ALL THE KING'S MEN | BARRY ALLEN

20. CROW

❛ chapter twenty! ❜

twenty | crow—sasha siem

      A concoction of happiness and confusion floods into my chest when I see the city's hero, the future version of this earth's Barry Allen. His dishevelled figure clad in some blue jeans and a simple black tee and hoodie stands in the doorway across from me. He stares at me with wide and penetrating green eyes. I wait to see at least the tiniest of smiles for an old acquittance or friend if he was ever to consider me one and my waiting is worthless for he doesn't seem to let the corners of his lips go up.

       The smile that automatically lightened my face fades when I realize he's not just staring anymore, he's glaring at me with a level of hatred I've never seen in the green eyes of this earth's Barry Allen, there's a sneer on his face as if I'm the most disgusting thing he's ever seen and his hands are balled into fists. I don't even have time to talk or even ask for the other Barry's whereabouts, for the future version of him has rocketed at me and his hands have found a home around my neck while he squashes me against a wall.

       "You," he seethes at me as his hand curls even tighter around my neck. I'm too confused to try to break free, I can just look into the raging storm trapped in his eyes while my hands curl around his arms, "What else do you want?" He questions between gritted teeth, "What else do you want from me?!" He yells, the veins of his neck popping, his voice leaving a ringing sound in my ears and I whish I had idea of what the hell he's talking about.

        "When did you become so strong?" I manage and he just squeezes harder, making me wheeze. I see the lightning in his eyes before everything becomes blurry and I'm literally tossed to another wall, my head hitting the hard surface in the process. I realize we're in the pipeline now and that future Barry has locked me up in a containment cell. I raise to my feet between a fit of cough as air rushes back into my lungs while the man just glares back sternly at me, the rage in his eyes visible from miles away, "Barry, I know this might be confusing but you have to to let me out, I can explain. Please, trust me, I just need to—"

       "Stop talking!" He exasperates and I observe his frantic pacing and movements overall, "I'm not gonna make the same mistake again," he stabs his finger at me, walking forward and standing just inches from the glass between the two of us and I step closer, my hands on the glass, flinching when he slams his palms on the surface, "I'm not gonna make the same mistake!"

       "What are you talking about? No, no, no! Please, Barry you have to to listen to me!" I shout when he strides away and closes the door to my cell. A frustrated groan bursts out of me as I hit the glass with my fists several times, both desperation and worry taking over my body until the sound of my fist against the glass and my grunting is all I hear; I have to find my Barry. I would never forgive myself if something happens to him here, he could get himself killed because I know he won't stay away from the vigilante job, not even here in the future.