Be Your Hero - Barry Allen/The Flash (Book 1)

The Bargain

Ella's POV.

At STAR Labs Barry put his suit on and grabbed Jays helmet. Cisco looked at him cautiously. "Barry, are you sure?" He nodded. "I'm sure." "We don't even know if he'll be able to hear me." "He'll hear you." Barry handed Cisco the helmet. Ella stood by the monitors behind the chair  Caitlin was sitting in. Cisco put his glasses on and in seconds he was talking. "He'll do it."

Everyone got ready for Zoom to come. Now and Harry got they're guns ready while Iris had her pistol. Caitlin, Cisco and Ella stood near Well's workshop doorway. Ella looked over at Barry. He had his back turned from everyone. Soon everything was quiet. "We're ready." Wells said. Barry turned his head to the side and nodded. Everyone watched as he turned back towards the wall. His shoulders moved up and down. Ella knew how hard this was for Barry. Her heart was breaking for him.

Soon he stood up straight, turned around again looking at everyone. "Guys." The group looked at they're leader. "I uh, I just want to say. . .I couldn't have done all this without you. While I was running around saving the world. . .that was never just me out there. I'm not Flash. I never have been. We all are. And I just want to say before this is all over that. . . I love you guys and to me. . .you're all heroes."

Ella felt tears come to her eyes. Caitlin was the first one to go up to Barry and hug him. She let go and wiped away her tears. Joe looked at Barry and hugged him. "Thank you, son." Barry nodded and pulled away, patting Joe on the back. Iris smiled up at him sadly and pulled him into a hug she hesitated then quickly kissed him on the cheek. He looked at her in surprise while Ella tried to ignore her jealous feelings. She was like his sister there was nothing wrong with a kiss on the cheek.

After hugging Cisco Barry and Ella embraced. "I love you, Barry. And I'm so proud of you. With or without your powers." She whispered. He nodded, silently. Pulling away she gave him a sad smile.

As soon as he pulled on his mask Zoom came racing into the lab holding Wally by his shirt collar. Joe, Wells and Iris held up they're guns. "Wally, hold on." Joe told his son. "Let him go." Zoom looked at Barry. "We had a deal." Barry walked over to him. "My speed for Wally's life. Hand him over and it's yours." Zoom dropped Wally. He got up and ran to his dad. "You okay?" Joe asked. "You need to get outta here. Now." "I can't." Wally said, out of breath. "Go! Fast!" Iris ordered her brother. "Cisco!" Joe called. Cisco took Wally and lead him out safely.

Joe and Wells pointed their guns at Zoom. Barry stared at the monster unwavering. "Let's get this over with." Zoom took off his mask revealing his face. Ella heard Caitlin gasp from right next to her. She looked over and put a hand on her arm comfortingly.

A few minutes later everyone was in Harry's workshop. Caitlin, Cisco and Ella stood near the wall while Barry stood facing the window to the main lab. Iris and Joe stood by the other wall. Wells walked over to Zoom. "This thing is how I stole the Flash's speed the first time. Now all he needs to do is run and his Speed Force transfer into this vile. Only as long as I calibrate it." He said coldly. "Then get to work." Jay or Hunter ordered.

Harry began to point his gun at him in anger. "Wells." Barry scolded calmly. Harry hesitated, but soon put the gun down. "One day. . .I'm gonna knock that smug expression clean off your face." With that he walled out.

Barry sat down on the desk by the window. "So this was your plan all along. Huh?" "Ever since the heavens parted and showed me another world with another speedster. Once I saw you. Came here. Figured out what I had to do." Ella looked at him in disgust. How could someone be so evil. He had no conscience.

"How are you still alive?" Iris asked. "We saw you die." "You did." Hunter nodded. "So what was that? A speed mirage?" Cisco asked. Hunter laughed, setting his mask down on the desk. "Speed mirage? Uh no. Even I'm not that fast. I knew that I couldn't be on two earths at the same time, so I went back in time and met another version of myself." "Your time remnant. Like the Reverse Flash." Cisco deducted.

