he spoke again, "Ella Peterson. Tracking her phone… there it is. Man, this seems like a trap. There is a clean cut trail to where she is."

Barry was already dressed as the Flash when he leaned over the computer to look at the file at the screen and the map of the city below. A green dot flashed right outside of town. He knew Ella… "I went to school with her, Cisco. She—" He wasn't even sure what he was going to say about her, but his phone vibrated on the table where he left it, and he went over to check it.

It was an unread message from Joe. Turn on the news. I'm tied up at the station with this. We need to know your next move.

After repeating the text to Cisco, he brought up the station on his computer. The broadcast was in the middle of a video, one featuring a masked man and an electronically deep voice. How original.

"… We've made it easy for the Flash to come find us… not so much for anyone else. However if the Flash decides his life is worth more than this friend of his… well, we do know we have plenty more to choose from. Some of these people are average Joe's, some stand out like irises among dandelions. Others, the brains behind the Flash's success. But we figure we won't need to take such drastic measures. We figure Ella Peterson will be enough."

Barry stiffened at the threats of his friends. His average Joes and Irises among dandelions. His brains. He ran a hand over his head.

"I don't know whether I should be freaked out or honored as being recognized as the brains…" Cisco said drily.

"I've always worried for you and Caitlin. Iris and Joe. This is," Barry let out a sigh, trying to release the pressure on his chest, "this is my worst nightmare. But Ella doesn't know anything…"

"Well, he sure thinks so," his friend commented, eyeing the masked man on the screen.

"But like, seriously man, I see her every once in a while at Jitters or Addy's… and in school, I mean, we were cool. But we weren't friends… but she didn't seem to have any," Barry remembered out loud, perplexed. What was he walking into? Could it be possible she knew something?

"Am I a horrible person to just be relieved it's not Caitlin or Iris there right now?" Cisco asked with a slightly guilty expression.

Something panged at Barry's heart for that comment. "She was always… special. Always so sweet. Ella was just there, all the time. She rarely said a word, but there was always a smile, and that was enough."

"Well, Caitlin or Iris… or me, will be next if we don't make a move on this. What's the plan?"

"I'm going to get her," Barry replied, simply. "Find out why this jerk wants me and how it involves Ella. It definitely ends with her."

Barry quickly replied to Joe in a text message before leaving, I'm going in.


Ella's eyes rolled into her head as she tried to stay conscious. The ropes rubbing her wrists raw were pointless at this point… she couldn't feel her body. But that didn't mean she didn't feel anything, just not her body. She felt the cuts running down her arms and legs and the bruises lining her ribs and back.

They kept asking her question but she was past the point of answering. There was no thought process, she barely even remembered why she was there. There was just one image in her mind. A face. With bright eyes and an excited smile.

"Dammit!" the deep voice of her tormenter exclaimed, from a thousand miles away. There was a sudden whoosh and a gasp escaped Ella as air rushed all around her and she toppled over the ground. Her shoulder rammed into the hard ground, narrowly avoiding her head banging against the floor. The fall jolted her eyes open, but the whole room just spun out of control.

Ella didn't know how much time had past when her wrists fell out of her restraints and she was gently brought up to a sitting position. Her eyes had closed themselves again, which she had been grateful for because the world stopped spinning when they shut, but she found she had trouble opening them again. And she wanted to know what was going on now.

"Ella? Ella, can you hear me?" A voice asked, a new one—one etched with worry and concern, one that always made Ella feel wanted. His face burned in her mind but she couldn't form his name. "I'm going to get you out of here, just hold on." He tried to pick her up, but she was floppy like a rag doll, and his lanky arms had issues trying to grip her. The movement startled her into a more comprehending state. Ella let out a heavy breath and slowly opened her eyes. Barry. Barry stood before her. There was a look of confusion in his eyes and he opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted from someone behind him.

"We knew you'd come," the masked man suddenly began, "We knew the girl would bring you here. She's your weakness, isn't she, Flash? Though I got a bit worried that maybe I was getting a little ahead of myself; I don't often know the full story or when it begins, but good to know I was wrong."

Barry stiffened and carefully put her back down. He turned around to face Ella's captor and stood protectively in front of bloodied girl. "What does Ella have to do with me? She's innocent in all of this."

