Forward ϟ The Flash

Chapter 1: The Return of Hecate

My name is Rose Parker. The only surviving daughter of Merlin. Over a year ago, my life forever changed when an accident caused my inner power not only to emerge, but mutate into something stronger. Alongside Barry Allen, my partner at the Central City Police Department, we became The Flash and Hecate with the help of our friends at S.T.A.R. Labs. Six months ago, tragedy struck Central City and I ran to a family that only just revealed itself to me. Once again, I lost someone I loved and ran back home, now more powerful, more dangerous than ever before.

The question is now is do I keep running? Or do I fight?

"Flash and Hecate Day is almost here. A special downtown rally to honor the man and woman who saved Central City-" Rose pressed down the volume button with one hand while keeping the cooing baby on her lap supported. Michelle sat on the ground in front of her, playing with her newest doll, Heatwave, who was fighting Hecate. While her sound effects had drowned out the news earlier, a reminder of a day meant to celebrate her and Barry made her feel weird.

"I can't believe they want to give them keys to the city." she said as she adjusted the little one as she sat back further on the couch.

"I can," Carmen replied, holding out her arms for her baby. Rose gently lifted Eleanora, affectionately called Nora, over to her sister. Apparently, when Carmen had met the twins on a video chat, she couldn't stop obsessing over Ellie's name. While Rose knew her little sister would have been happy to have a baby named after her, the blow of losing her still hit Rose in the gut like a freight train. "They're heroes after all. The saviors of Central City deserve something like the firefighters and police did."

Rose scoffed as she rolled her eyes, "Half the city went up in that thing and they think it was saved?"

Her sister shook her head, wavy hair swaying as she got off the couch. She motioned for Rose to follow her into the kitchen as she continued. "They tried, Rosie. Which is more than most of us can say we did. What's got your panties in a twist?"

"Just trying to figure out what people's definition of saving is apparently," she answered as Carmen put Nora in her high chair. The chair she pulled out scraped lightly against the wooden floors as she took a seat at the table, making silly faces at her niece. Her sister floated around the kitchen, pulling out food and plates as she started to prepare lunch.

"You know what is weird though? Everyone has speculated about whether Hecate will even show. I mean, she hasn't been seen in months. In fact, she disappeared about the same time you did."

"Are you insinuating something?"

"Mommy thinks you're Hecate," Michelle told her aunt with a matter-of-fact tone as she took the empty seat next to her. It was odd how much had changed since she had left. Six months ago, Michelle was still referring to her step-mom by her name and now she was Mommy. Not to mention she had only seemed to have gotten smarter and taller. She hated the thought of thinking like that like she never got to spend time with her step-niece, but it had been so long.

Rose ruffled Michelle's hair, much to the young one's annoyance. "Well, your mommy is silly. Much like her kids."

"Speaking of silly, I ran into that long-haired friend of yours. Cisco. He had asked if I had heard from you. That was last week, but I had told him no. Have you called any of them to tell them you're back?"

"Not yet," she said with a shake of her head. "I still need to call Iris and tell her I'm home. And then I start work after tomorrow."

Carmen pointed at her with the knife she was using cutting up sandwiches, jokingly threatening. "So you're still going to help me tomorrow when I take the girls to the rally?"