Catching Up || Barry Allen [2]

57| Crisis on Infinite Earths

***

I had my head resting on my knees feeling like I was seconds away from sleep, but the sound of approaching footsteps had me immediately standing up. It had been a couple of hours since we had seen Hunter and it was causing me to worry.

"Seems like your little plan failed Joe." Hunter said proudly as he looked at Joe who was stilled chained to the ceiling. And I didn't know for how much longer he would be able to continue being chained that way. "He's agreed to race. Not like he had much of a choice."

Before I even had time to process what Zoom had just told us he had he had a hold of me and I could do nothing as he ran forwards. Suddenly the familiar sensation of crossing through a breach spread through me once again, and when I finally opened my eyes we were standing in front of the Magnetar. The devices size alone making me feel smaller than ever.

"Holy shit." I heard Joe whispered as we continued to look up at the device. The both of us were in Hunter's tight grip, and I had to fight the urge to fight him again in hopes of getting free.

Suddenly out of the shadows Barry appeared his face unreadable as he approached us, the team not to far away. I looked through all the faces until it landed on one that I had believed I would never see again.

Jade.

I couldn't wrap my mind around why she would be her. And when the realization hit I could feel nothing but guilt for turning my back on her so quickly.

"Brought the whole crew with you, huh?" Hunter questioned clearly amused as he looked around at the entire team. "Can't say I blame you.It's gonna be one hell of a show."

"Let them go." Barry ordered. When our eyes met another wave of guilt washed over me remember that the last time I had seen him I had helped lock him up in The Pipeline. That the last time we had talked he was pleading me to release him from his cell.

"You can have one now. Choose." He replied his grip on us tightening and it was clear that he was enjoying himself. He was confident that he was going to win. "So which one is it going to be."

I could see the conflict in Barry's eyes as he looked between Joe and I.

"You don't have to say it." Hunter said as he pushed me forward forcefully. I stubbled, but Barry was there to quickly steady me as he wrapped his arms tightly around me. He kissed the top of my head and from where my hand was placed I could feel his heart beating rapidly against his chest.

"Go to the others." Barry whispered as he let go of me stepping closer to Hunter who still had Joe. I quickly made my way to the rest of the team who immediately surrounded me.

Before I had a chance to say a word Jade came forward pulling me into a tight embrace. Everything that she did was forgotten as I hugged to back. "I'm so sorry." She whispered and I felt guilty for letting my pride get in the way and not listen to what she had to say.

"No, I'm sorry." I told her knowing what I was in the wrong. She needed me as much as I needed Roy when I first left the grasp of my mother. And I failed her.

The embrace only lasted for a moment however, as we both knew that there was a much larger issue at hand. I knew that Barry would be able to beat Zoom and allow Jade and I to talk about everything, because there was so much we still needed to learn and know about each other.

"You can have father number two after we race. Don't worry I'll give you time for your good-byes." He told Barry before he disappeared, returning seconds later without Joe.

"Cut the crap." Harry stated as he took a step forward. "We know you plan to power up the Magnetar so you can destroy the multiverse."

"Bravo. You figured it out almost." Jay corrected not seeming fazed by us knowing exactly what his plan was. And that racing Barry wasn't all that he wanted. "I don't want to destroy all of it. This Earth is at the center of the multiverse. It's the access point to every other Earth in existence. One trans-dimensional shockwave, and poof."