"I also knew that the only way to make Barry become faster was if you all witnessed your old pal Jay die." He explained. Ella saw Cait look down and closed her eyes. He had put her through all of that for his evil plan. "When did you decide to do that?" Ella asked. "Oh! Once  you closed all the breaches. Went to Earth 2. Believe me, getting my time remnant to agree to me murdering him took a bit of convincing." He chuckled evilly. "But once he saw the. . . Well, the genius in my plan he was all for it."

"Who's the man in the iron mask?" Barry asked. Jay looked up at Barry with a smirk. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you." Joe glared at him. "Why the charade? Running around dressed as the Flash?" "To give people hope detective." Jay/Hunter answered as if it were obvious. "Hope?" Ella repeated in disbelief. Jay/Hunter looked at her. "So I could rip it away from them." Ella stared at him in shock and disgust. "It's so fun pretending to be a hero!" He exclaimed happily, while standing.

"You are no hero." Everyone turned to look at Caitlin who had been mostly quiet the whole time. She was glaring at Jay as her eyes filled up with tears. "You're nothing but a monster." Hunger got a far away look, but was pulled back by Harry who came in. He was ready.

Barry walked slowly onto the speed treadmill, while everyone else sat and watched behind the glass window. Ella Ella stood beside Caitlin and Iris, gripping her heart locket as she watched. "Barry!" Joe called. He turned and looked at his foster dad calmly. "It's alright, Joe."

Wells activated the device as Barry turned on the treadmill and. . .Barry ran.  Ella covered her mouth in horror as the bright yellow lightning flashed around his body. Faster and faster, he ran, until suddenly he became increasingly slower.

"He's slowing down." Caitlin said solemnly. "The Speed Force is leaving his body." Harry explained. Ella let out a breath watching Barry become weaker and slower. Tears stung her eyes. Cisco leaned against the desk on his hands and shook his head. "He's becoming human again."

A beeping sounded. Ella looked down to the computer to see that the vile was 100% filled. Barry's speed was gone. Forever.

Panting and weak, Barry crumbled to the floor with a loud bang. "Barry!" She shouted with worry. Ella, Iris, and Caitlin ran to him. Ella got to him first and crouched down beside him, putting her hand on his arm. "Barry." She whispered sadly.

He looked up at her, but before he could open his mouth Iris ran over to him and started to help him up. "Barry are you okay?" He put his hand up. "I'm okay. I'm okay." He assured her. Ella sat down on the treadmill and brushed his hair back in a calming motion. He was breathing heavier than normal and was burning up.

Suddenly a terrible sound like a banshee screeching came from the other room. Ella looked up to see Zoom through the window. He was screaming and laughing as lightning crackled around him. His eyes were black. He had injected the speed. Barry looked down in defeat. Iris grabbed his hand gently and they both made eye contact. Ella glared at Zoom.

Out of no where with an incredible flash, Barry was picked up and pushed against the wall by Zoom. "Thank you, Flash!" Zoom growled. Ella sprang to her feet along with the others. "Jay stop! Please!" Caitlin begged as her former lover choked Barry to death.
"If anything you ever said to me was true or anything we ever shared was real, then please just let him go!" She begged, crying. "Please! I know some piece of you did care for me so if you have any humanity left then please let him go!" Ella felt her heart breaking. She couldn't lose him.

Hesitating, Zoom finally threw Barry to the ground. With a gasp Ella crouched down to him. He was gasping for air and leaning forward on the treadmill. Suddenly Zoom snatched up Caitlin and took off. "Caitlin!" Cisco yelled. Barry stood up in alarm. A look of shock and horror washed over his face. Ella covered her mouth with both her hands. This couldn't be happening. He had taken someone else and this time There's was no way to get her back.