The Multiversal Crisis

Chapter 1: Missing

FLASH MISSING,
VANISHES IN CRISIS

by Iris West-Allen

Thursday, April 25, 2024

After an extreme street battle with the Reverse-Flash, our city's very own Scarlet Speedster disappeared in an explosion of light. The cause of the fight is currently unknown. According to witnesses, The Flash, with help from Starling City's Green Arrow, Gotham's Batwoman, National City's Supergirl, and Superman, began fighting the Reverse-Flash around midnight last night. The sky took on a deep crimson color as the ensuing battle created the most destruction this city has seen since The Flash first arrived in Central City.

Several trucks were caught in the fray, spilling their contents into the street. Power outages swept nearly twenty city blocks, between 16th street and Adams Avenue. Five of those blocks still remain without power. All of the buildings in the area were evacuated by the CCPD, with help from Superman.

According to reports, as The Flash and Reverse-Flash battled with each other between two overturned tanker trucks, the lightning emanating from the speedsters threatened to ignite spilled oil leaking from one of the trucks.

The smoke from the truck's engine made it difficult to see, but it appeared at one point they were having a very heated conversation before continuing the fight. Then, suddenly, The Flash sped after Reverse-Flash and the two vanished, leaving The Batwoman, Green Arrow and Supergirl behind.

An eyewitness who watched the battle from her apartment building before being evacuated said, "It was hard to see, but The Flash and Reverse-Flash were zipping up and down M-- Avenue and then there was a whole bunch of lightning, and then nothing. It was weird."

Other witnesses describe a similar phenomenon: a blinding light followed by darkness as the sky returned to black. And as the sky reverted, it took only a moment to realize The Flash and the Reverse-Flash were gone without a trace.

Central City Police Chief, Joe West gave a press conference in the wee hours of the morning stating, "We don't have many details now. What we do know tonight is Central City's greatest protector vanished in a flash. I only hope he returns just as quickly." A sentiment shared by all who call this great city home.

The young man stared in disbelief at the news report in his apartment living room. "He can't be gone. I just saw him earlier today," he thought to himself.

He remembered when he first met the Flash, known to him then as simply Barry Allen. They had briefly worked together, the younger man being a forensics intern under Barry's wing as they worked on meta human crime scenes. When the particle accelerator created by Dr. Wells exploded, it gave abilities to the both of them. While Barry's powers emerged after a coma that lasted months, Matt's were a bit more delayed, only emerging when a burglar tried to break in and steal from his family.

Super speed, he thought. Just like another certain someone.

That was when Barry introduced himself as the Flash. He had promised to help Matt understand his powers, while keeping his abilities a secret from his family. He could only imagine how they would react if they found out their son was some sort of freak or superhero.

They lived outside the city, on the outskirts where the accelerator's effects wouldn't be felt. "Thank God," Matt remembered himself thinking.

Mere weeks passed until the skies turned red on April 25. He had only barely started learning about his powers when the Flash mysteriously vanished. All that was left of him was the news article left by his wife Iris. Other than that, there was no clue of where Barry may have gone. Or was it when?

Barry had filled Matt with hope when he was with him. A feeling that anything was possible.

A feeling that he shared with the people who called Central City home.

A feeling that inspired him to find the Flash.

That same hope filled him now, but quickly turned to dread as a loud "B O O M!" sounded just outside his window.

Superman had just crashed into the side of his apartment, apparently due to some sort of energy blast. With a broken body, weak voice and smoking clothes, he tried to tell the younger man to run, but he didn't get the chance.

Because whatever had just beaten Superman... had now followed him here.

To be continued...

(Hey! Sorry for the short chapter, but I just want to see if this thing can get above ground. I may change up some things in the future to make it read better, but for now, I will see you in the next one!)