A Flash of the Lightning

by Techfish

On April 25th, 2024, the Flash engaged in battle with his oldest enemy: the Reverse-Flash, defeating him before disappearing in a flash of light. That was the second time. This is the story of how that day ended twice, and how, in the world's darkest hours and in the midst of its first true crisis, Barry Allen saved the multiverse. (Short chapters as separated by time and POV.)

8. Chapter 7

T1 = 23.57.16

So much worse. Oh, god, so much worse.

After hours and hours of fighting the calamity, the Flash had returned to Central City to find a maelstrom of destruction.

The rest of his world's heroes were converging on his location, where the Flash could feel the universe shearing apart. From his position atop a crumbling skyscraper, Barry watched helplessly as a rift in spacetime opened directly overhead. Beyond the tearing fabric of the universe, Barry saw something he couldn't make sense of, at first—before he realized he was staring down the barrel of a higher-dimensional cannon.

He saw Mari, Ray, Kendra, and Firestorm fly over his head, straight at the breach.

"No! Wait!" he called out, but it was no use.

What have I done? thought Barry, and for the first time in a long time he felt more than helpless—hopeless.

Then Wally raced to his side, and Oliver arrived via grapple-arrow/gun/gadget/what-have-you with Roy, Laurel, and everyone else.

The thing beyond the rift was glowing now, and Barry could see everyone gradually grasp the scale, the sheer magnitude of what they were facing. As the earth beneath them shook once more and the sky turned from blood red to the blackest of void, Oliver turned to Barry, gripped his arm tight, and looked at him with an expression that read I'm sorry I didn't listen to you, and said:

"Run."

But Barry was transfixed, and it took all of Wally's speed to pull him away as above them, reality collapsed.

Run, Barry! Run! he screamed without speaking and Barry felt Wally push him forward as they fled from the wave of null.

Run, Barry. Make sure this never happens. Fix it.

Then he hit the ground, and Barry ran.

He ran and ran, his eyes burning, screaming in anger and fear and frustration at the injustice of it all. He turned to look behind him at the wall of void that had engulfed his family, his friends, his world, that was pursuing him, but instead saw… himself.