A look of curiosity flashed across his face. "Or perhaps I was right. The two of you haven't hooked up yet? Why'd you come running then, boy?" He asked this as an honest question, and leaned in earnestly, waiting for an answer.

The Flash didn't say anything, unsure of what to say. What this man was saying wasn't making much sense… Ella and him hook up? She's going to be his weakness? Even Ella was confused at the words coming from his mouth. It would work so much better if this situation was in reverse. Then this whole thing would make more sense.

"Who are you?" Barry decided to not answer the questions, even in the slightest.

He smirked and replied, "You can call me the Decree. Your friend Cisco will get a kick out of that, eh?"

The Flash cocked his head a moment, causing Ella to wonder if Cisco was listening in. Slowly and quietly, she pushed herself up into a sitting position, and then paused. She tried to be patient as the world spun and tried to right itself, but it was really getting annoying.

Barry was feeling annoyed as well, but probably for different reasons. His voice was tight as he said, "So, what's your deal? Couple years ago, did you get hit by a bright light?"

Degree laughed out loud this time. "That particle explosion you speak of was only a means to an end. This was destined. Just as you were to get your powers, I was to get mine. There is just one thing Fate has kept from me. One thing, and I tend to find out before your night is over."

Shrugging, the Flash quipped, "You surely aren't learning anything new from me." He'd had just enough of this and wanted this threat to his friends to be locked away.

"Oh, but it's so easy. Just a few little words and your friend here walks free," Degree taunted, like he stood a chance at defeating Barry, but if the prophecy was the only thing going for him, they could be out of here in two seconds flat. Though he knew better than to underestimate him. "Just tell me your name."

"Or I could just grab Ella and go," Barry replied after a pause. All of this, for his name? No way.

A hand clamped down on Ella's mouth, startling a scream out of her that got stuck in her throat. An arm wrapped around her body and jerked her to her feet, holding her in a tight grip.

"Oh, I forgot to mention one thing. Ella may leave, but you're not getting out of this alive," Decree said, with mock chagrin. Immediately, Barry turned around to Ella and another man, this time not masked, but he held her like a shield. His face was lined with jagged scars and his lips formed a thin line. He held a gun to her head.

The split second Barry took to plan his next move, to wonder if he was fast enough to grab Ella before the man shot her, but turns out this new player was also a quick thinker, or perhaps this was all part of his plan. With a flick of his eyes, the ropes that had once tied Ella's hands to a chair, were repaired and snaking their way around his legs, and with a sudden jerk, Barry was face down on the floor.

Ella's eyes widened and she bit her tongue from screaming out his name. He was sitting up in an instant, but the more he pulled at the ropes around his legs, the more they dig into them. A soft cry of pain escaped his lips before his hands fell away.

"Enough with the games, Carter. Fate withheld this from you with no doubt a purpose. It would be in your best interest not to test her," the sorcerer warned, before adding, "The Flash's identity isn't of importance to you anymore, as any future you saw of him will be obsolete."

He let Ella go and she fell to her knees. The cold terror running through her body sharpened her mind and when the room began to tilt, she still forced herself to stand. She blinked repeatedly till the three men in the room were on the floor and not on the ceiling.

The scarred man took a deliberate step towards Barry, and Ella frantically searched the room for something to use as a weapon. The closest thing was the metal chair that she had been tied to.

The next couple seconds/minutes/hours happened so fast and slowly all at once that Ella could never give an exact answer as to what happened.

But she lifted the chair and jabbed one of the legs into the man's back. He crumpled to the floor, but managed to wave a hand, slinging the chair against the wall. The impact caused the gun to hit the ground with a resonating clatter.

Decree and Ella both made a dive for it, but somehow she gripped it first. Rolling away, she stumbled to her feet, and aimed for the person coming at her with a vengeance. Without a second thought, she pulled her finger back and a bullet shot out, hitting the sorcerer with a loud crack. He flew back, hitting the ground, and the sound rang in her ears.

Ella stood there, frozen. Horrified at what she had done. She was not a killer, a murderer. She couldn't breathe. And the price of that mistake took her life away. For Decree was all of those things, and he quickly overcame her.

