Parallel

Chapter IV: Accustomed to Pain

Hello! I'm back! Sorry I'm a little late, I've been trying to post on the weekends but it hasn't really been working out for me. Anyway, big things happening in this chapter. More angst. Mwhahaha. (I feel like this chapter might be a little weak, but it's advances the plot.)

Enjoy! :)
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For the third time in a matter of weeks, Barry Allen found himself standing in the cavernous lair of a madman. The first time it had been a rescue, the second time had turned into one. And the third time....you guessed it.

Barry walked soundlessly through the once-functional train station, eyes scanning the walls he was becoming far too acquainted with. The space was dirty and dark, the only source of light emanating from a few murky lamps, and the last embers of sunset that filtered through the windows near the ceiling. Barry swallowed thickly,
trying to ignore the dried bloodstain on the floor as he passed it. Trying to forget who it belonged to.

Almost unconsciously, his focus drifted to Caitlin. She was moving at a steady pace with Cisco, though there was an apprehension and a tightness to her step. Her eyes kept drifting to the corners of the room, and her head kept turning at the smallest clink of the chains that hung from the ceiling.
She was on edge, and Barry couldn't blame her. The place would've been enough to set off the calmest of people, even without the added weight of a near-death experience.

"Hey," Barry's voice was soft, breaking her reverie, "are you okay?"

Caitlin's eyes snapped to him, sharp and laced with anxiety. There were hints of white around the edges, providing a striking contrast to her otherwise brown irises.

"I'm alright," she answered, her gaze softening and the glow slowly draining from her eyes.

Barry nodded, giving her arm a light yet reassuring touch. The three of them kept moving, their footsteps quiet and their breaths shallow as they steadily made their way through the chamber of rock and steel.

"Let's hurry up and get this done," Cisco whispered firmly. "Zoom's more active at night."

"Well, we would've been here earlier, Caitlin replied, matching his tone. "but somebody took forever putting on their eyeliner."

"It's for the aesthetic, Frost," Cisco defended, absently taking a moment to adjust his gauntlets.

"Caitlin," she corrected.

"Fine, Caitlin," he echoed.

"What happened to you anyway," he inquired, his demeanor calming just a bit. "Did you lose your powers or something?"

"No, they're just dormant," Caitlin answered as she stepped over a pile of shattered glass. "And I'd like to keep it that way, for a while at least," she admitted.

Cisco gave a small gesture of understanding.

"What's this guys deal? Any Powers?" Reverb asked, briefly leaning forward to peer around a corner.

"This guy can hear you," Barry whispered sharply.

"Right, sorry," Cisco deadpanned, turning to him. "Any powers?"

Barry shook his head, "just someone who wants to help."

"Great, I'm flying solo here." Cisco mumbled under his breath. "Just try not to get yourself killed," he instructed.

Moments later, they rounded the corner, their objective coming into view. The man in the iron mask sat in his carbine cell, head leaned against the wall of the glass prison.