totally meta

chapter 15

Henry raced through the city streets once again, the cool evening air whipping against his face. The night had been relatively quiet until now—no major threats, no meta-human incidents. But just as he was about to return to Seven Labs, a distress call came in through his earpiece.

"Henry, there's been an accident near 5th and Main," Dr. Harris's voice echoed in his ear. "A car flipped over, and it's leaking fuel. You need to get there now before it ignites."

Without hesitation, Henry shifted into high gear, his body becoming a blur as he sped toward the scene. Within seconds, he arrived at the intersection. The car was upside down, its hood crushed in and gasoline pooling around it. Inside, a figure was struggling to unbuckle her seatbelt, panic etched across her face as the flames crept closer to the fuel tank.

Henry didn't think twice. He was at the car in a flash, ripping open the jammed door. The driver—a young woman—gasped in shock as she saw him, her wide eyes meeting his behind the red mask. He unfastened her seatbelt with one swift motion and pulled her from the wreckage just as the fire reached the leaking fuel.

As he carried her away from the car, the flames roared to life, consuming the vehicle in an explosive inferno. He set her down a safe distance away, the two of them bathed in the warm glow of the fire as it raged behind them.

"Are you okay?" Henry asked, gently holding her shoulders.

The woman nodded, still in shock. Then her eyes lit up with recognition. "Wait... it's you!" she exclaimed, excitement lacing her voice. "You're the Flash! Oh my God, I can't believe this is happening."

Henry smiled faintly, already used to this reaction. "Just doing my job," he replied, about to turn away.

"Wait!" she grabbed his arm, her grip firm but not aggressive. "You saved me. I... I have to thank you."

Henry paused, looking down at her. Something about her face... it was familiar. He couldn't place it at first, but as the flames flickered, casting shadows across her features, the memory hit him like a freight train. Her name was Rachel. He hadn't seen her in years, not since—

Before he could process the memory, Rachel stood on her tiptoes and leaned in to kiss him.

Instinctively, Henry pulled back, gently pushing her away. "Whoa, whoa, I can't do that," he said, his voice softer than he expected. "It's... it's not right."

Rachel's brows furrowed in confusion. "Why not?" she asked, clearly taken aback. "You're a hero. You saved my life. I just wanted to thank you."

Henry let out a sigh, his heart racing for reasons that had nothing to do with speed. She didn't recognize him, of course. The mask hid everything—his past, his mistakes. He looked at her, the shock of recognition still fresh, but he knew it was better this way. She couldn't know who he really was.

"I... I know you," he said, his voice quiet but steady. "You have no idea who I am, and I think it's better that way."

Rachel blinked in confusion, her expression shifting from gratitude to curiosity. "What do you mean? How do you know me?"

Henry hesitated for a moment, debating how much he should reveal. Part of him wanted to tell her the truth, to let her know the man behind the mask. But he couldn't. Not after what had happened between them. Some things were better left in the past.

"From a mistake," he said simply, his voice heavy with meaning. "A mistake I made a long time ago."

Rachel's eyes widened, her curiosity deepening. "What do you mean? What mistake?"

But Henry didn't give her a chance to ask more. In an instant, he was gone, a red blur streaking through the night, leaving Rachel standing there, speechless and alone.

As he sped away, Henry's mind raced just as fast as his body. He hadn't seen Rachel since 9th grade. And she hated him after what he had done.