He stole the gun from her hand and turned towards Barry who was still struggling with the ropes. Now embedded, he cut the rope to at the very least separate his legs with a vibrating hand. But he didn't know Decree was coming for him yet.

Ella did though and she loved him. Iris loved him. Joe loved him. Cisco and Caitlin. The world would be something terrible without Barry.

The world would not be something terrible without her.

"Nooo!" the word escaped her lips as she caught up with Decree. As she dove in front of Barry, as the other man aimed a shot for the love of her life's heart.

As he pulled the trigger.

She expected pain. For a quarter of a second, she did felt it, but when she hit the ground, her body went cold.

The blood dripping from her lips was warm. The same warmth that filled her chest.

"Barry…" the sweet name was the last thing one her lips, causing them to upturn. At least Ella's final thoughts will be of him.

She shut her eyes as they became too heavy to keep open. But Barry's face will forever be etched in her mind.

The warmth in her mouth and the warmth around her heart engulfed her body and then

she

forgot

There wasn't anything now. No thoughts, no time, no feelings, no sights. Nothing. Nothing to see.

Until there was. There was a bright light and it rose from the bottom to the top like a sunrise.

White. Whitewhitewhitewhite.

And then there was burning. It grew and faded and shifted and changed and turned into something else. The burning turned into cold, sudden shocks, all throughout her body. Ping ping ping ping.

With a sudden whoosh, the white and the shocks pulled out of her body, taking a long gasp of air with it. Blackness overcame her yet again, but it was different this time.

But her lungs had begun working again.

"Ella? Ella, can you hear me?" The words echoed, like the voice was down the a long hall, and was yelling so she could hear.

"Guys… I just- I just brought her back to life."

The darkness didn't leave Ella. From then on, sometimes she heard voices. A female voice, a male voice.

A special voice.

But there was no thought process. Just feeling, especially when Special Voice spoke.

Then female voice turned into Caitlin and male voice was Cisco.

And special voice was Barry. Ella began remembering. The more she remembered, the more she heard. The more aware she was.

Soon she felt her chest rise and fall. She felt someone holding her hand. And she remembered words that were spoken.

That were meant for her, but not for her to hear. But what's too new with that?

Ella was alone when her eyes finally opened. She blinked repeatedly and breathed so deeply she felt lightheaded.

And then she felt the skin above her heart. She felt the puckered scar and before she wondered too much longer about what was going on, Caitlin walked into the room.

"Oh! I saw the spike in your vitals. Ella, you must have so many questions, but I want you to know you're safe here," She said as she rushed over to Ella.

"Is…" Ella tried to speak, but her voice came out as a croak. She cleared her voice and tried again, "Is Barry okay?" Her voice was still hoarse, but it did it's job.

The other girl bit her lip and thought a moment. "Decree didn't hurt him, thanks to you." There was an edge in Caitlin's voice that made Ella feel like she wasn't getting the whole story.

"… has someone else hurt him?" Ella asked in a weak voice.

"Yes," Caitlin barely breathed the word, caught up in memory of 'that night'.

"You've truly picked a damn good time to wake up, Ella," Cisco said, strolling into the room.

"What happened to Barry?" Ella persisted, panic building where a bullet hole should have been.

"There is man that has speed like Barry… and he's got power like you can't even imagine," Caitlin finally answered in a soft voice, unable to meet her eyes.

Cisco gave Ella a hard look. "We'll explain but first, let's see how you're fairing. Some… interesting stuff has happened while you were out."

"Like what?"

"Look down at your hands," He said, pointing with his chin, and she did.

Ella's eyes shone with horror as she brought her hands up. Her fingertips sparked. Little white streaks popped out and she didn't know what to do.

"These are harmless, don't worry," Caitlin quickly assured.

Though Cisco was quick to say, "It's the ones that come from not your fingertips that aren't."

Which of course didn't help the situation. He knew immediately from Ella's wide eyes.

"But don't worry, those right there are harmless," He quickly said.

Ella just turned her eyes back to her fingers. What is happening to her?


AN: hey guys! so I started watching the Flash about a month ago... and between working 60 hours with 3 jobs, I got caught up in about a week. it's quickly become of my favorite shows and I tend to write fanfiction for my favorite shows. So here I am! I hope you like it. please please please let me know! -Anna :)