Hellfire (The Flash - Book 2) [RE-UPLOAD]

Chapter 17 - Trajectory

Barry and I were standing on a cliff near a waterfall, suited up as the Flash and Phoenix without our masks.

"Whoo-hoo," Barry said, looking nervous. "Uh, it didn't look this deep on the map."

"That's 'cause maps are flat," I told him. "This is like a thousand feet deep. But you wanna get faster. Maybe plummeting to your death is the motivation you need."

Cisco, Caitlin, Harrison and Amber had set up a tent behind us.

"So, to reach escape velocity, you're gonna have to go . . ." Amber trailed off, writing down a number on a notepad. "That fast."

"Well, that fast is impossible," Barry told her. "I can promise you that."

Amber shook her head. "Uh-uh. 'Nothing in life is promised except death'."

"Edgar Allen Poe?" Barry asked.

"Kayne West," Amber answered.

Cisco walked closer. "If it makes you feel any better, Evel Knievel cleared a line of cars that was twice this long and he didn't even have superpowers. Ah, unless you count that sweet-ass ride."

I looked at him. "Do you hear yourself?"

"Well, look, you're gonna be fine," Cisco said, looking at Barry. "I'm 80 percent sure of it."

"Okay," Barry said.

Cisco corrected himself. "76. Like a strong 72. I can't stop. Caitlin, help."

"If you don't feel ready, you probably shouldn't do it," Caitlin said.

"Not helpful," Cisco told her.

"Look, Zoom and Hellfire are still out there," I told them. "Amber, you've been showing me how to get stronger by siphoning fire and using my anger in a healthy way to enhance my powers. And it's working, but I still have a long way to go. And once we find a way back to Earth-2, I have to be stronger than her."

"And I have to be faster than Zoom," Barry added. "And I mean, right now, I wasn't even fast enough to save Jay." Amber looked down. "I have to try."

Barry pulled on his mask, walking away a fair distance and knelt to the ground, preparing himself. He exhaled, his eyes glowing with electricity and took off in a flash, jumping off the cliff to get to the other side.

Cisco, Caitlin, Harrison, Amber and I watched him in anticipation.

Caitlin smiled. "He's gonna make it."

Barry almost reached the other side, but started to slow down, falling towards the waterfall.

"No!" I cried, running towards the edge of the cliff.

"Oh, damn," Harrison said.

I jumped off the cliff and ignited my back, blazing towards Barry, grabbing his hands before he could hit the water.