Short on Time

Chapter 129

~*~

Ginger

"That's perfect, Maria," I encouraged the young girl. "I told you that you'd get it."

"Not as fast as everybody else," Maria Hope sighed. 

"I'll tell you a secret," I told Maria, and she looked at me hopefully. "Being the fastest person won't make everything better."

"What about the Flash?" Maria asked. "He's the fastest man alive, and he's probably happy."

"Looks can be deceiving," I told her. "But if you work hard, you're sure to get somewhere." 

"You promise?" Maria asked.

"I can't promise to do something that you need to do," I reminded her. "I can promise to be here for you. So, if you need anything, you can find me."

"You promise?" Maria asked.

"I promise you, Maria," I told her with a smile. "Now, why don't we look back at your homework?"

~*~

Esther

"Ralph!" I screamed as I looked down as he and Ramsey fell below. I could hear my mother in my head, telling me not to run headlong into danger. 

Just like before she died. 

I jumped onto a light ring and flew down to land next to Ralph. "Are you okay?" I asked him nervously. 

"Nothing I can't handle," Ralph said. 

"Whoo! That was quite the tumble," Ramsey said. "I guess you're both wondering why I'm doing this to you."

"You're evil," Ralph said. "I get it." Ramsey didn't even smile at the response, just started attacking us. On the bright side, we didn't get squashed by a truck, on the downside Ralph shoved me backward as he dodged the attacks, but those attacks still came at me. 

I quickly created a light shield that the black spikes shattered against, but Ralph wasn't so lucky. "I bet it's been a while since you felt your own mortality, but my powers, like yours, work on a cellular level," Ramsey said as I ran back to Ralph's side and created a light shield around us. "Allow me to demonstrate."

"I'm waiting," I said as Ralph punched Ramsey in the face instead. 

"You know, Iron Heights is gonna send me a thank-you basket when I drop you off as a gift," Ralph said. 

"I've already given you a gift, and now I'm gonna need it back," Ramsey said, and Ralph gasped beside me as black things came out of his chest. Instead of trying to not fall over, Ralph punched me so the shield around us shattered and the dark-matter returned to Ramsey. 

I put a shield around myself as Ramsey looked at me, "my destiny is to heal all of mankind. You and your friends can't be allowed to prevent that."

"Watch us," I snarled as I stood protectively over Ralph. 

"Life demands your death," Ramsey said before he vanished. A moment later Frost came through a breach and knelt by Ralph. 

"Ralph! Ralph Ralph," she said in panic as I knelt next to her. "Ralph, come on."

"Open another breach!" I told her as I picked up Ralph and we breached into the lab. Cisco was there immediately and helped us get Ralph on the table. 

"Give us a hand," Frost ordered as Dad ran in. 

"What happened?" Dad asked. 

"Ramsey," Cisco said.