Crisis on Earth-Prime (an Arrowverse novel)

Chapter 21: Welcome to Earth-2

Cecile was recovering well while Dawoud attempted to use his cry but the power dampener in the cell kept him from doing so.

"What's gotten into him?" Jihan asked. "This is beyond pain."

"I agree" said Khaled. "He was such a good kid and the day he left, I was sad because he and I had become really good friends as well as with Louai. He never had malice or any ill intent, ever."

"So if that's the case, how did he go from being good to bad?" Laurel asked.

"I wish I knew and I'm his brother" I sighed.

"Actually, I don't think he's doing this because he's evil..." Cecile said. "In fact, I don't think he has evil in him."

"What do you mean?" I asked, noticing the less than hopeful expression she had.

"Look, when I connected to him, I didn't do it intentionally. It happened the moment I went into the room and I sensed something odd. Something that I have never experienced ever when connecting to a person's emotions."

"What did you sense?" Louai asked.

"I sensed evil but it wasn't his. It's almost like he is being consumed by some kind of curse but what's even weirder, the curse used to be a blessing. It's like his life energy is connected to someone else, someone he loves and cares a great deal for."

"Well, the only person that I can think of that he cares a great deal for is his brother from Earth-2" I said.

"But how is he specifically connected to him?" Barry asked. "He was never able to get close to his brother's doppelganger here on Earth-Prime, could that have triggered the curse? Assuming it's him."

"I don't know but we have to go to Earth-2 and talk to him. This situation is way too out of control and at this point, I would not be surprised if this Earth-X crisis has something to do with it too."

"What if this is red kryptonite we are dealing with?" asked Khaled. "He is of a Human-Kryptonian hybrid and I know kryptonite still affects him even though he does not possess Kryptonian powers the same as his uncle and his brother do."

"It's not. This is a curse" Cecile said. "I don't know the origins exactly but I sensed another life source at play here."

"Then we have to go to Earth-2 and asked the Clark of that universe" I said.

"Then let's go" said Barry.

"I think it's best if I go on my own."

"I'll go with you. You'll need backup and..." Khaled began but I cut him off.

"No, it's too dangerous, and what if something goes wrong and we can't get back?"

"Look, your brother is my friend and he was like a son to my dad. If what's happening to him is due to a curse that he has no control over or much less something that he had no idea about, then I have to help!"

I was between a rock and a hard place. I wanted to keep Khaled safe but I knew he was not about to back off either.

"I'll let you come if your parents say it's okay" I said.

"What am I ten years old?" he chuckled.

"I'm being for reals here...I know you and your family are grateful that I gave you that elixir even though I did not know it was tainted with dark matter. But I accidentally turned you into a Meta and I don't want for something else to 'accidentally' happen to you."