Short on Time

Chapter 20

We walked in and I froze. "Oh, my God." Caitlin said as we looked at the Reverse Flash costume.

Barry who was holding my hand pulled me towards what looked like a computer screen. "Guys."

"What the frak?" Cisco asked.

"Flash missing. Vanishes in crisis." I read aloud.

"After an epic street battle with the Reverse-Flash, our city's very own Scarlet Speedster disappeared in an explosion of light." Barry said.

"Barry, look at the date." Caitlin said.

"April 25th, 2024." Barry said.

I looked at it surprised. "Guys, when I fought The Reverse-Flash at Christmas, he said that we'd be fighting for centuries." Barry said.

"Wait, you can't really think that this is from the future." Caitlin said.

"That would means Dr. Wells, or whoever he is, is also From the future."

"I have to say, I'm really digging the brighter red suit. And the white on the symbol That's dope." Cisco said.

I smiled at what he noticed. "Wait a second. Suppose we now change the color on your suit. Will it be because we got the idea from this picture? That would mean we're living in a causal nexus." Cisco said.

"This is amazing." I said.

"This is so trippy. Like, Marty and the Polaroid trippy." Cisco said.

I looked at the image carefully, and felt my stomach plummet at the same time my heart broke. "Not as trippy as the name on the byline." Caitlin said as she saw what I saw.

"Iris West-Allen?" Barry asked looking at me confused. "How? Why would that even happen?"

"Mazel tov?" Cisco asked.

"Hebrew." A voice said making us all jump "Ancient language of the Jewish people."

"What the bloody hell was that?" I asked.

"Is someone here? Hello?" Barry asked.

"Good evening, Barry Allen." The voice said appearing.

"Uh... H-hi." Barry said.

"You know who he is?" I asked.

"Of course. Barry Allen, director of Central City Police, CSI Division." The voice said.

"Director?" Barry asked.

"I guess you get a promotion." Cisco said.

"Also known as The Flash. Founding member of..." The voice said.

"What are you?" Barry said cutting the A.I. off.

"I am Gideon, an interactive artificial consciousness." Gideon replied.

"A.I. Sick." Cisco said, I nodded in agreement.

"You know Dr. Wells?" Barry asked.

"Yes." Gideon responded.

"Do you know who he really is?" Barry asked.

"I don't understand the question." Gideon replied.

"I - I mean, what is he doing here? W-why did he come here?

Barry asked.

"To kill you." Gideon said simply.

"What?" I asked.

Gideon turned towards me. "To kill Barry Allen, that is why he is here."

"Wells is in the building." Cisco said.