Escaping the Speed: Chapter Four
TEAM FLASH POV:
Watching was the hardest part. Helplessly watching their friend seize in pain as a stranger smiled at him. Watching Barry's face contort in pain, hearing his screams echo around them. Being forced to watch, and do nothing, was more painful than the pain in their arms from having chains suspended them above their heads. Knowing that Barry thought that he was all alone was enough to break the hearts of Team Flash.
They didn't know what she had said to him to make Barry's body tense and eyes fill with fear. Obviously, it was enough to upset their scarlet speedster.
Julian was analyzing everything that happened. Recalling his knowledge from all the classes and seminars he had taken. The collar could very easily have been tight enough to restrict some of his normal blood flow, which over time could affect his brain—if it was tight enough to do that. The fact that Julian couldn't tell infuriated him. Barry was injured even before this and those unknown injuries could factor in a number of variables; internal injuries, torn ligaments, strained muscles, broken bones, infections, and the list continued to rattle off in his head. Barry could be suffering from a fever, which the cold floor could bring some relief to. Or he could be freezing and suffering from a slight case of hypothermia. The knife wound could have severed a blood vessel, torn a muscle, or maybe it nicked a vital internal organ. Barry Allen could very well be dying right before their eyes and there isn't anything Julian could do expect analyze the forensics of it all. For the first time in a long time, Julian Albert wished he hadn't left London.
Cisco's voice demanded everyone's attention. "Felicity Smoak", he said, his voice a loud whisper.
Iris' irritation was evident in her tone of voice, "Is with the Green Arrow in Star City. She isn't here Cisco, she probably doesn't even know what's going on."
It was strange to see a smile reflecting at them. The mirror allowed them to see Barry, but their own reflections could also be made out. Cisco's smile was a strange, yet beautiful sight to see. "Felicity's been so worried since Barry left. She's been tracking us—monitoring all of our wins and losses since she learnt what happened."
"What," Wally asked, annoyed that Team Arrow didn't believe he could fill Barry's shoes but still proud to know they hadn't needed to come save them yet. Come save them. "Cisco," Kid Flash's smile could be heard in his voice. "Are you saying Felicity will notice our lack of inactivity and realize something's wrong?"
"Yes. That is exactly what I am saying Wally".
Four out of five reflections were smiling now. Julian, Cisco, Joe, and Wally. Iris, on the other hand, refused to feel hopeful and decided to remain realistic. "Team Arrow have their own things to worry about Cisco. That doesn't mean that they'll come."
"If they think that we're in danger they would come," said Cisco matter of factly. He didn't even bother to hid the hurt in his voice at Iris' accusation that their friends didn't care.
"Yes Cisco," Iris said, trying to sound kinder than her words implied. "But what evidence do they have? That we have up because Barry left? And so what? Felicity might not even notice in time, what if they do come. And what if by the time they get here Barry is dead, or so mentally manipulated that our Barry is gone and that snake of a women gets what she wants."
"You don't believe in him?" Wally asked harshly. "Barry deserves better than that Iris. He's earned the right for us to believe in him time and time again. But you of all people Iris, you love him. And he loves you and you don't even believe that he—"
Iris interrupted her brother, afraid of where his sentence was leading. "I'm just trying to be realistic. The truth is we don't know what Barry went through in the speed force."
"I do. Or did you forget that I was trapped in that prison to."
"For a week Wally. You were in there for a week, it's been months for Barry! You didn't come out physically injured from obviously being tortured by whatever it is that goes on in that prison. You didn't come out of one prison only to immediately find yourself trapped in another."
"That's enough you too," snapped Joe.
The room grew silent. No more smiles were being reflected back to them. Instead they simply watched as their friend laid in an empty room, bleeding and struggling to breath properly. The women had left the room and Barry's eyes were closed. Moments of watching Barry breath passed by before Wally decided to break the silence. His voice was quiet, but determined. "I believe in Barry Allen."
Cisco's quiet voice spoke next, "I believe in Team Arrow."
"I believe in evidence," responded Julian. "And the evidence is telling me that Barry doesn't have time for us to simply believe. We need to create a plan, and we need to do so quickly."
Wally took a deep breath. Julian was right—Barry didn't have time for them to just wait around like damsel in distresses. They were heroes who could save themselves. They were heroes who needed to figure something out so that they could save their hero. Wally closed his eyes and tuned out the conversation his four cellmates were having. They were trying to talk about a plan, but Wally has always been better at acting before thinking. He ignored them, and he ignored the mental image of Barry in pain. He ignored his fears, his discomfort—he ignored everything that made him Wallace West. Instead he focused on everything that made him Kid Flash. The speed, the rush, the love, the lightning, the sense of freedom—he clung to his speed, silently begging the speed force to help him.
The sound of Wally's chains rattling gained the attention of the other four people. They quickly looked over and noticed that Wally's body was shaking.
"Wally," asked Joe, his voice laced with concern for his son.
Kid Flash opened his eyes, and lightning was clearly visible in them.
Cisco's smile returned. "Yes. Go Kid Flash! Come on Wally—you can do this!"
Wally let a quiet scream escape his lips. His back arched away from the wall, it was obvious he was putting everything he could into bending his speed to his will.
Team Flash all waited in anticipation for what was about to happen. Kid Flash was trying to phase—which hadn't happened before. But now he had a reason to—the Flash: his mentor, friend, and brother needed him to phase.
Instead of phasing through the chains, something different happened; something new. A wave of lightning shot out of Kid Flash and shot around the room. It bounced off all the walls until it died down. Wally's chains remained firmly on his wrists—but that didn't matter. It had rattled the two-way mirror between them and Barry.
And it had gotten the Flash's attention.
TO BE CONTINUED….
Published: October 18, 2017
Status: In-Complete
Next Update: ASAP
ALSO: I just realized that these chapters are usually between only 1,000 and 2,000 words. I am so sorry for that….I just really like the idea of ending these chapters were I do.
ALSO: I think I'm going to start doing every other POV chapters….what do you think?
LAST ALSO: THANK YOU FOR REVIEWING! You guys seem really into this story which makes me happy (lowkey think this is one of my worse writings so thanks for liking it anyways). YOU GUYS ARE JUMPING AHEAD! DON'T WORRY I WILL ANSWER THE COLLAR QUESTIONS AT A LATER CHAPTER! xoxo