totally meta

chapter six

Henry paced back and forth in the training room at Seven Labs, a blur of movement that was still too fast for the human eye to catch. He had been practicing for weeks now, getting a better handle on his superspeed, and the improvements were showing. Every time he ran, he could feel his body becoming more attuned to the power, like it had been a part of him all along, just waiting to be unleashed.

He skidded to a stop in the middle of the room, barely breaking a sweat. His heart still raced, but it was no longer the overwhelming, out-of-control feeling that had hit him the first time he discovered his speed. Now, it felt almost natural.

Henry grinned to himself. He'd come a long way since waking up in that lab, and today... today he had a plan. He had been thinking about something for a while now, something big. But it was time to ask.

He marched through the hallway, dodging the occasional lab tech or scientist, and made his way to Dr. Harris's office. He knocked, feeling a strange mixture of anticipation and nerves.

"Come in," her familiar voice called.

Henry pushed the door open, finding Dr. Harris behind her desk, engrossed in yet another report. She looked up as he entered, raising an eyebrow.

"Henry, you're looking confident today," she remarked with a small smile. "What's on your mind?"

"I've been thinking," Henry began, stepping forward. "I've got this... gift, this ability. I know it's important for us to study it, to figure out what's happening to me, but I think I could do more. I want to help people, Dr. Harris. I want to use my powers for something good. You know... be a superhero."

Dr. Harris didn't respond immediately, but her smile didn't waver. She leaned back in her chair, observing him closely.

"Interesting," she said softly, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Go on."

Henry took a deep breath. "I know how this sounds, like I'm trying to live out some comic book fantasy or whatever. But the more I think about it, the more it makes sense. If I can run at these kinds of speeds, I could stop criminals, save people in danger... do something real. I don't want to just sit around and be tested. I want to make a difference."

Dr. Harris nodded slowly, as if weighing his words. "And you think you're ready for that responsibility?"

"Yes," Henry said firmly. "But I don't want to just run around aimlessly. I get that my powers need to be used carefully. I just think I could be doing more. Look, you know what I can do now. I can control it. Let me do something with it."

For a moment, the room was silent. Henry half-expected Dr. Harris to shut him down, to tell him it was too risky or that he wasn't ready. But to his surprise, she leaned forward, her eyes narrowing in thought.

"You know, Henry," she said slowly, "that's not such a crazy idea."

Henry blinked. "Wait, really?"

Dr. Harris nodded. "We've been monitoring your progress, and you've shown remarkable control over your abilities in a short amount of time. And I've been thinking... there's more at stake here than just you mastering your powers. Since the explosion at Angelic Industries, we've started tracking others—people who might have been affected like you."

Henry's heart skipped a beat. "You mean there are more people like me?"

"Potentially," Dr. Harris replied. "But we don't know who they are, where they are, or what abilities they might have. And that's where you could come in."

Henry's brow furrowed. "You want me to find them?"

"Not just find them," Dr. Harris said, standing up and walking over to a nearby cabinet. "Some of these people, if they exist, might not be able to control their abilities like you can. They could be dangerous—to themselves and to others. We need to bring them in, to help them, make sure they don't accidentally hurt innocent people. And yes, in a way, that makes you something of a superhero."

She turned around, holding something in her hands. A comic book.

Henry stared at it, recognizing the cover immediately. It was a classic issue of The Flash.

Dr. Harris handed it to him with a smile. "You once compared all of this to a comic book. Well, you're not wrong. You're in a unique position to make a real difference, to help people. And if you really want to be a superhero, maybe you could take inspiration from one of your favorites."

Henry stared at the comic, his mind racing. The Flash was one of his all-time favorite heroes—someone who used his speed to fight crime, save lives, and protect the world. He never thought he'd actually be in a position to do the same thing.

Dr. Harris stepped closer, her voice quiet but firm. "Henry, I want to ask you something, and I want you to take it seriously. Will you do the world the biggest favor it could ask for?"

Henry looked up from the comic, meeting her eyes. "What's that?"

Dr. Harris smiled. "Will you become the Flash?"

Henry's mouth went dry. It wasn't just about the name, or the suit, or the superhero fantasy. This was real. She was asking him to take on a responsibility, to use his powers not just for himself but for the world.

He swallowed hard, feeling the weight of the question. "You're serious."

"As serious as the situation demands," Dr. Harris replied. "There are people out there who need help—people who might be just as confused and scared as you were. You have the ability to reach them, to bring them in before they hurt themselves or others. You can make a difference, Henry. But you have to choose to do it."

Henry looked down at the comic again, flipping through the pages. The Flash had always been more than just a hero to him—he was a symbol of hope, someone who used his powers to make the world a better place.

Henry thought about his mom, how she always worried about him finding a job, finding his way in life. And now, here he was, being offered a chance to do something bigger than anything he could have imagined.

He closed the comic and looked up at Dr. Harris. "I'll do it."

Dr. Harris's smile widened. "Good. Then we'll get started immediately. We'll work on refining your abilities even further, and when the time comes, we'll deploy you to find those who need help."

Henry nodded, his heart pounding with a mix of excitement and anxiety. He had always dreamed of being a hero, but now that the opportunity was in front of him, it felt terrifyingly real.

"Thank you," Dr. Harris said, her tone softening. "You're doing something good, Henry. Something important."

He nodded again, trying to steady himself. "Let's do this."

As Henry walked out of the office, the comic book tucked under his arm, he couldn't help but think about the journey ahead. He wasn't just some guy with superspeed anymore.

He was becoming a hero.